The 4 Battles of Monte Cassino and the role of New Zealand

The 4 Battles of Monte Cassino and the role of New Zealand
With Glyn Harper
Part of our Italy 1944 - Monte Cassino and Beyond series
• Monte Cassino and Beyond
Part of our ongoing New Zealand at War series
• New Zealand at War Week
The Allied forces' actions in and around Monte Cassino in Italy remain some of the most controversial of the Second World War. Adolf Hitler described them as the battles that came closest to the bitter struggles on the Western Front. The name Cassino has become a touchstone for New Zealanders as a result of the crucial role played there by Kiwi forces, and the controversy surrounding the battles refuses to die down.
In this show we look at the 4 battles for Monte Cassino and especially the role of the New Zealand units.
Glyn Harper QSM is a New Zealand historian who specialises in the military history of the 20th century. He has published several books on New Zealand's participation in the First and Second World Wars. Before becoming a writer, he served for eight years in the Australian Army before transferring to the New Zealand Army. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy in 2001 from the University of New England with a thesis on Howard Kippenberger, a New Zealand general of the Second World War. He then served as the official historian for New Zealand's military deployment to East Timor from 1999 to 2001. He retired from the New Zealand Army in 2001 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He became a lecturer at Massey University in Palmerston North, and was made an associate professor in military studies the following year. In 2003 he was appointed director of the Centre for Defence Studies. He is currently Professor of War Studies at Massey University, and supervises doctoral students.
The Battles of Monte Cassino: The campaign and its controversies by Glyn Harper
UK uk.bookshop.org/a/5843/978174...
USA bookshop.org/a/21029/97817411...
Glyn's previous appearances on WW2TV
New Zealand Forces in North Africa: The Second Battle of El Alamein
• New Zealand Forces in ...
Kiwis in Crete 1941
• Kiwis in Crete 1941
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[@alistairclarke6726]

Glyn Harper is so easy to listen to. His descriptions are simple yet concise. Top Stuff the pair of you

[@user-uz3xb3ch6x]

Thank you, my father fought at casino. 26th battalion . He was initially infantry, then a stretcher bearer. His friends were killed there. He returned a changed man and never spoke of his time there., apart to say it was a mess. I made a promise to visit the area if I ever went to Italy, and when there was deeply saddened by the thousands of young men’s graves. It is good to now have a clear understanding of the campaign.

[@WW2TV]

Thanks, I hope you will watch some of the other shows in this series too

[@greggiles7309]

i regret not asking my uncles to record their experience there,

[@blaisechalmers1464]

Salute to our Kiwi and Indian brothers who fought valianty, tenaciously and with bravery unparalleled. South African here.

[@johncraig9011]

An interesting talk. Thanks Glyn and Paul. South African forces(12th SA motorized) relived the Canadian 11th infantry brigade, and when South African officers were taken down by Gen. Freyberg on the notorious North passage in his jeep, Freyberg was unconcerned when the enemy opened up on them! The willingness of New Zealand to "enter the fray" is reflected on the big death toll of the NZ forces after the war. The NZ forces were favoured over the South Africans by the British, because the SA army was largely self reliant in transport, armored cars, mortars, food etc. The end result was that the Kiwis had more firepower within their formations in the Western desert theatre.

[@peterfriedenspfeife9230]

Great overview of the four battles and so interesting focus on the New Zealanders. Thank you, Paul, for this Monte Cassino series! I have booked a tour with Danila Bracaglia on June 1st and I feel that I will be well prepared thanks to you and your guests. 🤗

[@susanyu6507]

Wonderful and informative presentation discussing all four battles of Monte Cassino sequentially and together. Adds to the overall understanding of what happened and how horrific it was. Thanks Glyn and Woody.

[@davidlavigne207]

Thanks for such a concise and learned briefing on the subject of not only New Zealand's role, but the overall fighting by all of the allied forces. Gwyn tackled each battle in a way that one really got the sense of despair felt after each failure. They finally got there in the end. Utterly dogged attackers and defenders alike.

[@1089maul]

Woody/Glyn. Thanks for a very interesting presentation. Can’t help thinking of WW1 when you consider the sacrifice of so many lives! Bob

[@willierobertson862]

Finally caught up with this one, brilliant job from Glyn as usual.

[@jjflash30]

Great presentation! Clear and concise. Easy to listen to. Conveyed a lot of information in an engaging manner with good visual aids that were a great complement to Glyn’s comments. 👍👍👍

[@michaelfleming6420]

I like to discussion on Mark Clarke turning to Rome as a mistake as well I think we could learn more wrt the make up of the allied nations forming the colition ie percentages of army air etc by nation etc. One of the nations represented was Newfoundland, at the time a Nation Colony of the Great Britain and now a province of Canada(having joined Canada in 1949). The 166th (Newfoundland) Field Regiment , Royal Artillery, 25 Pounders, was an artillery regiment staffed with recruits from Newfoundland and operated as a Royal Artillery Regiment. The 166th was attached to the NZ Division and the 4th Indian Division in the NZ Corps in support of the Monte Cassini attacks in Feb- March 1944. great show many - thx.

[@KrisV385]

Glyn's mastery of this "forgotten" front was impressive and informative. Thanks for the show Paul.

[@jimwatts914]

Howdy folks! Tremendous and well-done presentation on Cassino that focuses on the Kiwis but discusses in depth the entire campaign. Honors the valorous 36th Division, with few good words for Mark Clark.

[@KevinJones-yh2jb]

Another brilliant presentation by Glyn, fantastic to hear more about the New Zealanders, to me so overlooked in WW2 histories, also interesting to hear also about Indian forces,be great to hear more about them in WW2, I expect it’s difficult to get and find Indian historians today. I was surprised to hear Glyn mention Brazilians involved I would like to more about that ! Thank you Glyn and Paul, bring Glyn back for more if you can in the future

[@WW2TV]

I have an Indian historian lined up to talk about India's Italian campaign, but it won't be until June

[@KevinJones-yh2jb]

Thanks Woody, brilliant 👍

[@standyl2268]

Mr. Harper's presentation--clearly--describes that the Monte Cassino operation was--four--battles and analyzes the success, or lack thereof, of each one, fitting the operation into it's broader context. This is my second time through the program, and now, for the first time, I have a clear, basic understanding of what went on at Cassino.😊

[@WW2TV]

Yep, Glyn is always very clear and thorough

[@frederickwiddowson]

This is much more clear and easy to understand than Mark Clark's 'Calculated Risk'. I was confused by this campaign until this and the other shows on the topic. You should be required viewing for university programs on this part of history.

[@philbosworth3789]

A very good telling of the Monte Casino battle by Glyn.

[@279gax]

Good morning from Chicago! Thank you Glyn and Paul for a great and informative presentation. I am learning so much from this channel and looking forward to all of the upcoming content in preparation for the 80th anniversary on 6/6. Cheers!

[@WW2TV]

Good morning!

[@mdog111]

Thanks!

[@yellowjackboots2624]

Great collaboration. I've always been obsessed with Cassino and can't help seeing parallels between this and Gallipoli. The terrain, the miserable conditions, the demoralising uncoordinated attacks. Thanks for the video 👍🏼

[@WW2TV]

You are welcome

[@Digmen1]

No one could be left alive! How many times have we heard that?

[@stevew656]

Informative watch, thanks gents…

[@waynearmstrong9060]

Wonderful Glyn. Coming from Kiwiland Cassino is our Gallipoli. The vets couldn't understand why they were there and dying for a pointless campaign.

[@adambrooker5649]

Excellent video, and very well planned out

[@davidk7324]

Great show, thank you both.

[@Nyllsor]

Thanks for the episode!

[@WW2TV]

You're welcome

[@MrFluidwill]

That was brilliant, thanks Glyn

[@benrobertson7855]

Thanks ,as a kiwi,very interesting.

[@aaronkochenrath5863]

I spent 6 months traveling New Zealand and every town no matter how small had a memorial for those lost. For such a small country at the time so much was contributed. Much respect from the US

[@jim99west46]

Outstanding overview and battle details. However as usual when covering these major battles its not easy to not consider the suffering of all sides including the civilians as well as the huge logistical effort both sides made to support their combat efforts.

[@WW2TV]

Which is why we cover that aspect in other shows

[@billyshakespeare17]

Excellent, informative succinct presentation. Was wondering: Is Mark Clark the Douglas MacArthur of the Europpean Theatre? Or is Douglas MacArthur the Mark Clark of the Pacific Theatre?

[@WW2TV]

There's a parallel but I don't think Clark is quite as self-promoting as MacArthur

[@tonym7366]

You mentioned the Essex regiment who were at Monte Casino.....how about a guest to speak about their role/experience.....?

[@WW2TV]

I would love to find someone. The Essex Battalion were in the 4th Indian Division

[@greggiles7309]

Curing Nazies with Doctor Lee Enfield, my Uncles were there, it was a Travel Experience, from New Zealand,

[@johnlucas8479]

excellent presentation of the various battles at Cassino

[@jasonsinclair5256]

🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿

[@frenzalrhomb6919]

Kiora, bro!! From "across the ditch!!"

[@Splodge542]

The Germans had excellent observation. In an age before drones they could direct their artillery and mortars as if they were Russians in Ukraine today. Little said about the outstanding performance of the French troops. Let's hear more about this. I think they were colonial troops from North Africa and their attack was worthy of Commandoes scaling sheer rock faces at night.

[@WW2TV]

I've been trying to find an expert on the French forces in Italy, but no success so far

[@markrunnalls7215]

I think in all fairness and with great respect to all the nations who took part in the Italian campaign.. Italy was just a right hell hole to start with...