Last updated: April 21, 2025
Place
Rome
United States Army in World War II: The War against Germany and Italy - Washington, DC 1988
Quick Facts
Location:
World War II Memorial
The Battle for Rome is also known as the Battle of Monte Cassino. It began on January 17, 1944, and ended on June 4, 1944, when the capture of Rome by the Allies made headline news throughout the world.
After the Allies made advances up the Italian peninsula toward Rome, the Germans created a defensive line from the Tyrrhenian Sea (west) to the Adriatic Sea (east). The Germans would create similar defensive lines throughout the Italian Campaign.
The terrain in Italy would be used by the Germans to their advantage throughout the campaign. They would force the Allies either to conduct frontal attacks or conduct amphibious landings behind the Germans.
The hardest fighting took place near the town of Cassino. Monte Cassino is a historic hilltop abbey founded in 529, overlooking the town of Cassino and the Liri Valley. To reach Rome, the Allies first had to pass through Monte Cassino. The battle evolved into a series of four major Allied assaults aimed at defeating the Germans and liberating Rome. After four months of intense fighting, the Allies succeeded, capturing Rome on June 4, 1944.
After the Allies made advances up the Italian peninsula toward Rome, the Germans created a defensive line from the Tyrrhenian Sea (west) to the Adriatic Sea (east). The Germans would create similar defensive lines throughout the Italian Campaign.
The terrain in Italy would be used by the Germans to their advantage throughout the campaign. They would force the Allies either to conduct frontal attacks or conduct amphibious landings behind the Germans.
The hardest fighting took place near the town of Cassino. Monte Cassino is a historic hilltop abbey founded in 529, overlooking the town of Cassino and the Liri Valley. To reach Rome, the Allies first had to pass through Monte Cassino. The battle evolved into a series of four major Allied assaults aimed at defeating the Germans and liberating Rome. After four months of intense fighting, the Allies succeeded, capturing Rome on June 4, 1944.