Monument to the Battle of Monte Cassino

Warsaw,Monument to the Battle of Monte CassinoPoland
Monument to the Battle of Monte Cassino
Gen. W. Andersa, 00-242, Warsaw, Poland
The Second Polish Corps' soldiers are commemorated by a monument featuring a headless, winged "Nike" emerging from a shattered column. The monument's base displays the hill of Monte Cassino covered with a shroud, the figure of the Virgin Mary, and scattered helmets. Engraved on the two-meter pedestal are the emblems of the five Polish units that participated in the battle, and the urn containing the ashes of the heroes is covered with a shroud adorned with the Cross of Monte Cassino motif. The sculptor Kazimierz Gustaw Zemla created the monument, which was designed by Wojciech Zabłocki.

The monument was ceremoniously unveiled on May 30th, 1999, coinciding with the 55th anniversary of the battle. Irena Anders, the wife of General Władysław Anders, the commander of the Battle of Monte Cassino, attended the ceremony.

History

The Battle of Monte Cassino, also known as the Battle for Rome, is renowned as one of the most brutal and intense conflicts of World War II. On May 18th, 1944, the Second Polish Corps, led by General Władysław Anders, successfully captured the hill and monastery atop it. The victory, however, came at a great cost: 923 Polish soldiers lost their lives, 2931 were wounded, and 345 were declared missing.

In the aftermath of the battle, General Anders sent a telegram to Chief Commander General Kazimierz Sosnkowski, in which he expressed gratitude for the soldiers' heroic efforts, stating that victory had been granted by God. He also noted the immense challenges faced by the soldiers, including intense bombardment and the best efforts of German troops, as well as the admirable leadership of their commanders. Additionally, he expressed appreciation for the support of the British army, who fought alongside the Polish troops with extraordinary camaraderie and support from aviation.

Despite the significant losses and exhaustion, General Anders reported that the morale of the army remained at its highest level. His telegram concluded with a resounding call for the preservation of Poland's freedom and independence: "Let Poland live!"