What do you think?
Rate this book
Cassino '44: The Bloodiest Battle of the Italian Campaign
There are no such thing as an easy victory in war but after triumph in Tunisia, the sweeping success of the Sicilian invasion, and with the Italian surrender, the Allies were confident that they would be in Rome before Christmas 1943.
And yet it didn't happen. Hitler ordered his forces to dig in and fight for every yard, thus setting the stage for one of the grimmest and most attritional campaigns of the Second World War.
By the start of 1944, the Allies found themselves coming up against the Gustav a formidable barrier of wire, minefields, bunkers and booby traps, woven into a giant chain of mountains and river valleys that stretched the width of Italy where at its strongest point perched the Abbey of Monte Cassino.
It would take five long bitter winter months and the onset of summer before the Allies could finally bludgeon their way north and capture Rome. By then, more than 75,000 troops and civilians had been killed and the historic abbey and entire towns and villages had been laid waste.
Following a rich cast of characters from both sides - from frontline infantry to aircrew, from clerks to battlefield commanders, and from politicians and civilians caught up in the middle of the maelstrom - James Holland has drawn widely on diaries, letters and contemporary sources to write the definitive account of this brutal battle. The result is a compelling and often heart-breaking narrative, told in the moment, as the events played out, and from the perspective of those who lived, fought and died there.
And yet it didn't happen. Hitler ordered his forces to dig in and fight for every yard, thus setting the stage for one of the grimmest and most attritional campaigns of the Second World War.
By the start of 1944, the Allies found themselves coming up against the Gustav a formidable barrier of wire, minefields, bunkers and booby traps, woven into a giant chain of mountains and river valleys that stretched the width of Italy where at its strongest point perched the Abbey of Monte Cassino.
It would take five long bitter winter months and the onset of summer before the Allies could finally bludgeon their way north and capture Rome. By then, more than 75,000 troops and civilians had been killed and the historic abbey and entire towns and villages had been laid waste.
Following a rich cast of characters from both sides - from frontline infantry to aircrew, from clerks to battlefield commanders, and from politicians and civilians caught up in the middle of the maelstrom - James Holland has drawn widely on diaries, letters and contemporary sources to write the definitive account of this brutal battle. The result is a compelling and often heart-breaking narrative, told in the moment, as the events played out, and from the perspective of those who lived, fought and died there.
631 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2024
305 people are currently reading
938 people want to read
About the author
James Holland
67 books1,025 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
James Holland was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, and studied history at Durham University. He has worked for several London publishing houses and has also written for a number of national newspapers and magazines. Married with a son, he lives near Salisbury.
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
James Holland was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, and studied history at Durham University. He has worked for several London publishing houses and has also written for a number of national newspapers and magazines. Married with a son, he lives near Salisbury.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
November 18, 2024
Sadly, Freyberg had never been particularly good at fighting his own corner.
Cassino ‘44 is about a campaign that only really seems under-covered compared to seminal events such as Operation Overlord. Even Caddick-Adams’ Monte Cassino: Ten Armies in Hell is a hardly bone creaking 12 years old.
However, if you are interested in multiple takes on the battle, Cassino ‘44 is still worth a read. Caddick-Adams core theme was the respective efforts of ten different nationalities whereas Holland tends towards a full spectrum perspective of events, including the (semi-)civil occupation by Allied Forces and resistance efforts and reprisals in the Axis held territories. Monte Cassino: Ten Armies in Hell is the more focused narrative, Cassino ‘44 is the broader picture, though Holland does explicitly mount a defense of General Mark Clark’s management of the multinational Fifth Army.
Author vs Author
Fifth Army’s battering of the Gustav Line had played witness to untold scales of courage, yet the poor bastards made to carry out this fighting had repeatedly been badly served by men devoid of inspiration, creativity or chutzpah: Fred Walker, Geoffrey Keyes, Harry Dimoline, Alex Galloway, Ike Parkinson and, especially, Bernard Freyberg had let down their men badly. The missions given them had been tough, but none of them impossible to overcome. The Rapido could have been crossed; the Monte Cassino position could have been turned in the first half of February; and Cassino town could and should have been a walkover on 15 March. The Allies had been dealt a terrible hand in Italy, but in these first ten weeks of 1944 they’d not helped themselves.
As a simple summary, Cassino ‘44 is very readable and clearly describes the challenges and achievements of the Italian campaign in early to mid 1944, including the Anzio landings. Monte Cassino: Ten Armies in Hell feels like a reasonable book to compare it to, which is what I do here, but that is not to say either book are exhaustive or even necessary reads.
From an operational perspective, Caddick-Adams is generally better and his strengths show in describing the French offensive north of Cassino, the efforts of the 36th Division to cross the Rapido and Operation Diadem. However, in respect of the Third Battle of Cassino, Holland’s multilayered perspective has the edge – he identifies the command, manpower and morale crisis with the Second New Zealand Division (including the furlough mutiny) and ties it in excellently with how Freyberg conducted the offensive battle. Interestingly analysis of issues of manpower and general fatigue comes up less in describing British forces, which is quite different from Britain’s portrayal in Atkinson’s The Day of Battle relative to American forces.
Caddick-Adams and his mules handle the logistical elements better with one exception – Holland demonstrates the constraints of landing craft numbers versus planned operations in more detail, allowing the reader to better understand what sea-lift limitations were in play. The strategic analysis (especially from the German side) goes to Holland mostly by default but I suspect his will not be the last word on the subject, even if strictures against the overrating of Kesselring resound through Cassino ‘44.
From the witness experience side, while I generally credit Caddick-Adams’s humanity, I believe that Holland (perhaps with the benefit of 12 years of seeing how to do it, including in Caddick-Adams subsequent books) lands the moments better, both from the perspective of the partial occupations of Italy by the Allied and Axis powers, and the soldiers (the fetching of the belt buckle from a corpse sticks in my mind.
Differing/Missing Perspectives
The tragedy, though, was that Fifth Army MOs were looking at this from the perspective of how to keep their men fit and healthy and able to fight, rather than considering the catastrophe that so many women were making themselves ill, not to mention humiliating and degrading themselves, because of a situation that was, in large part, of the Allies own making.
There is an interesting divergence between the authors when dealing France’s North-African soldiers – while Holland hardly underplays their genuine contribution, Caddick-Adams emphasizes their subsequent mistreatment by France whereas Holland includes a victim of their atrocities that he had personally interviewed. It’s not a case where one author is right or wrong, or that there is even differing views, more that there are very many valid (and different) perspectives of the war – what you read may change how you judge things.
What does remain weakly covered in both books is the efforts of the 28th (Māori) Battalion at the Second Battle of Cassino. Holland chooses to view the battle through the eyes of the 24th Battalion which was holding the line and doing little more than hearing what was going on. I wonder if there is an issue around the availability of records and it is a knowledge gap I will need to go elsewhere to fill.
The novelist L. P. Hartley famously wrote that the past is a foreign country, but these characters do not seem foreign or in any way alien. To me they feel very real, and it has been a privilege to bring them back to life, in a way, in the pages of a book.
As a final note, this is a popular history rather than a scholarly discursion on the subject. There is certainly interplay between the two concepts and I hardly write this as a denigration of Holland’s very real efforts to uncover new sources. It is more that books like these are never (nor intended to be) the last word on a subject, more an attempt to bring across new ways to look at things. Cassino ’44 does an excellent job.
Cassino ‘44 is about a campaign that only really seems under-covered compared to seminal events such as Operation Overlord. Even Caddick-Adams’ Monte Cassino: Ten Armies in Hell is a hardly bone creaking 12 years old.
However, if you are interested in multiple takes on the battle, Cassino ‘44 is still worth a read. Caddick-Adams core theme was the respective efforts of ten different nationalities whereas Holland tends towards a full spectrum perspective of events, including the (semi-)civil occupation by Allied Forces and resistance efforts and reprisals in the Axis held territories. Monte Cassino: Ten Armies in Hell is the more focused narrative, Cassino ‘44 is the broader picture, though Holland does explicitly mount a defense of General Mark Clark’s management of the multinational Fifth Army.
Author vs Author
Fifth Army’s battering of the Gustav Line had played witness to untold scales of courage, yet the poor bastards made to carry out this fighting had repeatedly been badly served by men devoid of inspiration, creativity or chutzpah: Fred Walker, Geoffrey Keyes, Harry Dimoline, Alex Galloway, Ike Parkinson and, especially, Bernard Freyberg had let down their men badly. The missions given them had been tough, but none of them impossible to overcome. The Rapido could have been crossed; the Monte Cassino position could have been turned in the first half of February; and Cassino town could and should have been a walkover on 15 March. The Allies had been dealt a terrible hand in Italy, but in these first ten weeks of 1944 they’d not helped themselves.
As a simple summary, Cassino ‘44 is very readable and clearly describes the challenges and achievements of the Italian campaign in early to mid 1944, including the Anzio landings. Monte Cassino: Ten Armies in Hell feels like a reasonable book to compare it to, which is what I do here, but that is not to say either book are exhaustive or even necessary reads.
From an operational perspective, Caddick-Adams is generally better and his strengths show in describing the French offensive north of Cassino, the efforts of the 36th Division to cross the Rapido and Operation Diadem. However, in respect of the Third Battle of Cassino, Holland’s multilayered perspective has the edge – he identifies the command, manpower and morale crisis with the Second New Zealand Division (including the furlough mutiny) and ties it in excellently with how Freyberg conducted the offensive battle. Interestingly analysis of issues of manpower and general fatigue comes up less in describing British forces, which is quite different from Britain’s portrayal in Atkinson’s The Day of Battle relative to American forces.
Caddick-Adams and his mules handle the logistical elements better with one exception – Holland demonstrates the constraints of landing craft numbers versus planned operations in more detail, allowing the reader to better understand what sea-lift limitations were in play. The strategic analysis (especially from the German side) goes to Holland mostly by default but I suspect his will not be the last word on the subject, even if strictures against the overrating of Kesselring resound through Cassino ‘44.
From the witness experience side, while I generally credit Caddick-Adams’s humanity, I believe that Holland (perhaps with the benefit of 12 years of seeing how to do it, including in Caddick-Adams subsequent books) lands the moments better, both from the perspective of the partial occupations of Italy by the Allied and Axis powers, and the soldiers (the fetching of the belt buckle from a corpse sticks in my mind.
Differing/Missing Perspectives
The tragedy, though, was that Fifth Army MOs were looking at this from the perspective of how to keep their men fit and healthy and able to fight, rather than considering the catastrophe that so many women were making themselves ill, not to mention humiliating and degrading themselves, because of a situation that was, in large part, of the Allies own making.
There is an interesting divergence between the authors when dealing France’s North-African soldiers – while Holland hardly underplays their genuine contribution, Caddick-Adams emphasizes their subsequent mistreatment by France whereas Holland includes a victim of their atrocities that he had personally interviewed. It’s not a case where one author is right or wrong, or that there is even differing views, more that there are very many valid (and different) perspectives of the war – what you read may change how you judge things.
What does remain weakly covered in both books is the efforts of the 28th (Māori) Battalion at the Second Battle of Cassino. Holland chooses to view the battle through the eyes of the 24th Battalion which was holding the line and doing little more than hearing what was going on. I wonder if there is an issue around the availability of records and it is a knowledge gap I will need to go elsewhere to fill.
The novelist L. P. Hartley famously wrote that the past is a foreign country, but these characters do not seem foreign or in any way alien. To me they feel very real, and it has been a privilege to bring them back to life, in a way, in the pages of a book.
As a final note, this is a popular history rather than a scholarly discursion on the subject. There is certainly interplay between the two concepts and I hardly write this as a denigration of Holland’s very real efforts to uncover new sources. It is more that books like these are never (nor intended to be) the last word on a subject, more an attempt to bring across new ways to look at things. Cassino ’44 does an excellent job.
June 14, 2025
The second 'James Holland writes about the Italy campaign' I've listened to this month. This one is also fantastic. There are so many incredible stories here; of bravery, of stupidity, of human beings. Holland's determination to tell the tale from all sides makes for a rich and nuanced read.
November 21, 2024
A solid and enjoyable history of the Cassino and indeed wider battle for Rome. Well read by Al Murray. As with all audio books of this type it’s well worth having some maps to hand (you can get them from Google) as unless you are very familiar with the area it can get confusing, not least because there were multiple battles in the same area.
Lots of wider subjects covered including the shambolic occupation of Naples which led to widespread starvation and some pretty terrible behaviour by allied troops. However, this was generally as nothing to the truly appalling behaviour of French colonial troops whose rape and pillage of Italian civilians the authorities did little if anything to stop.
Only one gripe and this is for the pendants is the endless incorrect use of decimated which means 1 in 10 but is used for any amount. Eg “Germans were decimated, losing 30% of their number”. Seems an odd mistake for someone of Holland’s experience and his brother’s specialisation in the Romans from where the term originated.
Lots of wider subjects covered including the shambolic occupation of Naples which led to widespread starvation and some pretty terrible behaviour by allied troops. However, this was generally as nothing to the truly appalling behaviour of French colonial troops whose rape and pillage of Italian civilians the authorities did little if anything to stop.
Only one gripe and this is for the pendants is the endless incorrect use of decimated which means 1 in 10 but is used for any amount. Eg “Germans were decimated, losing 30% of their number”. Seems an odd mistake for someone of Holland’s experience and his brother’s specialisation in the Romans from where the term originated.
December 25, 2024
Excellent book worth reading. Other reviews have filled in the blanks I agree with, so need to say it again. Everything James Holland writes is awesome. In essence, you wee screwed wherever you were, whatever side. Italy was not the Soft Underbelly of Europe, but it had strategic importance in the overall battle for Europe.
Also, James Holland does the WWII ‘We Have Ways’ podcast. If you haven’t heard it before it’s quite good & not boring nor dry.
I apologize for you becoming afflicted in the near future. They’ve only done 900ish episodes…
Also, James Holland does the WWII ‘We Have Ways’ podcast. If you haven’t heard it before it’s quite good & not boring nor dry.
I apologize for you becoming afflicted in the near future. They’ve only done 900ish episodes…
July 4, 2025
A historical work awe-inspiring in its depth and dedication to exploring its focus. I only wish it included more maps and more detail in those maps.
May 5, 2025
A comprehensive history of the campaign in mid Italy in 1944, featuring attempts to break the German's Gustav line to achieve a breakout to take Rome. The story focuses on the months-long attempts to crack the German lines guarding the rivers and mountains in Central Italy, especially the brutal fighting around Monte Cassino and Anzio. The allied armies were underresourced as so much material was devoted to the impending Operation Overlord. The terrain is very mountainous, much more suitable to defense, making forward advances extremely difficult and perilous. (I had occasion to visit the vicinity around Salerno, an earlier campaign, and could easily understand how difficult offensive action must have been.)
The author critically considers the leadership on both sides, some of which was nearly incompetent. The failure of Gen. Lucas to advance aggressively to the high ground inland from the Anzio landing gave the Germans time to fortify this important territory. The Germans were outmanned, but showed remarkable talents at assembling disparate divisions to block the allied advance.
The abbey at Monte Cassino was a world heritage site. Its height offered the Germans excellent observation of all allied movements in the valley below. Disloging the Germans was seen as a necessity to enable northerly advance. After frustrating attempts to take the mountain, the allies decided to utterly destroy the abbey through aerial bombardment. While this did that, it also created rubble that only increased defensive options. Here again, the poor allied leadership of New Zealand, Indian, and Polish troops resulted in a great many casualties.
I had a personal reason to read this history. My father was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division, specifically the 540th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The 82nd landed at Anzio amphibiously in early January where they experienced some of the toughest fighting of the entire war, especially the near constant shelling from the heights held by German artillery. The regiment made continual probes of the German lines that gave rise to the observation of a German officer of the annoyance caused by "those devils in baggy pants", referring the the unit's distinctive trousers. My dad was injured at Anzio and spent some time in the hospital in Naples before returning to the combat zone. He never talked much about this, but he did say once that after Anzio he knew that the rest of his life would be carefree. Two other parachute regiments of the 82nd left for England to prepare for Overlord, but the 504th stayed in Italy until March. They were so depleted that they did not participate in the Normandy campaign.
Fast forward about twenty years to 1965. My father had joined US Air Force during the Korean War and made the service his career. In the summer of '65, we arrived at a posting in Germany. I was between my junior and senior years of high school. One weekend he said, "Jump in the car, let's take a tour". The air base was in southwestern Germany, very near the border with Luxembourg. We visited the American military cemetery in Luxembourg, an extremely moving locale where many hundreds of American soldiers are interred. On the way back, we meandered on rural roads and ended up back in Germany. We came across another cemetery, much more modest, but well-kept. It was clearly a German military cemetery. Also visiting the cemetery was a man about my dad's age. They chatted with each other, neither speaking the other's language. By words they knew in common, they realized that they were both in Italy opposite each other in the Anzio - Cassino campaign. My father identified himself as a paratrooper and the German man said he was a Fallstirmjager, a German paratrooper division noted for their fighting skills. While I, as a teenager, was drop jawed in amazement, the two veteran's -- shooting at each other just twenty years past, were all smiles and handshakes. A truly moving experience.
Like many military histories, not knowing the terrain and geography, the movements of the units are hard to follow. Nonetheless, this is an excellent history that speaks to the brutal fight in Italy that's underreported in war histories.
The author critically considers the leadership on both sides, some of which was nearly incompetent. The failure of Gen. Lucas to advance aggressively to the high ground inland from the Anzio landing gave the Germans time to fortify this important territory. The Germans were outmanned, but showed remarkable talents at assembling disparate divisions to block the allied advance.
The abbey at Monte Cassino was a world heritage site. Its height offered the Germans excellent observation of all allied movements in the valley below. Disloging the Germans was seen as a necessity to enable northerly advance. After frustrating attempts to take the mountain, the allies decided to utterly destroy the abbey through aerial bombardment. While this did that, it also created rubble that only increased defensive options. Here again, the poor allied leadership of New Zealand, Indian, and Polish troops resulted in a great many casualties.
I had a personal reason to read this history. My father was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division, specifically the 540th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The 82nd landed at Anzio amphibiously in early January where they experienced some of the toughest fighting of the entire war, especially the near constant shelling from the heights held by German artillery. The regiment made continual probes of the German lines that gave rise to the observation of a German officer of the annoyance caused by "those devils in baggy pants", referring the the unit's distinctive trousers. My dad was injured at Anzio and spent some time in the hospital in Naples before returning to the combat zone. He never talked much about this, but he did say once that after Anzio he knew that the rest of his life would be carefree. Two other parachute regiments of the 82nd left for England to prepare for Overlord, but the 504th stayed in Italy until March. They were so depleted that they did not participate in the Normandy campaign.
Fast forward about twenty years to 1965. My father had joined US Air Force during the Korean War and made the service his career. In the summer of '65, we arrived at a posting in Germany. I was between my junior and senior years of high school. One weekend he said, "Jump in the car, let's take a tour". The air base was in southwestern Germany, very near the border with Luxembourg. We visited the American military cemetery in Luxembourg, an extremely moving locale where many hundreds of American soldiers are interred. On the way back, we meandered on rural roads and ended up back in Germany. We came across another cemetery, much more modest, but well-kept. It was clearly a German military cemetery. Also visiting the cemetery was a man about my dad's age. They chatted with each other, neither speaking the other's language. By words they knew in common, they realized that they were both in Italy opposite each other in the Anzio - Cassino campaign. My father identified himself as a paratrooper and the German man said he was a Fallstirmjager, a German paratrooper division noted for their fighting skills. While I, as a teenager, was drop jawed in amazement, the two veteran's -- shooting at each other just twenty years past, were all smiles and handshakes. A truly moving experience.
Like many military histories, not knowing the terrain and geography, the movements of the units are hard to follow. Nonetheless, this is an excellent history that speaks to the brutal fight in Italy that's underreported in war histories.
January 20, 2025
Excellent read. Detailed and harrowing. Will read more by this author.
December 17, 2024
Firstly I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers of "Cassino '44" by James Holland for allowing me to read an advance copy.
Mr Holland writes some of the finest military histories available at the present time. He undertakes meticulous research, which is well referenced, and provides detailed information on his source material.
His writing is insightful, explaining military issue in an uncomplicated way that helps to drive the narrative. By using first hand individuals experiences to describe actions, the reader becomes engaged with the story and, when those individuals are killed or wounded, it does drive home the point that war is not a game.
A fitting companion book to Sicily '43 and The Savage Storm. Highly recommended.
Mr Holland writes some of the finest military histories available at the present time. He undertakes meticulous research, which is well referenced, and provides detailed information on his source material.
His writing is insightful, explaining military issue in an uncomplicated way that helps to drive the narrative. By using first hand individuals experiences to describe actions, the reader becomes engaged with the story and, when those individuals are killed or wounded, it does drive home the point that war is not a game.
A fitting companion book to Sicily '43 and The Savage Storm. Highly recommended.
January 14, 2025
James Holland (http://griffonmerlin.com/) is the author of more than 30 books. Cassino '44: The Brutal Battle for Rome was published last November. It is the 1st book I completed reading in 2025.
I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this book as R.
The book begins in January of 1944 and continues through the liberation of Rome on 4 June 1944. US General Mark Clark and his 5th Army are the primary subjects, but some operations of the British 8th Army are included. The 5th Army was working its way up western Italy but had been blocked by the Germans at the Gustav Line south of Cassino.
The fighting in Italy was fierce. The Allies had to contend with rugged mountainous terrain, and with a brutally cold winter. The terrain favored the defenders, and the far-from-defeated German Army made the most of that advantage.
It was important to the Allies to keep the pressure up in Italy. The Normandy landings were scheduled for June. Keeping the Germans occupied there was critical to the success of D-Day. The repeated attempts to cross the Rapido River, and break through the German line. The later amphibious landing at Anzio to outflank the Germans is also covered.
Finally, in the late spring of 1944, General Clark had assembled a large force, and with the dryer, warmer weather the 5th Army is able to break through. With the mud and overcast skies of winter behind them, the Allies were able to bring their air superiority and armor to bear.
Hitler had ordered the German Army to not give up any ground. Field Marshal Albert Kesselring’s commitment to that order made the battle for Italy costly for both sides. Interspersed with the historical narrative are several short personal side stories. These come from both Allies and Germans, as well as Italian civilians. Several of the vignettes focus on Sargent Audie Murphy.
I enjoyed the 23.5 hours reading this 631-page WWII history. I enjoy Mr. Holland’s books because they read more like a novel than a history text. I have had the opportunity to read a few other books by Mr. Holland, and they have consistently been good reads. These include: Big Week: The Biggest Air Battle of World War II, Normandy '44: D-Day and the Epic 77-Day Battle for France, and Burma '44: The Battle That Turned World War II in the East.
I found this book particularly interesting because one of the Divisions under Clark that was heavily involved in the Italian campaign was the 36th Infantry. The 36th had been formed around the Texas National Guard in November of 1940. I have been a docent since July 2019 at the Texas Military Forces Museum in Austin, TX. It is the museum of the Texas National Guard and of state militias formed after 1823. I like the chosen cover art. I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this book as R.
The book begins in January of 1944 and continues through the liberation of Rome on 4 June 1944. US General Mark Clark and his 5th Army are the primary subjects, but some operations of the British 8th Army are included. The 5th Army was working its way up western Italy but had been blocked by the Germans at the Gustav Line south of Cassino.
The fighting in Italy was fierce. The Allies had to contend with rugged mountainous terrain, and with a brutally cold winter. The terrain favored the defenders, and the far-from-defeated German Army made the most of that advantage.
It was important to the Allies to keep the pressure up in Italy. The Normandy landings were scheduled for June. Keeping the Germans occupied there was critical to the success of D-Day. The repeated attempts to cross the Rapido River, and break through the German line. The later amphibious landing at Anzio to outflank the Germans is also covered.
Finally, in the late spring of 1944, General Clark had assembled a large force, and with the dryer, warmer weather the 5th Army is able to break through. With the mud and overcast skies of winter behind them, the Allies were able to bring their air superiority and armor to bear.
Hitler had ordered the German Army to not give up any ground. Field Marshal Albert Kesselring’s commitment to that order made the battle for Italy costly for both sides. Interspersed with the historical narrative are several short personal side stories. These come from both Allies and Germans, as well as Italian civilians. Several of the vignettes focus on Sargent Audie Murphy.
I enjoyed the 23.5 hours reading this 631-page WWII history. I enjoy Mr. Holland’s books because they read more like a novel than a history text. I have had the opportunity to read a few other books by Mr. Holland, and they have consistently been good reads. These include: Big Week: The Biggest Air Battle of World War II, Normandy '44: D-Day and the Epic 77-Day Battle for France, and Burma '44: The Battle That Turned World War II in the East.
I found this book particularly interesting because one of the Divisions under Clark that was heavily involved in the Italian campaign was the 36th Infantry. The 36th had been formed around the Texas National Guard in November of 1940. I have been a docent since July 2019 at the Texas Military Forces Museum in Austin, TX. It is the museum of the Texas National Guard and of state militias formed after 1823. I like the chosen cover art. I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
February 10, 2025
I would like to thank NetGalley and the author for giving me the opportunity to preview this book.
James Holland's "Cassino '44" is a riveting and meticulously researched account that immerses readers in one of the most brutal battles of World War II. This book earns a well-deserved 5 out of 5 for its exceptional storytelling, historical accuracy, and the depth of its portrayal of the human experience in wartime.
From the very first page, Holland's narrative prowess is evident. He skillfully combines personal accounts, military strategy, and the broader context of the Italian campaign, creating a vivid and comprehensive picture of the Battle of Monte Cassino. The author's extensive research is apparent in every detail, yet his writing remains accessible and engaging, making complex military maneuvers and historical context easily understandable for readers of all backgrounds.
One of the standout features of "Cassino '44" is Holland's ability to humanize the conflict. Through the eyes of soldiers from both the Allied and Axis forces, as well as civilians caught in the crossfire, he brings to life the courage, fear, and resilience that defined this grueling battle. The personal anecdotes and interviews woven throughout the book provide a poignant and intimate perspective, reminding readers that history is not just about events, but about the people who lived through them.
Holland's balanced approach to the subject matter is another strong point. He neither glorifies nor vilifies the actions of any side, instead presenting a nuanced and fair account of the complex realities of war. His attention to detail, from the strategic significance of Monte Cassino to the harsh conditions faced by soldiers, adds a layer of depth that enhances the reader's understanding and appreciation of the battle's significance.
The book's pacing is expertly managed, with moments of intense action interspersed with thoughtful analysis and reflection. This dynamic structure keeps readers engaged and invested in the narrative, while also providing ample opportunity for contemplation on the broader implications of the battle.
In conclusion, "Cassino '44" is a masterful work that stands out in the field of World War II literature. James Holland's combination of thorough research, compelling storytelling, and empathetic portrayal of the human condition results in a book that is as informative as it is moving. Whether you are a history enthusiast or new to the subject, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities and sacrifices of war.
James Holland's "Cassino '44" is a riveting and meticulously researched account that immerses readers in one of the most brutal battles of World War II. This book earns a well-deserved 5 out of 5 for its exceptional storytelling, historical accuracy, and the depth of its portrayal of the human experience in wartime.
From the very first page, Holland's narrative prowess is evident. He skillfully combines personal accounts, military strategy, and the broader context of the Italian campaign, creating a vivid and comprehensive picture of the Battle of Monte Cassino. The author's extensive research is apparent in every detail, yet his writing remains accessible and engaging, making complex military maneuvers and historical context easily understandable for readers of all backgrounds.
One of the standout features of "Cassino '44" is Holland's ability to humanize the conflict. Through the eyes of soldiers from both the Allied and Axis forces, as well as civilians caught in the crossfire, he brings to life the courage, fear, and resilience that defined this grueling battle. The personal anecdotes and interviews woven throughout the book provide a poignant and intimate perspective, reminding readers that history is not just about events, but about the people who lived through them.
Holland's balanced approach to the subject matter is another strong point. He neither glorifies nor vilifies the actions of any side, instead presenting a nuanced and fair account of the complex realities of war. His attention to detail, from the strategic significance of Monte Cassino to the harsh conditions faced by soldiers, adds a layer of depth that enhances the reader's understanding and appreciation of the battle's significance.
The book's pacing is expertly managed, with moments of intense action interspersed with thoughtful analysis and reflection. This dynamic structure keeps readers engaged and invested in the narrative, while also providing ample opportunity for contemplation on the broader implications of the battle.
In conclusion, "Cassino '44" is a masterful work that stands out in the field of World War II literature. James Holland's combination of thorough research, compelling storytelling, and empathetic portrayal of the human condition results in a book that is as informative as it is moving. Whether you are a history enthusiast or new to the subject, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities and sacrifices of war.
November 1, 2024
Excellent coverage of a WWII campaign that got overshadowed in history by the D-Day invasion.....but also played such a big role in D-Day's success. Once again, I've learned so much from James Holland's telling of this part of WWII history. He tells about the many forces/armies that joined the effort, the extreme terrain that had to be overcome, the extreme weather. He's very good at describing the awful gruesomeness of battle, vivid descriptions of war & battle injuries, the total sense of disorientation, sounds of machine guns, smoke & stench of burning.......the sights, smells, & sounds......he brings this story to life.....& it's not glamorous....it's war.
As with other books of his that I've read, I found the Postscript at the end to be a good ending, telling a bit more about some of the people read about in the book, & the 'Timeline of Events' also a good review. A novice reader interested in WWII history would be able to enjoy this, but might find it a challenge coping with all the Italian names, & different country's spellings of the military units. A well studied reader of WWII history will appreciate Holland's complete account. The book's title is appropriate. It's a serious read, but it's worth it....probably deserves a 5th star, for the educational value!
I received an ARC of the book to read in exchange for an honest review from publisher Atlantic Grove/Atlantic Monthly Press via NetGalley.
As with other books of his that I've read, I found the Postscript at the end to be a good ending, telling a bit more about some of the people read about in the book, & the 'Timeline of Events' also a good review. A novice reader interested in WWII history would be able to enjoy this, but might find it a challenge coping with all the Italian names, & different country's spellings of the military units. A well studied reader of WWII history will appreciate Holland's complete account. The book's title is appropriate. It's a serious read, but it's worth it....probably deserves a 5th star, for the educational value!
I received an ARC of the book to read in exchange for an honest review from publisher Atlantic Grove/Atlantic Monthly Press via NetGalley.
January 30, 2025
Often lost in the attention put on Overlord and the drive to victory, the battles in Italy have taken a back seat. As the daughter of the Canadian who was supposed to be the town Major of Ortona but no one told the Germans they were supposed to have retreated, it was never a lesser front for me. I had certainly seen documentaries and movies on Cassino and the push to liberate Rome but this book gave me a step by step account from both the Allied and German points of view as well as the Italians who were caught between the two forces.
It is a story of many missteps, not the least of being having the wrong person in command. There was the delicate balance that had to be observed as this was a multinational army. The top brass had to take care of tender toes to the point that major mistakes nearly gummed up the whole works. But they did learn from their costly mistakes and when it came time to make the final attacks, those lessons were put to good use. Since much of the book is based on the first hand diaries of the combatants, the reader gets swept up in the story. There is great sympathy for the civilians and the towns that were demolished in the conflagration. So many lives lost. On both sides. Reading the words of the men who were involved while things were happening around them vividly relates the realities of war. We can rejoice that the Nazis were defeated but also acknowledge the terrible price.
Very readable and compelling. Five purrs and two paws up.
It is a story of many missteps, not the least of being having the wrong person in command. There was the delicate balance that had to be observed as this was a multinational army. The top brass had to take care of tender toes to the point that major mistakes nearly gummed up the whole works. But they did learn from their costly mistakes and when it came time to make the final attacks, those lessons were put to good use. Since much of the book is based on the first hand diaries of the combatants, the reader gets swept up in the story. There is great sympathy for the civilians and the towns that were demolished in the conflagration. So many lives lost. On both sides. Reading the words of the men who were involved while things were happening around them vividly relates the realities of war. We can rejoice that the Nazis were defeated but also acknowledge the terrible price.
Very readable and compelling. Five purrs and two paws up.
January 5, 2025
War is hell! And if you don't already know that, reading this book will convince you. The descriptions of the battles are as raw-to-the-bone as possible, with all the blood and gore, mangled bodies, visceral fear, terrible losses and triumphs. Most of what Americans know about WWII in Europe is, I think, about events like D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge and the liberation of Paris. The Italian campaign, intended, in part, to draw German troops away from France as D-Day approached, was a sideshow to most observers. But to the soldiers who fought there it was a crucial event. Cassino '44 reveals it also had its share of brilliant and incompetent officers, sometimes with devastating, unforgivable consequences, sometimes with glorious success. In the end the Germans suffered 51,754 dead, wounded and missing; the Allies 43,746. The human tragedy was inescapable. The story begins in the small village of Ripi in Italy's Siri Valley. It ends in Rome. A wealth of details about the moves and countermoves by both the Allies and the Germans took me right into the action, an admirable objective of the author, though I have to add that the details are at times mind-numbing and so hard to follow in the story's 527 pages that I got hopelessly bogged down. To some degree, though, I forgave the author as his goal was a definitive study, and it surely is.
January 7, 2025
Borrowed from NLC Libraries. A bit of a trek this one, but it kept me occupied during the Christmas break. Also, having read the Savage Storm during the summer I felt compelled to see the story of the war in Italy through.
I’m a big fan of the D-day Dodgers folk song, particularly the Hamish Imlach version. Having read both of these books it really brings home the privations and horrors the military and civilians experienced and makes it clear how justifiably angry the troops were at being belittled or ignored.
I’ve seen a few reviews that suggest that the Caddick-Adams history of the campaign is superior, I might check that one out some time. But I enjoy Hollands writing style and have a few more of his books to read in due course.
One quibble though, the frequent misuse of “decimated” really irritated me after a while.
I’m a big fan of the D-day Dodgers folk song, particularly the Hamish Imlach version. Having read both of these books it really brings home the privations and horrors the military and civilians experienced and makes it clear how justifiably angry the troops were at being belittled or ignored.
I’ve seen a few reviews that suggest that the Caddick-Adams history of the campaign is superior, I might check that one out some time. But I enjoy Hollands writing style and have a few more of his books to read in due course.
One quibble though, the frequent misuse of “decimated” really irritated me after a while.
November 11, 2024
If you want a historian that never disappoints, it’s James Holland. He gives us the setting, not just the facts. We know, it’s World War II. James Holland is great at descriptions of war, the disorientation and the gruesomeness, he is great about setting the scene with weather and the terrain. Yes, I focus my studies on the World Wars, I’ll admit the Italian campaigns tend to be a blind spot (not sure why). But after reading this book, I listened to Jame’s podcast (We Have Ways with Al Murry) on the subject. A great historian is a good storyteller, because history is just interwoven stories of the past, and James Holland is fantastic at it.
Thank you NetGalley and Grove atlantic #Cassino44 #NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Grove atlantic #Cassino44 #NetGalley
December 15, 2024
death and destruction in Italy
I started this book, seeking an idea of what my Father went through as a soldier in Italy. The sheer enormity of the destruction, the scale of death and the personal tales, all consigned me to a place of sheer awe at what took place. The enormity of the suffering is incredible!
As always, the scale of mistakes made by senior commanders, paid for by the lives of troopers, made me angry but, I suppose, is tinged with respect for the responsibility they shouldered.
Hitler’s stupidity never ceases to astound me - that his country followed him is unbelievable, but, as the war progressed, could any individual refuse to enter the war forces, knowing that refusal was certain death?
Good read. Makes one seriously consider who one follows.
I started this book, seeking an idea of what my Father went through as a soldier in Italy. The sheer enormity of the destruction, the scale of death and the personal tales, all consigned me to a place of sheer awe at what took place. The enormity of the suffering is incredible!
As always, the scale of mistakes made by senior commanders, paid for by the lives of troopers, made me angry but, I suppose, is tinged with respect for the responsibility they shouldered.
Hitler’s stupidity never ceases to astound me - that his country followed him is unbelievable, but, as the war progressed, could any individual refuse to enter the war forces, knowing that refusal was certain death?
Good read. Makes one seriously consider who one follows.
October 11, 2024
SAY invasion and you think Normandy. Say Italy and you think sunshine.
Neither applied during the bloody five-month battle to capture German-occupied Rome in World War Two.
An Allied landing at Anzio failed. The ancient monastery of Monte Cassino was bombed flat.
Brits, Yanks, Poles, Indians, Gurkha and French soldiers slogged over mountains in foul weather against entrenched Germans. By the end, 75,000 were dead.
Holland’s forensic telling follows the commanders, the ‘poor bloody infantry’ and civilians, who suffered starvation and prostitution.
A toxic broth of courage, stupidity and luck, good and bad, this is a raw but fascinating read.
Neither applied during the bloody five-month battle to capture German-occupied Rome in World War Two.
An Allied landing at Anzio failed. The ancient monastery of Monte Cassino was bombed flat.
Brits, Yanks, Poles, Indians, Gurkha and French soldiers slogged over mountains in foul weather against entrenched Germans. By the end, 75,000 were dead.
Holland’s forensic telling follows the commanders, the ‘poor bloody infantry’ and civilians, who suffered starvation and prostitution.
A toxic broth of courage, stupidity and luck, good and bad, this is a raw but fascinating read.
January 2, 2025
After visiting Cassino last year, this book was a great companion to learning more about the battle and the greater push for Rome in 1944. Markedly better than Savage Storm, particularly as I had a point of reference for much of the skirmishing. Holland's use of personal accounts from allied l, axis, and local participants adds a welcome human element. I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone with WWII interest. That said I would recommend having a map ready as the geographical complexity of the various battles can become slightly confusing in audio book format. Al Murray is a superb narrator.
February 1, 2025
James Holland at his best. A gripping and deeply moving account about the battles in Italy in the first half of 1944. Fantastic and vivid description combined with insightful analysis, tackling many long held beliefs about the campaign.
Holland’s decision to use contemporary sources is exciting and tragic in roughly equal measures. We experience the events with these ‘characters’, feeling all the tension of the moment; many of whom later will be killed, these deaths feeling all the more tragic because of the personal insight we have gained.
A fitting companion to his recent work in ‘Sicily ‘43’ and ‘The Savage Storm’.
Holland’s decision to use contemporary sources is exciting and tragic in roughly equal measures. We experience the events with these ‘characters’, feeling all the tension of the moment; many of whom later will be killed, these deaths feeling all the more tragic because of the personal insight we have gained.
A fitting companion to his recent work in ‘Sicily ‘43’ and ‘The Savage Storm’.
March 16, 2025
B: An excellent follow-up to Savage Storm which I read last year. It serves to remind us that the United States didn’t win the Second World War all by our selves. The fight for Italy was a multi-national force of American, British, Canadian, French, Polish, Indian, North African, New Zealand and other troops. It greatly improved my impression of Clark and Alexander while diminishing the reputation of Field Marshall “Smiling Al” Kesselring. I noted that the first units in Rome were the combined Canadian-American 1st Special Service Force (The Devil’s Brigade) and an American tank unit. It’s good to fight alongside allies, as opposed to with them.
October 12, 2024
The third book in a series on the Italian campaign by one of the best modern military historians. While I found it slower going than the previous books on the Sicilian and initial Mainland invasions, that is probably more of a reflection of the attritional nature of the campaign during the first half of 1944. Although titled Casino, it covers the Anzio front in equal detail. It also gives equal prominence to British, Empire, US, French, Polish and German forces, providing a very rounded coverage. Well worth reading.
December 31, 2024
I really liked learning about the subject, but it is so sad that this war had to be as awful as it was. The burden placed on the soldiers and their commanders was awful. I appreciate the nuanced assessments that Holland makes throughout the book. Horrible decisions were made by various leaders. Some were perhaps incompetent, but the full story was never simple and rarely was a single person responsible. As with other great WWII histories, this one makes clear how complicated the global war was, with each theater competing for resources.
Not a fun read, but worthwhile.
Not a fun read, but worthwhile.
January 12, 2025
An informative novel on the battles fought around Cassino and Italy in WW2. The story has plenty of firsthand accounts from both sides of the conflict, so the reader can actually feel as if they were there to see the events unfold. The tragedy of the book lay in the ineptitude of the military leadership on both sides of the filed, resulting in the needless deaths of so many young men. The story will hold your interest and provide a good insight into the battle and its overall effect on the war.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 16, 2025
First published in 2024, 'Cassino '44' covers the protracted campaign that centred around Monte Cassino in Italy in 1944. Inevitable, this means describing events alongside those of the landings at Anzio, since the two are linked. The amount of detail is incredible, an although the book is a bit of a doorstop it never gets boring. Some of the technical detail is suspect, and unit descriptions can be a little muddled but this is made up for by the writers fine grasp of strategy and tactics. Enjoyable, but keep some maps handy.
February 11, 2025
Despite maps that omit too many of the places mentioned in the text, this is a well organized and detailed account of the fighting in Italy during the first half of 1944. Holland has a much different take on the generals involved than many other authors do and makes good arguments for his opinions. Using the diaries and letters of a dozen or so of the soldiers involved on both sides puts a human face on the fighting that takes a back seat in too many accounts.
March 14, 2025
Fascinating look at the Italian campaign in early 1944
A thorough detailing of the events leading up to the fall of Rome in June 44. The Italian campaign is glossed over in many retelling of WWII, but this series has really dug into the details and pulled from many sources to provide a good explanation of what happened and why things occurred the way they did.
It was an excellent read.
A thorough detailing of the events leading up to the fall of Rome in June 44. The Italian campaign is glossed over in many retelling of WWII, but this series has really dug into the details and pulled from many sources to provide a good explanation of what happened and why things occurred the way they did.
It was an excellent read.
March 5, 2025
James Holland knocks it out of the park again with his perfect blend of keeping it personal with soldiers and civilians, alongside the epic scale that was the hellish 5 months in Italy.
Holland presenting the 1944 campaign of Italy on its way to the conquering of Rome from both sides was such a welcome and refreshing unbiased read.
Holland presenting the 1944 campaign of Italy on its way to the conquering of Rome from both sides was such a welcome and refreshing unbiased read.
August 17, 2025
An excellent book on WWII in Italy, in particular the battle for Rome. There was a lot about the battle for this historic city that I was unaware of. There presence of Vatican City, the city state papal enclave within Rome’s city borders made for a very unique situation, and what unfolded was fascinating. Highly recommended.
October 7, 2025
With a grandfather involved in the battle, I was keen to learn more. It is a very detailed and expertly researched book (not for those seeking a light read) and Holland does a superb job of presenting from all sides and bringing both those steering the battle and those fighting it to the fore, warts and all.
December 16, 2024
Holland brings the horror of war into the reader's mind. What incredible suffering that could have been avoided IMHO. Why hurry to break through lines when the objective was to keep German divisions occupied?
Incredible book.
Incredible book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews