Cassino '44
Five Months of Hell in Italy
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Cassino '44
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Narrated by:
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Al Murray
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By:
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James Holland
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
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 Line: 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.
‘Astonishingly thorough and meticulously researched; it should become a standard work on this campaign…A formidable achievement’ Telegraph
'James Holland is now our foremost authority on the Italian campaign. He knows the ground intimately and expertly. In this gripping, beautifully written book, Holland breathes fresh life into the grim story of Cassino. Told from the perspectives of all the participants, packed with new insights and quality scholarship, Cassino 1944 makes a major contribution to our understanding of the fighting in Italy. Highest recommendation!' John C. McManus
'James Holland has given us another gripping historical narrative. This one unfolds from the grandeur of a palace turned wartime headquarters to a soon-to-be infamous Italian abbey that came to symbolize the complexities of the often-overshadowed Italian campaign. Holland writes with eloquence and power about the harsh realities of a brutal battle that grabbed the world’s attention and helped to decide the future of Italy' Professor Michael S. Neiberg
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What listeners say about Cassino '44
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jeff Pinnock
- 12-11-24
Great story
Realism of story and great history which we should never forget to our cost again
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 05-12-24
Veteran’s son
My father fought as a 2nd Leutenant in the Royal lrish Fusiliers through Tunisia and Sicily joining 2nd SAS. Later JW mos of that generation he never spoke about any of his war. So it was great to hear such a clear description of the Fog’s in Italy before he left them. Thank you for a wonderful account by James Holland beautifully read by Al Murray.
It is an amazing story brought vividly to life by both Sutherland and narrator.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- mike
- 06-11-24
Historic
The Italian campaign and the men who fought there are largely forgotten it is said . Overshadowed by Overlord and the Eastern Front . Tactically Important that it diverted German troops away from Normandy . Holland and Murray do justice to the slaughter and destruction on both sides . Brutal, shocking and humbling to read . A story of soldiers and their Generals, their enemy , the terrain , weather, armour , artillery and individual stories . Lest we forget .
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Perfs
- 24-10-24
Freshness of the Story
As ever Honest. Accurate and Open Minded assessment. Well written. Audio excellent by the Pub Landlord!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Adam Ellson
- 17-11-24
a typically brilliant James Holland book
a typically brilliant James Holland book, a book that trasports you to the events of the time, it makes you feel for thise who where there, and opens your eyes to the events, not to mention makes you question what you think of the portrails of certan people in history, a must read
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Duncan Connell
- 23-10-24
Expertly presented
Holland has such a way with his writing that provides lots and often minute information, but also without treating you like an idiot. excellent first hand accounts from all sides involved. Murray does another fantastic job of narrating.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- parahandy
- 13-10-24
The telling of such a complex story with clarity precision and compassion
Having read many books on WW2 Holland stands out as story teller but also by his research and challenging earlier myths of events sometimes repeated by some previous authors .
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- John Moran
- 29-09-24
I'm glad Terry Milligan got a mention
His books about the war and the aftermath are some of my favourites. Incredibly funny, tragic and moving.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- mr derek e whittle
- 05-10-24
Extremely thorough
The books very thorough.
And probably future go to classic,
Well researched as you can imagine
But it does drone on abit
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- tillymax
- 14-10-24
A great tribute to the bravery of all involved in the Italian Campaign in WW2
James Holland is a natural communicator, books, TV, podcasts and his latest book is no different. I had no idea just how tough Italy was for not just the combatants but the local population. The battle for Monte Cassino, a key part of the book, was informative to me as I had not realised just how many different nationalities took part on the allied side, British, French, Moroccan, New Zealanders, Indians, Canadians,US and Poles. This had to have been one of the most brutal battles of the war. The author is respectful to the soldiers of both sides and compassionate to the Italian population that suffered all sorts torments. He tells it as it was. It is clear that he has deeply researched the campaign. Make sure you read right to the end as I found the short end piece very moving
Al Murray’s narration was excellent, he shows his enthusiasm in the presentation.
All in all a fine book
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