Monte Cassino Battlefield Tour for Indians

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Monte Cassino Battlefield Tour for Indians: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

During the Second World War the Indian divisions in Italy player a predominante role in the many Battles fought, what is generally known in Military history as the Italian Campaign. Keeping a grand strategy in mind, they assisted the Allied invasione of France by keeping a large Number of German divisions engaged in Italy.the Indiana forces though limited to the strength of 4,8,and 10 Indian Division distinguished themselves for courage and tenacity in the battles in Italy.

The Pignataro Interamna memorial is dedicated to the Indian troops of the 6/13 Frontier Force Rifles and the 3/8 Punjab, part of the 8 Indian Division, with the support of the Calgary and Three Regiments Rivers of the 1st Canadian Division.

Monte Cassino Battlefield Tour for Indians

Almost 50.000 Indiana troops fought for the Liberation of Italy of which 5782 of their gallant soldiers made the supreme sacrifice. The heroic action and fighting of Indiana soldiers were fully recognised by the Allied Generale, if Lt. Gen. Mark Clark said “the Forth, Eight and Tenth Indiana Divisions Will Forever be associated with the fighting of Cassino, the capture of Rome, the Arno Valley, the Liberation Florence and the breaking of the Gothic Line. I salute the brave soldiers of these three great Indiana Divisions”

Monte Cassino Battlefield Tour for Indians

The 4th Indiana Division left the Right Army at the end of January 1944 and joined the Fifth Army. It was places under command of the New Zealand Corps and in particolar Brigadiere H.W. Dimoline. General Freyberg was sure that the Indians’ experiences of Mountain warfare. Could be very useful among the hills in Monte Cassino area. The 7th Indian Infantry Brigade concentrated in Monte Castello area, near Caira Village to relieve the Americans of the 36th Division. The poor Indians moved to the planned position at nightfall on the 13th.

Monte Cassino Battlefield Tour for Indians

The road was named after the Indian city in Uttarakhand, the headquarters of the Bengal Engineers Group. Roorkee was where 4 Inf Div were stationed before the war.Route Roorkee was the reserve route from Caira up to the top of Snakeshead in case Cavendish Road was closed.