Monte Cassino (Hardback)
Opening the Road to Rome
Imprint: Pen & Sword Military
Pages: 426
Illustrations: 32
ISBN: 9781526703293
Published: 13th August 2018
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One of the bloodiest European battles of the Second World War was that from January to June 1944 for the Gustav Line, anchored on Monte Cassino, famous for its Benedictine Abbey. Better known as the Battle of Cassino, the campaign only ended when Rome was liberated. With General Sir Harold Alexander in overall command, the Allied Army Group in Italy, consisted of Fifth (US) and Eighth (British) Armies. Both were truly multi-national with some 20 allies nations involved. The book recognises the contributions of all elements and flags up the inevitable national tensions and rivalries exacerbated by restrictions of terrain and weather. Allied commanders, using ingenuity, highly effective artillery and sophisticated close air support, finally triumphed over their formidable German adversaries. Cassino: January-June 1944 examines the campaign from the political/strategic levels to the tactical, using official records, accounts from commanders and participants, including interviews. The Author has conducted many battlefield studies and written extensively on the War in Italy.
Author article: 'Next stop Rome: The Northern Ireland forces in the vanguard for Eternal City battle' as featured by
Belfast Telegraph (online), 25th May 2019
Doherty has done a good job here in putting together a narrative to cover a complex and challenging series of battles.
Army Rumour Service (ARRSE)
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Listed in 'The Guide' feature
Shoreham Herald, 21st February 2019
It is a very good book on the Monte Cassino battles and the campaign in Central Italy in early and mid-1944, and as such, I am delighted to add it to my library.
British Military History, Rob Palmer
A very accessible and first-rate work, supported by good photographs and informative maps.
Gun Mart, December 2018 – reviewed by John Norris
Few battlefields of WW2 evoke such powerful images of destruction and death as the monastery on the dominant heights of Monte Cassino and few authors can be as well equipped to tell the story of battle with such clarity and authority. Richard Doherty has spent many years studying the Italian campaign, has explored every inch of the rugged Cassino battlefield and brings his sharp eye for detail to his analysis of this complex battle at the strategic, operational and tactical levels. Monte Cassino – Opening the Road to Rome is highly recommended and the only book of the battle that the majority of readers would need.
Military Historical Society
It is a well-researched account of the struggle to breech the Gustav Line and is full of thought provoking observations about the strategy, the battlefield tactics and the experience of the service personnel involved along with the competency of their commanders.
Walking the Battlefields, Phil Curme
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Richard Doherty is Ireland’s leading military history author and it shows with this deeply researched book. It is impossible to do justice to his knowledge and perception in a single review, but suffice to say, from a military perspective, I very much doubt a better book will ever be written about the Battle of Casino.
HellBound, Steve Earles
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As referenced in 'Further Reading' part of 'The Poles at Monte Cassino' article by Dom Sore
Wargames Illustrated, November 2018
About Richard Doherty
Richard Doherty, recognised as Ireland’s leading military history author, has thirty published books to his credit, plus many articles in journals and magazines. Included in his Pen and Sword titles are The Thin Green Line: The History of the RUC GC; Helmand Mission; Victory in Italy and Hobart’s 79th Armoured Division at War. He has worked on radio and TV historical series, including The Sons of Ulster and One Man’s War, as well as contributing to other programmes such as Who Do You Think You Are? He is also in demand as a speaker and lecturer, speaking at venues such as the National Army Museum, the Tank Museum and the US Marine Corps Staff and Command College, Quantico, Virginia.
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