Channel 4 (UK) Documentaries

Monte Cassino: The Soldiers' Story (2004x12)

Air date: Aug 15, 2004

An account of the infamous Second World War battle, at the peak of which Allied troops laid siege to a medieval castle in Italy for five days in 1944. The conflict in Italy was controversial from the start, with the Allies divided over the importance and purpose of the campaign, while Hitler felt that victory here would dissuade his enemies from their grander schemes. Tactical errors led to a devastating loss of life before a truce was agreed. The accounts of veterans from both sides are used to create a balanced picture of the conflict, with members of the German First Parachute Regiment and the British 1/4 Essex sharing their memories.