Red poppies on Monte Cassino,
Instead of Russia, they drank Polish blood.
After these poppies a soldier walked and died,
But anger was stronger than death!
Cassino, Monte Cassino
special place
In the mediate of the Apenin mountain scope in Italy, lies the tiny town of Cassino, formerly known as San Germano. Cassino is simply a tiny village in the state of Latium, at the ft of Mount Monte Cassino, which dominates the Liri River valley. In this quiet village of ancient Cassinum, there are many well-preserved monuments including the Roman temple, the amphitheater from I in p.Ch (now a chapel), an early medieval fortress from the X century. During planet War II, that was where the office of Allied troops were located.
In the Museum Square
The Museum of past (Museo Historiale) was established in 2004, 1 of the originators is Giancarlo Langiano - Italy by birth, a lover of Poland and the Polish nation by choice. Thanks to the efforts of Polonia many memorabilia were collected, including individual belonging to soldiers fighting in the Second Polish Corps, including photos of the city from before and after the operation of the summit. The collection is besides enriched with uniforming, individual items, armaments specified as dense equipment, cannons, howitzers and the heaviest American "Abrams" tank weighing about 50 tons. This tank became useless in hard terrain as it took up hill 516 due to falling ground. The museum has 14 rooms for visitors, and we perceive each of them differently. On an alternate game of lights and sound, it is intended to bring us closer to the past of war and the experiences of fighting soldiers. However, the hologram of the surrender of German officers and English makes the top impression on the visitors. The main presumption of Museo Historiale is to show the drama of war through exhibits presented at exhibitions.
Monastic viridant
Hill 516 is besides a celebrated monastery oo. Benedictine founded in 529, part of the mountain massif in the central part of the Apeninian Peninsula, on which stretched a key part of the German fortification strategy of the Gustav line closing the direction towards Rome. Further monuments in Cassino were built in XI, and at the turn of the 14th century. Walking through narrow asphalt streets, bends and streamers to the top, our eyes show fantastic views. On the right you can see on the hill a large castle of Rocca Cassino, where there is simply a monastery built of white stone. In the mediate of the courtyard there is simply a monument to the founder of the monastery abbey, and in the advanced courtyard there are statues and tombs of St. Benedict and the biological sister of St. Scholastic. The abbey location located close the Eternal City, over the years, was the mark of assault and plunder. However, the period of planet War II miraculously saved the crypt with golden mosaics. From the outside the basilica looks very modest, while the interiors are richly embedded with gold. A magnificent monastery and hill after very dense months of fighting of Allied soldiers was captured by the Second Polish Corps under General Władysław Andres on 11 ? 18 May 1944. The present church has a beautiful arcaded Court of Benefactors, with care and accuracy restored rich interiors. The monastery after the war was carefully rebuilt and reconstructedI'm being held.
Tomb of St. Benedict and St. Scholastics
When visiting, you should remember to dress with your knees and arms covered, otherwise you will be expelled. This dress is valid in all spiritual buildings of Italy.
From the abbey we slow walk down the alley in the tuyas, pinias to the pass, where the Polish Soldiers Cemetery is located on the mountain slope.
View of the Monastery Cemetery in 2008. Photo: S. Mazgaj
View of the Monastery Cemetery in 2012; photo: BC
It was here that the dramatic fight of the Second Corps was played, Polish soldiers attacked the hill step by step, pushing relentlessly forward, losing in the heroic fight of soldiers. The wounded were left behind by paramedics. Lightly wounded did not come down from the battlefield but continued to parry steadfastly, hiding behind the stone performances, going slow day and night to fame to go into past and hang the red flag on the ruins of the Abbey. These brave events, this conflict is felt here, and the past is experienced by all visiting Pole here. I watch in awe graves, admire and am arrogant of the courage and integrity of the Polish soldier, a soldier who fights for the freedom of his country, being on the outside of Italian land.
At the entrance to the Cemetery on each side stone eagles. Just after crossing the cemetery gate, 1 can see the most crucial grave, the grave of General Władysław Anders. The Pilgrim takes the hat off his head. Behind the grave rows of soldiers' quarters, there are besides no names of NN. In the walls of the war cemetery they gave a historical inscription: "Come on, tell Poland that we have fallen faithful to her service". At the advanced limit of the cemetery on a marble stone, a very meaningful inscription was coined: "For our freedom and your freedom we Polish Soldiers, gave the spirit to God, the Italian land body and the heart of Poland".
When laying flowers, we bow our heads, a minute of reflection and automatically, the words "Red poppies on Monte Cassino?" come to mind, we sing at the end of the anthem "Even Poland has not died" ?
In the vicinity of the hill 516 there are many war cemeteries: French, English, German, fresh Zealand, Australian, Hindu but the most beautiful Polish, it impresses and encourages reflection.
Text and photo:
Local typical of the Solidarnia 2010 These
Stefan Mazgaj
More photos in our Gallery: http://solidarni2010.pl/photogallery.php?album_id=332
Editorial:
The photos are from 2008. Since then, the cemetery has undergone a thorough renovation. Many trees were cut from the alley leading to the Cemetery. Below are photographs from April 2012. More in Gallery under w/p link.
Photo: BC
