Typical terrain east of San Pietro Infine through which the infantry attacked. We will return to San Pietro Infine to enjoy a superb dinner and spend the night. Now our tour continues at the sight of a terrible American defeat and a great Allied victory.
	The heights of Monte Cassino do not look imposing from a distance.
	As we approach the town of Cassino on Highway 6, the Abbey begins to take on an ominous feel. To the right of the road in the foodhills is Castle Hill.
	The sheer rise to the the Benedictine Abbey is stark and frightening seen from the town square of Cassino where we stopped for lunch. The battle was fought from the heights to the left of the Abbey towards it. We departed Cassino to visit the sight of a terrible disaster - the ill-fated Rapido River Crossing.
	On 20 January 1944, as part of a general assault on the Gustav Line, the 36th Division was tasked to cross the Rapido River and push northward through the Liri Valley. The assault battalions attacked north and south of the town of San Angelo which is south of Cassino in the middle of the Liri Valley. The aim was to link up with Allied forces who would be landing at Anzio in two days.
	The Rapido, seen from San Angelo, was the German main line of resistance and heavily defended. The flat, open field just across the river was mined and offered no defilade. In short no defense against numerous German machine guns was possible so it was decided that a night assault would be the only option for success. The 36th division who breached the beach defenses at Salerno and later defeated the German counterattack, who fought 8 brutal days to capture San Pietro Infine, were mauled as they crossed this heavily mined battlefield into blazing machine guns. Over 2,100 casualties ensued from this fiasco, recriminations continue to this day.