The Polish Military Cemetery as seen from the Abbey, final resting place of many soldiers of the Polish II Corps who captured the Abbey during the 4th Battle on 18 May 19 1943. Prior to this, three protracted assaults by U. S., British and New Zealand units failed to capture the position. Above the cemetery, the heights of Hill 593, an elusive objective of each battle.
	In a beautiful post-war mural, Saint Benedict prays over the ruins of the Monastery.
	Here, beneath the private chapel of Saint Benedict, the Monks who refused to leave the Monastery and other civilians took shelter from the battle.
	Our tour was given special permission by the Abbot to visit the killing fields of Hill 593 and the Albaneta Farm. The Polish Monument stands at the peak of Hill 593 at the end of Snake's Head Ridge. The Polish II Corps, under the command of General Wladyslaw Anders, were survivors of the German attack on Poland in 1939. Many made their way to Russia where they were slaughtered by the Red Army in the Katyn Massacre. The survivors made their way to Turkey and Iran, eventually associating themselves with the British Army in then, British Palestine. Members of the Polish Air Force formed their own squadron and fought in the Battle of Britain where the Polish Squadron shot down more enemy aircraft than any single Squadron in the RAF. The Poles raised their flag over the Abbey, indicating the conclusion of the battle but for the survivors the nightmare had only begun and it would last until 1989.
	This photo, taken from Hill 593 shows the Abbey and the commanding view of the Liri Valley from Monte Cassino.
	Looking at the Abbey from the killing ground of Hill 593. The Polish Cemetery is out of sight in the valley between Hill 593 and the Monastery Hill.