Monte Cassino is a mountain located in central Italy. You may ask, how is it connected with Warsaw? The fact is that during the Second World War the II Polish Corps fought there.
After fierce battles that lasted several weeks, the Poles managed to take the monastery standing on the top of the mountain, which the Germans used as a fortress. This allowed the Allies to open the road to Rome.
The II Polish Corps consisted of former inmates of labor camps. Under General Anders's command, Ukrainians and Belarusians also fought in it, calling themselves Poles just to escape the camps. Therefore, the monument is dedicated not just to Poles, but to all the fallen participants of the Battle of Monte Cassino.
The monument is a 12-meter reinforced concrete column covered with white marble. It is made in the form of the beheaded ancient Greek goddess Nike, who is considered the goddess of victory. Looking at the column, it seems as though it has been torn apart and wounded in battle. Nearby, on the pedestal, stands an urn with the ashes of the fallen heroes.
Flowers are still brought here in memory of those who died in that terrible, bloody battle. Many come from other countries to see with their own eyes the place where the ashes of their ancestors who fought in the II Polish Corps are kept. It is known that 924 soldiers were killed in that battle at Monte Cassino, and 4199 were wounded.
