Cassino: The Hollow Victory : The Battle for Rome January-June 1944 [Hardcover]

John Ellis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1994

The struggle to capture Monte Cassino, the impregnable heights barring the Allied advance on Rome in 1944, was the longest land battle fought in Western Europe in World War II and among the most costly. In four separate assaults over the course of the grim six-month epic, more than 105,000 men from the Allied armies and at least 80,000 Germans became casualties, and, between the attacks, the armies of both sides endured conditions of appalling privation. In John Ellis' classic account of the battle, few of the Allied commanders, except for the Free French General Juin, emerge with credit. But the author has nothing but admiration and compassion for the courage and endurance of the common soldiers whose experiences he vividly recreates in the pages of this narrative.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"John Ellis has worked hard to extract from war diaries, personal testimony, and war correspondents' stories a vivid and often moving account of what the battles were like for the troops taking part in them. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

John Ellis, described by Len Deighton as 'one of the best historians we have', is the author of ten highly praised books, including A Social History the of Machine Gun, Eye-Deep in Hell, Brute Force, One Day in a Very Long War and The World War I and World War II Databooks. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 587 pages
• Publisher: Andre Deutsch Ltd (August 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0233975691
• ISBN-13: 978-0233975696
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,828,856 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Detailed and extensive account of Cassino Battle, December 16, 1998

By 

Aussie Reader ""Rick"" (Canberra, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cassino: The Hollow Victory : The Battle for Rome January-June 1944 (Hardcover)

This book was first published in 1984 and is still one of the better researched books covering the fighting around Cassino in Italy in 1944. In over 587 pages the author covers nearly ever facet of the fighting both from the Allied side and the Axis. From the soldier in the ruined villages and trenches to the Top Brass wondering what to do next. This is a well researched and well presented account and the story moves along with numerous maps and B&W photos to assist the reader. This is as good an account you will get covering this battle.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Definitive History of this Forgotten Campaign, July 30, 2008

By 

A. Courie "Treb" (Freedom's Fortress) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cassino: The Hollow Victory: The Battle for Rome January-June 1944 (Paperback)

John Ellis's "Cassino: The Hollow Victory: The Battle for Rome January-June 1944" is the definitive book on this overlooked battle in World War II. Ellis describes the four battles that made up this campaign in Italy from January through June 1944.

Ellis focuses on the big picture during the battles, and - with the help of excellent maps - does an excellent job describing the various actions on the front. He describes the commanders' planning, tactics, and decision-making during the battle, while also describing the conditions for the soldiers on the front lines. He also includes lots of useful information, such as orders of battle, in the many appendices.

Ellis also does an excellent job critiquing and analyzing the commanders and their decisions during the battle, along with an in-depth discussion of the bombing of the monastery at Monte Cassino. His insight and comments are well-supported and add a lot to this book. He also argues persuasively that the Allied victory was hollow because they let the German Army escape to fight another 11 months when they could have achieved a decisive strategic victory.

This is an excellent book on the battles around Cassino that led to the capture of Rome. Ellis gives an excellent description of the battle and this book should be read by anyone with any interest in World War II. This is a 4 1/2-star book.