<P><B>The first thematic analysis of the Battles of Monte Cassino brings to light new and controversial ideas and information about some of the most critical battles of World War II</B></P><P>The Allied forces' actions in and around Monte Cassino in Italy remain some of the most controversial of World War II. Adolf Hitler described them as the battles that came closest to the bitter struggles on the Western Front. This reappraisal of the battles brings new information about the events at Cassino to light. This is another campaign narrative but a fresh look at some of the key aspects of the battles—the controversial bombing of the Benedictine monastery, the effectiveness of the commanders involved on both sides, the consequences of the Anzio beachhead, the performance of the Germans, and why four agonizing battles were needed to defeat the Germans at Cassino.