In another thread the subject of the bombing and destruction of the Benedictine Abbey at Monte Cassino came up, and I related that the bombing of the abbey had been unnecessary.  Instead of letting the discussion of the necessity of bombing the abbey derail the conversation in that thread, I wanted to open the discussion about the destruction of the abbey here.So, a little background?.  The Allied advance from Salerno and Naples had largely ground to a halt along the Gustav line (the primary German defensive position in southern Italy) by January of 1944.  Since the failed attempt to push the Allied landings at Salerno back into the sea, the Germans had been fighting a deliberate delaying action back to their prepared positions on the Gustav line.  Realizing the potential cost of storming the Gustav line, plans were made for an amphibious envelopment (Operation SHINGLE ? the landing at Anzio).The landing at Anzio failed to cut off the German positions around Cassino and along the Rapido and Garigliano rivers.  The result was that the beachhead at Anzio was contained and the Gustav line held.  Other options to break through the Gustav line, relieve the forces at Anzio, and breakthrough to Rome had to be found.The Benedictine Abbey at Monte Cassino was an imposing structure on a prominent peak overlooking the village of Cassino and the main road to Rome.  The Allied forces in that zone were under constant observation and artillery fire.  The natural assumption was that the Germans had artillery observers stationed in the abbey where they could rain down fires with impunity.  Directives from higher headquarters had given guidance on avoiding destruction of culturally significant sites in Italy if at all possible.  Likewise, Field Marshal Kesselring had directed his forces to avoid damage to sites of cultural significance as well (which is a little ironic considering the massive theft of art and artifacts for ?private? collections back in Berlin).  The German commander in the Cassino sector, General Fridolin von Senger und Etterlin had forbidden his troops from occupying the Abbey and wanted it made known that the would not use it as military position.  Senger was a Roman Catholic and a Benedictine, so his connection to the abbey may have been more than just in keeping with orders.  Senger had actually established guard posts on the only road approaching the abbey to ensure that no German military personnel had access to the abbey.Long story short, under pressure from Allied commanders, in particular Lt. General Freyburg of the New Zealand Corps and the commanding general of the 4th Indian division, General Mark Clark eventually consented to using strategic bombers (B-24s out of Foggia) to bomb the abbey.  Multiple strikes were scheduled and the abbey was reduced to rubble.  Once the abbey had been destroyed and was deemed to no longer have cultural, historic, or religious significance, Senger ordered German paratroopers to occupy the rubble.  The end result was the need for an assault to root them out by close combat.Of course, the Allies had no proof that Senger had been true to his word and not occupied the abbey with observers.  In reality, an artillery observer in a cave a kilometer from the abbey could be just as effective as one in the abbey ? if not more so since his position would not be as obvious and much harder to locate.In the end, hindsight is 20/20.  Looking back, the destruction of the abbey, as it happened, was unnecessary.  The assault that eventually reached the ruins of the abbey would have probably faced less resistance if the abbey had not been bombed ? as the German troops would not have had the advantages offered by the rubble of the abbey.  It is difficult to accurately second guess the decisions of the commanders on the scene, but one is tempted to ask, could the abbey not have been bypassed, or effectively enveloped and take from the flank/rear (which it eventually was) without destroying it?  If the landings at Anzio had been properly lead and supported would the SHINGLE plan have worked, thus opening the road to Rome and rendering the Cassino positions untenable?Just food for some discussion.  Thoughts?