16 May 2019

75th anniversary of Battle of Cassino commemorated

From Morning Report, 8:55 am on 16 May 2019

The Battle of Cassino, the last significant fight involving New Zealanders in the Second World War, is being commemorated in Italy.

Cassino was a strategic spot as the allies made their way up through Italy, but the advance became bogged down after strong German resistance.

The fight raged on from January to May, 1944. Three hundred and forty three New Zealanders died at Cassino and 1000 were injured. RNZ Veterans' Affairs Reporter Andrew McRae has the story.