“Canadians in the Liri Valley” Battlefield Tour🔧

“Canadians in the Liri Valley” Battlefield Tour: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

“Canadians in the Liri Valley” Battlefield Tour:

On 18th May Montecassino was fallen in Polish hands and the Canadians had already crossed the Rapido River, passed through Pignataro Interamna and arrived very close to Pontecorvo. But General Leese  took his time and waited until 23th May. He wanted to attack the Senger Line, this time not with the help of the concentrated forces of the whole 8th Army, but simply sending a single division of the Canadian Corps.

Army Supply vehicles on their way to the front, packed along a track the Engineers ran through the Rapido River flats at the junction of the Rapido and Liri Rivers, near Cassino, Italy, 21 May 1944″ (CREDIT: Photo by W.H. Agnew, Department of National Defence, National Archves of Canada, PA – 151180, found here

“Canadians in the Liri Valley” Battlefield Tour:

At 6am on 23rd May the Canadian 1 Infantry Division advanced in the area between Pontecorvo and Aquino, called Le Valli di Aquino. With a lot of difficulty they could fight against the Germans hidden in their pillboxes and bunkers, but they could to reach first the road Pontecorvo-Aquino and then Pontecorvo was at the end in their hands. The Senger Line was formed by 19 bunkers, foxholes and pillboxes, and it was very difficult to see them and to destroy them. On 24th May the Canadians 5 Armoured division took over and reached the Melfa River very next to Roccasecca railway station and after a very bloody battle next to S. Vito church, they destroyed the German defences.

“Canadians in the Liri Valley” Battlefield Tour: Hitler line crossed

With the help of the Poles that took Piedimonte on 25th May and the Indias of the 8th Indian Division and the British 78th Division that could to occupy the area all around, the Canadian Armoured Division could enter Ceprano and some days later Frosinone. On the way to Frosinone a very important point was the so called Torrice Crossroad were still now some plaque are remembering what happened about 80 years ago

A Canadian infantryman examining an earth-emplaced German 88mm anti-tank gun in the Hitler Line, 25 May 1944. Library and Archives of Canada found here

“Canadians in the Liri Valley” Battlefield Tour: WHAT TO EXPECT

The “Monte Cassino and Liri Valley Battlefield tour for Canadians” tour (about  3 hours) includes:

1) pickup from your arrival at the railway station in Cassino everyday at 10.00am or 02.00pm (Main Square, near the Green Kiosk)

2) about 3h30 guided tour of the American most meaningful sites of Cassino:

  • A German pillboxe of the Hitler Line
  • The Plaque in the Valli D’Aquino area
  • San Vito Church next to the Melfa River crossing area
  • Aquino Monument dedicated to the Canadians
  • The Commonwealth war cemetery
  • Cassino town center
  • Castle Hill
  • The Panoramic point
  • The Germans’ caves
  • The Abbey of Montecassino.

3) return to the railway station in Cassino at 01.30pm or 05.30pm

“Canadians in the Liri Valley” Battlefield Tour: WHAT YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT THE TOUR

WHEN AND WHERE: At the railway station in Cassino every day at 10.00am or 02.00pm (Main Square, near the Green Kiosk)

WHAT IS INCLUDED: Minivan and ww2 tour guide

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED: Lunch and dinner are not included

PRICE PER PERSON: 80 euros (lunch or dinner not included)

GUIDES/LOCAL EXPERTS:  I will held this tour

book now

“Canadians in the Liri Valley” Battlefield Tour: MORE TOURS IN THIS AREA

“Campobasso or Canada Town” Grand Battlefield Tour ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Monte Cassino Battlefield tour on the footsteps of the Canadians ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

WW2 Museum in Prata Sannita