COBI Battle of Monte Cassino Set 2063

COBI's Battle of Monte Cassino set contains 73 blocks making six figures: two British infantrymen in helmets with camouflage netting, two Polish soldiers in Allied kit with a Bren gun, and two German paratroopers, one operating an MG 42. A brick-built mortar, plants and red poppies complete the scene. All markings are printed; the set contains no stickers.

The abbey that was empty

The monastery on the hill above Cassino was founded in the sixth century and held one of the oldest libraries in Europe. On 15 February 1944, Allied bombers destroyed it. Around 230 aircraft dropped several hundred tons of bombs on the assumption that German troops were using it as an observation post.

They were not. German commanders had kept their troops outside the walls, and the only people killed were Italian civilians who had taken shelter there. Then came the part that made it worse: the intact abbey had been difficult to defend, but a mountain of rubble was not. German paratroopers moved into the ruins within days and held them for another three months. The bombing created the fortification it was meant to destroy.

The position finally fell on 18 May to the Polish II Corps, formed largely of men who had been deported to Soviet labour camps in 1940 and released to fight. The red poppies in this set refer to a Polish song written about that morning.

In the COBI range

Part of the Historical Collection WWII figure series, alongside D-Day (2058A), German infantry (2060), Stalingrad (2061) and Berlin (2064).

Specifications

Pieces: 73 · Figures: 6 · Age: 5+ · Also included: brick-built mortar, plants and poppies