On May 30, 2024, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the unveiling of the Monte Cassino Battle Monument, located in Warsaw. This significant event took place on May 30, 1999, and the monument itself has become one of the most important symbols commemorating the heroism of Polish soldiers who fought in one of the fiercest battles of World War II.
The Battle of Monte Cassino, which occurred between January and May 1944, was a pivotal moment in the Italian Campaign. Many nations participated in it, but it was the Polish soldiers under the command of General Władysław Anders who played a crucial role in capturing this strategic point. This victory opened the way for the Allies to Rome and symbolized the resilience and determination of the Polish armed forces.
The Monte Cassino Battle Monument, situated in General Anders’ Square in Warsaw, was designed by artist Kazimierz Gustaw Zemła. The monument, made of white marble, depicts a symbolic figure of a Polish soldier climbing to the top of a hill, alluding to the heroic efforts and sacrifices of the soldiers who fought at Monte Cassino. At the base of the monument, there is a plaque inscribed with the words: “Passerby, tell Poland we have fallen faithful in her service” – words that have become a kind of epitaph for the fallen heroes.