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Cassino '44
The Brutal Battle for Rome
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Narrated by:
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Al Murray
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By:
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James Holland
About this listen
Acclaimed World War II historian James Holland vividly relates the dramatic last months of the Italian Campaign in a masterful volume that brings new awareness to this vital hinge point of the war.
As the new year of 1944 began in Italy, the Allied army’s momentum had ground to a halt just south of the vaunted German Gustav Line of defense, far short of their initial objective of liberating Rome by Christmas. The fighting up the Italian peninsula had been brutal—rugged terrain, fierce resistance, terrible weather. While Allied leaders in London prepared for the cross-Channel invasion of France later that spring, the war in the West hinged in Italy. As bestselling historian James Holland relates in his seminal concluding volume on the Italy Campaign, the next five months saw two of World War II’s most famous battles—the four ferocious assaults on Monte Cassino and the fraught landing northwest in the marshes at Anzio—culminating at last in the liberation of Rome on June 4, merely two days before D-Day.
Based on twenty years of research, Cassino ’44 offers perspectives and conclusions that differ from the standard narrative. Holland elevates the narrative of war, chronicling the dramatic events primarily through in-the-moment letters and diaries of those who were there. Counterpointing the memories of German soldiers like battalion commander Jurg Kellner with those of British captain John Strick and American corporal Audie Murphy, whose exploits in the field would lead to Hollywood fame, and of Italian citizens and politicians caught up in the maelstrom, Holland vividly recreates their day-to-day encounter with destiny over each bloodily contested mile.
General Mark Clark, overall Allied commander in Italy, has been criticized for being overly cautious and needlessly extending the campaign. Holland argues that, given the conditions and constant shortage of materiel held back for the D-Day invasion, Clark and other commanders led a remarkably successful campaign. Well more than 100,000 Allied casualties occurred in the five months leading to Rome, more than in any other campaign of the war. Cassino ’44 is the definitive account of a key turning point of World War II and brings our appreciation of the experience of war to a new level.
©2024 James Holland (P)2024 Simon & Schuster AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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In The Pagan World: Ancient Religions Before Christianity, you will meet the fascinating, ancient polytheistic peoples of the Mediterranean and beyond, their many gods and goddesses, and their public and private worship practices, as you come to appreciate the foundational role religion played in their lives. Professor Hans-Friedrich Mueller, of Union College in Schenectady, New York, makes this ancient world come alive in 24 lectures with captivating stories of intrigue, artifacts, illustrations, and detailed descriptions from primary sources of intriguing personalities.
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The Pagan World
- By arnold e andersen md Dr Andersen on 03-28-20
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Ali in Me
- By: Mercury Studios, Treefort Media
- Narrated by: Lonnie Ali, John Ramsey
- Length: 3 hrs and 31 mins
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Muhammad Ali, never afraid to express himself loudly and boldly, stays true to form in Ali in Me, an eight-part audio series that explores his life and legacy, guided by his own words through never-before-heard audio recordings. Hosted by Muhammad’s widow, Lonnie Ali, and his close friend, award-winning broadcaster John Ramsey, Ali in Me goes beyond the boxing ring to delve deeply into the extraordinary life and lasting contributions The Champ made to individuals around the world.
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He went hard on everything, especially love
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Helter Skelter
- The True Story of the Manson Murders
- By: Vincent Bugliosi, Curt Gentry
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
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Prosecuting attorney in the Manson trial Vincent Bugliosi held a unique insider's position in one of the most baffling and horrifying cases of the 20th century: the cold-blooded Tate-LaBianca murders carried out by Charles Manson and four of his followers. What motivated Manson in his seemingly mindless selection of victims, and what was his hold over the young women who obeyed his orders? Now available for the first time in unabridged audio, the gripping story of this famous and haunting crime is brought to life by acclaimed narrator Scott Brick.
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Everything I remembered about the case was wrong..
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Mythology: Mega Collection
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- By: Scott Lewis
- Narrated by: Madison Niederhauser, Oliver Hunt
- Length: 31 hrs and 37 mins
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Do you know how many wives Zeus had? Or how the famous Trojan War was caused by one beautiful lady? Or how Thor got his hammer? Give your imagination a real treat. This Mega Mythology Collection of eight audiobooks is for you....
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An interesting set of introductions.
- By Kevin Potter on 05-30-19
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Fingerprints of the Gods
- The Quest Continues
- By: Graham Hancock
- Narrated by: Graham Hancock
- Length: 18 hrs and 31 mins
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Fingerprints of the Gods is the revolutionary rewrite of history that has persuaded millions of listeners throughout the world to change their preconceptions about the history behind modern society. An intellectual detective story, this unique history audiobook directs probing questions at orthodox history, presenting disturbing new evidence that historians have tried - but failed - to explain.
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Classic in Historical Mysteries
- By Kelly on 09-05-19
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Weird Scenes Inside the Canyon
- Laurel Canyon, Covert Ops, and the Dark Heart of the Hippie Dream
- By: David McGowan
- Narrated by: Bill Fike
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The very strange but nevertheless true story of the dark underbelly of a 1960s hippie utopia. Laurel Canyon in the 1960s and early 1970s was a magical place where a dizzying array of musical artists congregated to create much of the music that provided the soundtrack to those turbulent times. But there was a dark side to that scene as well. Many didn't make it out alive, and many of those deaths remain shrouded in mystery to this day.
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My first review. This book changed me.
- By Robert on 06-30-19
By: David McGowan
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Napoleon's Hemorrhoids…And Other Small Events That Changed History
- By: Phil Mason
- Narrated by: LJ Ganser
- Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins
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Hilarious, fascinating, and a roller coaster of dizzying, historical what-ifs, Napoleon's Hemorrhoids is a potpourri for serious historians and casual history buffs. In one of Phil Mason's many revelations, you'll learn that Communist jets were two minutes away from opening fire on American planes during the Cuban missile crisis, when they had to turn back as they were running out of fuel. You'll discover that before the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon's painful hemorrhoids prevented him from mounting his horse to survey the battlefield.
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They just throw the facts too fast
- By Concerned_llama on 12-11-20
By: Phil Mason
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Another great Prit Buttar book
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Fire and Steel
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Here is Peter Caddick-Adams's third volume in his trilogy about the final year of the Western front in World War Two. Fire & Steel covers the war's final 100 days—beginning in late January 1945 and continuing until May 8, 1945, when the German high command surrendered unconditionally to all Allied forces. Caddick-Adams's previous two volumes in the acclaimed series—Sand & Steel, which covers the invasion of Normandy in June 1944, and Snow & Steel, the definitive study of the Battle of the Bulge—have set the stage for this concluding volume.
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Comprehensive account of Allied Army operations at the end of World War III
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The Wehrmacht's Last Stand: The German Campaigns of 1944-1945
- Modern War Studies
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By 1943, the war was lost, and most German officers knew it. What kept the German army going in an increasingly hopeless situation? Where some historians have found explanations in the power of Hitler or the role of ideology, Robert M. Citino, the world's leading scholar on the subject, posits a more straightforward solution: Bewegungskrieg, the way of war cultivated by the Germans over the course of history. In this book, Citino charts the path by which Bewegungskrieg, or a "war of movement," inexorably led to Nazi Germany's defeat.
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The fake English with a pseudo German accent,
- By Neil on 11-29-24
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What listeners say about Cassino '44
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Randy Paulin
- 12-14-24
The Human Face of War
As always, Holland presents the assiduously-researched stories of ordinary soldiers superbly. He does this without losing sight or the larger military and political aspects of the campaign. One does tend to get lost among the Italian names of the various peaks and valleys that were fought for. This is a problem with all books on military history, of course, especially when speaking of various geographic features otherwise unfamiliar to the vast majority of readers. This is an inevitable failing of the format, though: it’s impossible to include maps in an ebook: they must be provided by the reader. That’s really a quibble, though. This book is another memorable effort by the man who is arguably the best author of military history writing today.
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- Sarah
- 01-20-25
Like a 20 Hour Podcast, in a Good Way!
Like the preceding “The Savage Storm”, the book is snappy and well narrated by the inimitable Al Murray.
James Holland has a real knack for storytelling, as evidenced by their hit podcast “We have Ways.” This translates so seamlessly to the audio format that I am left wondering if there was light revision to the physical copy or if their deep experience in podcasting makes everything they produce ideal for audio.
My fear going into his book catalog was that the audio format would inhibit my ability to keep track of details and lack maps, the things War Nerds love. However, Holland deploys a number of tricks that alleviate much of this. The real War Nerds will want to keep a google earth map open and maybe a couple webpages to reference historical battle maps, but it is certainly not necessary.
I also find his heavy use of historical documents written at the time (like diaries and field reports, not looking back years later) gives the story an immediacy and propulsion that sets it apart from other history books.
In summary, do you like ww2 books? Want the details of how the allies assaulted Hill 593 without getting bogged down in an academic text? Learn through heart rending, but also uplifting personal accounts that keep the narrative engaging? Then this audiobook is for you.
Special shoutout to the story of the female partisan in Rome. Great stuff.
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- kevin
- 12-05-24
Excellent & very thorough & fair history
I love Holland’s books, love the podcast but I don’t love Al Murray as a reader. For example in this book he pronounces “Jabos” about 15 different ways
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- Gabby J
- 11-21-24
No “petulant hatred” found
James Holland does a nice job of explaining what it was like to take part in this particular battle using both after action reports and the personal feelings of civilians as well as soldiers from each side as they themselves recorded it. No bias or “petulant hatred” as one reviewer stated. I believe the author has shown a great balance of empathy for what happened to all people involved while also providing facts of the battle. Always read for yourself and decide.
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- Jeff G
- 11-28-24
Well written
This book is a great more detailed look at the race for Rome and how the Anzio and Monte Cassino battles interacted with each other and with the planning for Overlord. I found the book took a balanced view from all sides. Holland's research is good as always.
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- Cheese
- 11-18-24
Read The Day of Battle by Rick Atkinson instead of this garbage
Far, FAR better books exist on this topic; Author seems to have a petulant hatred for Germans that clouds any sort of professional historical analysis.
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