Sacrifice Cassino! - The Hidden Truth
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80th Anniversary of the End of World War II01.01.2025 to 31.12.2025
Was conquering Monte Cassino necessary to clear the road to Rome? Why didn’t the landing at Anzio prevent the Monte Cassino bloodbath? Why didn’t the allied forces immediately target Rome? Using never before seen photographic and cinematic imagery, unpublished documents, and CGI reconstructions, the destruction of Monte Cassino is brought to life for the viewer and is further enhanced by interviews with Italian, German, American, and English witnesses. Shot at the locations where the events took place, combined with emotional testimonies and skillful narration that create a powerful reaction, this high-quality production unveils the uncomfortable truths that have been buried for decades. A compelling narrative based on new documents reveals the tragic fate of the Abbey and tens of thousands of men. It is a shocking and dramatic truth.
Witness the bombing runs using complete archival imagery, which shows the relentless onslaught of bombs pouring on the monastery. Spectacular computer animations reconstruct the complex dynamics of the destruction of the bombings. The film repertoire shot by the Germans allows us to relive the battle in the shoes of those inside the abbey at the time of the bombings. New research reveals how so many pieces of art were secretly transferred to the Vatican, and the true content of the agreement reached between the abbot and the German forces who were led by a Benedictine tertiary monk who loved classical art and studied at Oxford, eventually becoming a general of Hitler’s army.
Historical reconstructions and unpublished testimonies from survivors guide us through the different phases of the battle. It was a real hell on earth, which lasted four months until the Polish contingent first managed to conquer the abbey, which was abandoned by the German paratroopers, otherwise known as the “green devils,” the elite of the Germanic armed forces.
Pictures © U.S. National Archives
Facts
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Original TitleSacrifice Cassino! - The Hidden Truth
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Year2020
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Length2 × 52’, 120’ (ITA, ENG subs)
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ResolutionHD
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Film byFabio Toncelli
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Produced by