In January 1944 thousands of Allied troops converge on a mountain guarding the road to Rome - Monte Cassino.
Atop the high near-vertical hillside is a fortress-like Benedictine abbey that the Allies believe is being used as an artillery observation post. In reality its Commander – a lay member of the religious order - has forbidden its military use.
Despite this four battles over the next four months reduce the Monastery and surrounding villages to rubble and claim over 200,000 casualties.
