PLUMES OF SMOKE: The Destruction of Montecassino 1944

1-246340

Examines the controversial destruction of the Abbey of Montecassino, as well as about what wars are fought for and about those who make the fundamental decisions that affect us all. Questions why the abbey was destroyed, as it was a historic edifice of inestimable cultural value. Occurring more than eighty years ago, it still resonates clearly through the decades. Military necessity remains the principal excuse for unnecessary devastation. When politicians and generals are faced with difficult decisions, when victory becomes more important than the ideals they fought for in the first place, then legal and moral boundaries are often forgotten in the fog of war. Contains 102 black and white photos and 5 black and white maps.