On the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino, regarded as one of the fiercest battles of the Second World War, a delegation from the Association of Former Soldiers of the 62nd Special Commando Company, together with students from military classes, laid flowers at the monument in tribute to the Polish commandos of the 1st Independent Commando Company who fell during the Italian campaign, as well as to the deceased soldiers of the 62nd Special Commando Company.
The tribute to the fallen soldiers was preceded by a review, given by the association’s vice-president, senior warrant officer, reserve staff Bogdan Fiałkowski, of the company’s combat route and the course of operations it carried out in 1942–1944.
In the afternoon, the memory of the fallen commandos was commemorated with a Mass at the Bolesławiec Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated by Prelate Dr Andrzej Jarosiewicz, Dean of the Bolesławiec East Deanery, and the chaplain of the 23rd Artillery Regiment, Captain Tomasz Koczy.
The delegation, together with the Association of Former Soldiers of the 62nd Special Commando Company’s color guard, also took part in the central ceremonies held annually at Monte Cassino.
On May 14, the 1st Independent Commando Company was placed under the command of the 5th Kresowa Infantry Division and received orders to capture the Castellone and San Angelo hills.
On May 15–16, the commandos took up positions in the area of the Inferno Gorge. On the evening of May 16, the “Commando Group” was formed under the command of Major Smrokowski, comprising the Commando Company and the assault squadron of the 15th Poznań Uhlan Regiment. On the morning of May 17, the group launched an assault on Castellone Hill, suffering heavy losses. In the afternoon, it withdrew toward Hill 705 and then, via Widmo, attacked San Angelo again. On May 17–18, it held the northwestern part of the hill, where numerous skirmishes with German patrols took place. On May 19, the group, together with units of the 5th Kresowa Infantry Division, took part in the final clearing of the San Angelo area of German units. In the fighting in the Monte Cassino area, the company’s losses were 52 wounded and 8 killed.
(information: senior warrant officer, reserve staff Bogdan Fiałkowski)