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MONTE CASSINO REMEMBERED
Memories recorded by Robert Frettlohr  

Dedication
Before I start with my experiences, I must record a very big thank you to my surgeon Mr. Mulay and his team and the nurses at the Yorkshire Heart Centre. Thanks for their devotion and patience for me when my recovery from a triple by-pass operation did not go according to plan. There is a saying the old Paras never die; they come back from hell and regroup!

It was their help and the support of my family that enabled me to survive 1998, which also saw the unfortunate death of my wife in August.

Background
I was nineteen years old when I first went to Monte Cassino; I was a member of the 15^th (Pioneer) Company, 4^th Regiment, 1^st Para Division of the German armed forces, sent there to defend the area of Cassino. The memories of that time have lived with me since.

In the years since the War, I had been back to Monte Cassino several times, all in association with the organised re-unions of the various forces gathering together to remember their fallen comrades, and that battle which cost so many lives on all sides.

I had talked at length about those re-unions and the moving experience in each of the national cemeteries around the mountain, and my wife went with me to the 50^th anniversary to experience it herself. Like me she was thoroughly caught up in the atmosphere and talked to a lot of old veterans from every nation that took part in the battle.

Among those I met were Ian Neal and Douglas Lyne; the latter had served with the Royal Artillery in Cassino. Both came from London, and they introduced me to the ‘Images of War’ magazine published by Marshall Cavendish. I wrote a little of my experience of the time in Cassino, which was printed in issue 27 (Oct 1943 – June 1944).

Through my friendship with Ian Neal, I was contacted by Alan Winson of Grand Island Films when they were planning the Monte Cassino documentary. It was arranged for me to meet them in London for filming an interview at the end of April 1998; unfortunately, this was when I was in hospital for my by-pass operation in no fit state to do anything.

At the end of that year, I decided that I would go the 55^th and last reunion for Veterans of the Battle, in May 1999. I informed Grand Island Films about my decision, and was told that not only would they be there as well, but would also like to film an interview with me. My daughter and son-in-law agreed they would also come to Monte Cassino and make sure that I was well looked after.

The visit - Old enemies, new friends
We left Manchester Airport for Rome on Friday 14^th May 1999. Early on 16^th May we went by train to Cassino where we stayed at the hotel Continental for two days. There I met Alan Winson, his wife Rebecca and the film crew.

Alan had a very big surprise for me: I was introduced to Bill Hawkins, late of the Essex Regiment During the Battle, Bill had been stationed inside Rocca Janula to stop us from taking the Castle. At the same time I had lain in front of the Castle trying to stop them from breaking out.

---------Rocca Janula, 1944-------------------------------------------------------- Rocca Janula, 1994---------

Bill and I had a lot to talk about: in March 1944 when we tried to take Rocca Janula the first attack was beaten off. In the ruins of the Monastery we prepared again for a second attack, which included a flame thrower. Shortly before we set off down the hill toward Rocca Janula, the para operating the flame thrower reported that the oxygen had leaked out and so could not be used in action. Good for him, and good for Bill Hawkins in the Castle. That attack also failed.

We also talked about when the war was halted to evacuate the wounded. Believe it or not, we borrowed stretchers from the ‘enemy’ and took them back later. After a brief respite the war resumed.

It is only later that you realise how stupid war can get, one moment your actions are only geared to killing one another – the next you are helping each other.

Filming the documentary film saw me and Bill Hawkins in the German War cemetery in Caira just outside Cassino, talking about our experiences.

Another surprise was to meet John Williams, who had been a captain in the Artillery. It was John who, every evening, had sent smoke shells over to cover the whole area with white smog, so that the German troops could not see any troops or equipment being brought forward to the front line. That smoke was really sickening and made everyone feel poorly.

Despite the events of fifty-five years earlier, the three of us were all very happy to meet one another, a corporal a sergeant and a captain; and we had our photos taken outside the hotel.

Myself, John Willams and Bill Hawkins

My daughter, son-in law and grand-daughter took full advantage of their visit to Monte Cassino; they have now a little more knowledge of what did happen there - and how lucky I was to come out even as a wounded POW.

Other Memories of ’44 and Other Reunions
In addition to the aspects discussed in the filmed interview, I must also comment on how the war ended for me.

On 18^th May 1944, a few other wounded souls and I were in the first aid post within the Monastery ruins at Monte Cassino. We were taken prisoner at about 9.30 am, by Lieutenant Kazimeircz Gurbiel of the 4^th Platoon, 1^st Squadron, 12^th Podolski Lancers in the 3^rd Carpathian Division, who were the first to enter the Monastery. Thanks to his actions I was taken to an American P.O.W. hospital at Aversa, near Naples.

Forty years later, and by a miraculous chance, we met again at Frankfurt Airport; and later the 40^th and 45^th anniversaries in Monte Cassino. How that meeting came about is another story, but we became very good friends and corresponded a lot until his sad death in January 1993.

After the war
By virtue of being in an American P.O.W. hospital I found myself transported to the US, to a P.O.W. Camp in Pennsylvania for the rest of the war. By way of Belgium, my ‘repatriation’ process took me to England, where I finished at Royal Air Force Lindholme, near Doncaster.

This was a turning point in my life for two reasons – my wife to be was stationed there working in the NAAFI social club, and it as there that I started a musical career that remains with me today. Except to visit, I never returned to my native Germany.

Director's Note:

After the war Robert and his wife lived in Yorkshire, England. He has played the bass in some renowned jazz bands all over the world. Presently, he is playing with the Yorkshire Post Jazz Band.

We felt very fortunate to film Bob and Bill at the German Cemetary near Cairo, Italy, as they remembered their mortal struggle to kill each other during the German counterattack on the Castle, just below the Abbey of Monte Cassino. The two of them and John Williams have become friends and keep in touch with each other.

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