Italy’s Defence Staff is all set for the opening of the new war memorial in the famous town of Cassino for over 5,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives by fighting German and Japanese forces in the Battle of Monte Cassino during World War II.
About 50,000 Indians between the ages of 19 and 22 were enlisted for the liberation of Italy between September 1943 and April 1945. About 50 percent of them were wounded in battle.
During the four-days visit to Italy and United Kingdom between July 5 and July 8, Indian Army Chief General M M Naravane will be inaugurating the war memorial and will be briefed at the Italian Army’s Counter IED Centre of Excellence at Cecchingola, Rome.
According to the Defence Ministry, the Indian Army Chief will meet Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of General Staff, senior military leaders and other dignitaries from Italy and UK to enhance India’s defence cooperation.
In 2007, Former Italian army chief General Fabrizio Castagnetti while speaking at a ceremony at Cassino said, “The fourth, eighth, and tenth Indian Infantry Divisions were employed in the battle for the capture of Monte Cassino and in the bitter campaign that followed for the breaching of the Gothic Line.”
India’s relations with Italy and UK are good not only in the field of defence but also in healthcare, aerospace, education, clean technology, renewable energy and information and communication technology.