The battle involved attacks on four fronts, and took two months to get all the troops in place. The attack started on the evening of 11 May 1944. By 17 May, the Polish corps broke through the German defences. On 18 May, Polish troops captured the Abbey at the top of Monte Cassino.

55,000 allied soldiers lost their lives in the Battle of Monte Cassino. On the German side, the losses were much smaller: 20,000 soldiers died.