The Polish Military Cemetery at Monte Cassino is sui generis. Although three other Second World War Polish military cemeteries exist in Italy (in Cassamassima, in Loreto and in Bologna), and although the latter two actually contain more burials, the Monte Cassino cemetery cemetery is, unquestionably, the most impressive. It was specifically built by a representative of an increasingly powerless nation to be impressive and monumental on a grand scale. The premise of the thesis is that it was built to mythologize an event of then-contemporary history in order that the event be transformed into a tangible and “touchable” source of national inspiration. The evidence uncovered in the course of the research makes clear that the individual whose brainchild the cemetery was- General Władysław Anders- believed that a physical structure, physically quite distant and even likely to never be visited by many of the fallen’s countrymen, could nevertheless become a national symbol. The symbol would embody, in a stone structure, a version of national epic that would resonate even with those who might never see it. The premise of this research is that a historical act can be mythologized, and, therefore, perpetuated by a tangible object- itself the work of human hands. The research is distilled into two written parts. First, a context is provided through an examination of the role of Poland’s Government-in-Exile and its armed forces from the beginnings of the Second World War through to the last Battle of Monte Cassino, fought in Italy from 11 to 18 May 1944. Poland, while a major protagonist in the Second World War, was not one of the „The Big Three” powers which determined the post-war order, hence the Polish context is itself examined within the overall context of the „Grand Alliance.” Also examined is the creation of the Polish Army’s 2nd Corps, which, from its roots in Soviet captivity in 1939-41, became the „army in exile” which fought at Monte Cassino. The preceding context is derived from secondary sources. Second, the decision to build a suitable monumental cemetery is traced to its origins. Hours after the conclusion of the Battle on 18 May 1944, General Anders publically committed to building such a monument. Examination of archival sources reveals, clearly, that Anders elevated the building of the Monte Cassino cemetery to a priority that none of the other Western Allies accorded to their own dead. In the midst of continuing combat operations, the Polish 2nd Corps found the means and time to build a final resting place for comrades who had fallen in a battle which was renowned throughout the Western world. The research has uncovered previously unknown details about the building of the cemetery and the ingenious means employed by a small team with little resources to properly commemorate Poland’s Monte Cassino dead. Finally, the thesis attempts to answer the rhetorical questions posed by the extraordinary fait accomplis of a completed memorial, consecrated on 1 September 1945. The most compelling question is, „Why?” Why was it adjudged important to build a permanent cemetery with such alacrity, an alacrity not remotely displayed by wealthier and more powerful Allied armies. This decision is all the more poignant because it was almost certainly evident to General Anders that the looming outline of the postwar order would not be favorable to the cause for which his men fought and died. The inescapable conclusion is that Anders deliberately set out to build a tangible Polish national symbol in a foreign land, a symbol which would remind future generations of Poles of a great deed which, for a moment, had placed them in the world’s spotlight. The creation of the Polish Military Cemetery at Monte Cassino is thus a case study, and a recent one, at that, of how historical events be mythologized, and, therefore, perpetuated, in this case, through the means of a tangible object- itself the work of human hands.

The Polish Military Cemetery at Monte Cassino is sui generis. Although three other Second World War Polish military cemeteries exist in Italy (in Cassamassima, in Loreto and in Bologna), and although the latter two actually contain more burials, the Monte Cassino cemetery cemetery is, unquestionably, the most impressive. It was specifically built by a representative of an increasingly powerless nation to be impressive and monumental on a grand scale. The premise of the thesis is that it was built to mythologize an event of then-contemporary history in order that the event be transformed into a tangible and “touchable” source of national inspiration. The evidence uncovered in the course of the research makes clear that the individual whose brainchild the cemetery was- General Władysław Anders- believed that a physical structure, physically quite distant and even likely to never be visited by many of the fallen’s countrymen, could nevertheless become a national symbol. The symbol would embody, in a stone structure, a version of national epic that would resonate even with those who might never see it. The premise of this research is that a historical act can be mythologized, and, therefore, perpetuated by a tangible object- itself the work of human hands. The research is distilled into two written parts. First, a context is provided through an examination of the role of Poland’s Government-in-Exile and its armed forces from the beginnings of the Second World War through to the last Battle of Monte Cassino, fought in Italy from 11 to 18 May 1944. Poland, while a major protagonist in the Second World War, was not one of the „The Big Three” powers which determined the post-war order, hence the Polish context is itself examined within the overall context of the „Grand Alliance.” Also examined is the creation of the Polish Army’s 2nd Corps, which, from its roots in Soviet captivity in 1939-41, became the „army in exile” which fought at Monte Cassino. The preceding context is derived from secondary sources. Second, the decision to build a suitable monumental cemetery is traced to its origins. Hours after the conclusion of the Battle on 18 May 1944, General Anders publically committed to building such a monument. Examination of archival sources reveals, clearly, that Anders elevated the building of the Monte Cassino cemetery to a priority that none of the other Western Allies accorded to their own dead. In the midst of continuing combat operations, the Polish 2nd Corps found the means and time to build a final resting place for comrades who had fallen in a battle which was renowned throughout the Western world. The research has uncovered previously unknown details about the building of the cemetery and the ingenious means employed by a small team with little resources to properly commemorate Poland’s Monte Cassino dead. Finally, the thesis attempts to answer the rhetorical questions posed by the extraordinary fait accomplis of a completed memorial, consecrated on 1 September 1945. The most compelling question is, „Why?” Why was it adjudged important to build a permanent cemetery with such alacrity, an alacrity not remotely displayed by wealthier and more powerful Allied armies. This decision is all the more poignant because it was almost certainly evident to General Anders that the looming outline of the postwar order would not be favorable to the cause for which his men fought and died. The inescapable conclusion is that Anders deliberately set out to build a tangible Polish national symbol in a foreign land, a symbol which would remind future generations of Poles of a great deed which, for a moment, had placed them in the world’s spotlight. The creation of the Polish Military Cemetery at Monte Cassino is thus a case study, and a recent one, at that, of how historical events be mythologized, and, therefore, perpetuated, in this case, through the means of a tangible object- itself the work of human hands.