Monte Cassino, the sacred monastery north west of Naples. The Germans have built massive defense positions. The battle of Monte Cassino in the winter and spring of 1944 turns into an indescribable hell for both the defending and attacking forces. The allies bring into action all planes, artillery and armors from many nations. The German forces are led by the best elite troops. Among them is the 27th Panzer-regiment - the penal regiment. No one expects any of them to survive - but some of them do...

"...ON PAR WITH HOMER‘S ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF TROY" NEUE ZEITUNG, GERMANY

Sven Hassel was sent to a penal battalion as a private in the German forces. Intensely and with brutal realism, he portrays the cruelty of the war, the Nazi crimes and the crude and cynical humor of the soldiers. With more than 50 million sold copies, this is one of the world‘s best selling war novels.