Fallschirmjäger at Cassino - 1944 - Böhmler Mss. - FMS

[Hoplophile]

In the late 1950s, the Foreign Military Studies program of the Historical Division, United States Army Europe, sponsored the writing of a series of seventy-five short monographs, each of which dealt with a particular engagement involving a German unit (usually of regimental size) during the Second World War. These writings, which form a collection called the “Combat Series,” were given manuscript designations that began with “P-149.”

One of these manuscripts, "P-149/35 Rangierte Abwehrschlacht" ("Defensive Battle in Depth"), by "Colonel Rudolf Boehmler" ("Böhmler"), tells the tale of the defense of Monte Cassino by the 1st Fallschirmjäger Division in 1944. I have searched in the usual places (Sturmpanzer.com, Digital History Archive, Combined Arms Reseach Library, and Fold3) for digital copies, and the catalogs of paper repositories (NARA Archives II and the Army Heritage and Education Center.) Alas, I have not been able to find a copy.

Can anyone suggest other places where I might look for this work?

[Sheldrake]

You could read Bohmlers Book Monte Cassino by Rudolf Bohmler. This is his story of Cassino and Anzio and probably has his thoughts in expanded form.
It is a snip from world of books for £9.29 and a lot more expensive via ABE or Amazon

https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/rare ... 20Campaign

[Hans1906]

The uncle of my polish/german motorcycle buddy was a veteran from the Monte Cassino battle.

In the 1980s, a very old and handicapped man, a former fighter on the allied side...

I remember the very old veteran, showing us tons of books about the former battle, he was hardly able the speak anymore,
just sitting in his chair in the living room, he could not talk anymore.
Our mate from Poland was more than proud about his very old uncle, kissing his hand was common back then.

What to read about "Monte Cassino", in english or german language?
At the only encounter the old veteran showed us a very large picture book about the painter Hieronymus Bosch, the old
man was more than fascinated about the Bosch paintings, he did not talk about "Monte Cassino" at all.

A very moving memory, unforgotten.

Hans1906

What to read about all this, a very good question?

[Richard Anderson]

Can anyone suggest other places where I might look for this work?

AHEC didn't have it? That's odd; they have the complete collection the last time I checked. Did you query them? Of course Covid is going to hamper any real response right now.

[Hoplophile]

AHEC didn't have it? That's odd; they have the complete collection the last time I checked. Did you query them?
[/quote]

I searched for both the English and German language versions of various Foreign Military Studies reports on the catalog of the Army Heritage and Education Center (AHEC) website, but did not use the query system. So, with thanks for your suggestion, I will do that.

https://usawc.libanswers.com/

[Hoplophile]

You could read Bohmlers Book Monte Cassino by Rudolf Bohmler.

https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/rare ... 20Campaign

Böhmler's is, indeed, a splendid source for many aspects of the battle. I particularly liked the chapter on Julius Schlägel's rescue of the treasures of the abby atop Montecassino. The book, however, was written for a general audience, and, as such, lacks many of the military-technical details that I am hoping to find in the Foreign Military Studies report and, strange to say, details of the role played by Böhmler himself in the battle.