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94-year-old Polish driver leads convoy to commemorate 1944 Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy

15.05.2024 15:30
In a tribute to the 80th anniversary of the World War II Battle of Monte Cassino, a convoy of classic Fiat 126p cars, led by 94-year-old Polish rally driver Sobiesław Zasada, has embarked on a journey from the southern Polish city of Kraków to the small Italian town of Cassino.
Sobiesław Zasada
Sobiesław ZasadaPAP/Łukasz Gągulski

The expedition aims to honor the sacrifices of Polish soldiers during one of WWII's fiercest battles.

Zasada is the world's oldest rally driver still racing. His successful career included winning multiple European championship titles in the 1960s and '70s.

This Saturday, on the exact anniversary of the battle, participants will take part in official ceremonies at the Polish War Cemetery at Monte Cassino.

A special education trail provides visitors with detailed information about the 1944 battle on the slopes of Monte Cassino southeast of Rome A special education trail provides visitors with detailed information about the 1944 battle on the slopes of Monte Cassino southeast of Rome. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

The battle lasted from January 17 to May 19, 1944, and involved intense clashes between the Allied forces and the Germans around the Monte Cassino monastery, southeast of Rome. The Polish 2nd Corps, under Gen. Władysław Anders, played a pivotal role, ultimately capturing the strategic site on May 18, 1944.

The cemetery on the slopes of Monte Cassino is a major site of national remembrance for Poles. A sign on the cemetery wall says: "Go, tell Poland, O stranger passing by, that here we lie—having fallen faithful in her service." Photo: PAP/Albert Zawada The cemetery on the slopes of Monte Cassino is a major site of national remembrance for Poles. A sign on the cemetery wall says: "Go, tell Poland, O stranger passing by, that here we lie—having fallen faithful in her service." Photo: PAP/Albert Zawada

The commemorative journey, which began on Wednesday morning from the Museum of Engineering and Technology in Kraków, spans over 1,700 kilometers and is expected to take three days.

The first overnight stop is planned in the Tyrol region of Austria, followed by a second stop in Bologna, Italy, with the convoy expected to arrive in Italy on Friday afternoon.

Zasada, who first drove this route in a Fiat 126p in 1975, highlighted the significance of commemorating such a historical milestone, noting the battle's importance and the heavy sacrifices involved.

"Eighty years since Monte Cassino is a very serious matter because it was a huge battle and a huge success for the Poles, but unfortunately paid for with Polish blood," he stated before the expedition began.

The Fiat 126p, a model affectionately known as Maluch (Little One; Toddler), was manufactured in large numbers in Poland under license from Italian automaker Fiat, beginning in the early 1970s.

The expedition consists of eight vintage Maluchs, all over 40 years old, painted in red and white, Poland's national colors.

(rt/gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, TVP Info