WWII POLISH 5th KRESOWA INFANTRY DIVISION MONTE CASSINO INSIGNIA GROUP

Description

Here we have a fine World War II Polish 5 Kresowa Infantry Division Monte Cassino insignia group that is in excellent condition. The group consists of 2 hand embroidered “POLAND” shoulder arcs, 2 Buffalo 5th Infantry Division shoulder shields, a Polish eagle beret insignia and a Monte Cassino Cross ribbon bar with script “Monte Cassino” device. The shoulder insignia and ribbon bar have been carefully removed from a uniform and are in excellent, undamaged condition.
The Polish 5th Kresowa Infantry fought in the Italian Campaign as part of Lieutenant General Władysław Anders' Polish II Corps, and who were under the command of the British Eighth Army.
The Division landed in southern Italy in February 1944 and entered the line in March, as part of Polish II Corps and was soon in action against German forces. In May it took part in the fourth and final Battle of Monte Cassino, in which it suffered 15% casualties of all engaged. In June and July, the division participated in the Battle of Ancona. In the fall of 1944, it fought on the approaches to the Gothic Line. After the front line stabilized for the winter, the Division renewed active operations in April 1945, where it took part in the final offensive in Italy, advancing to liberate Bologna at the end of the war. During its war service in Italy the division suffered 5,127 casualties, including 1,063 killed in action.
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