A photo depicting the historical abbey before and after the U.S. Army Air Forces attack shows the total devastation. Monte Cassino was, in the minds of Allied military commanders, an unfortunate but legitimate target. The historical site was actually built in 529 A.D. on ancient Roman ruins originally dedicated to Apollo. After the Allied bombing, the enemy forces used the rubble as fortifications and made the capture of Monte Cassino more difficult. (Courtesy photo)