Eighty-one years ago today, on May 25, 1944 (April 4, 1944), the Allied forces met in Italy and pointed straight at Rome. American-equipped French troops rounded up the Germans at Telforte on May 25, and American troops in Italy broke the standoff at Anzio and stormed out of their beachheads. Almost simultaneously, an Allied force broke through the Nazi defenses at Monte Cassino Castle. The Allies advanced on Rome. The Germans were on the verge of collapse. Monte Cassino fell after one of the fiercest battles of the Italian campaign ended. The largest and most powerful American mobile artillery - 240 mm grenades bombarded the fortress, crushing the Nazi defense center. The British and Polish armies used pincer movements to push the Nazis to a dead end. The British attacked from the south, and the Polish army, which had a strong hatred of the Nazis, attacked with equal force from the north. The Allies captured 1,500 prisoners, many of whom were members of the elite army of the 1st Parachute Division, and also captured a large amount of ammunition. The Allies, backed by Monte Cassino, broke through the Gusta Line. Threatened the new Nazi line of defense, the "Hitler Line", and joined forces with the Americans who attacked from Anzio. The Nazis were fleeing. One report said they were ready to retreat to The North Face of Rome and establish a new line of defense. Another report said Nazi troops in The North Face of Rome were heading south to defend the city.