The bombardment certainly shook the defenders of Monte Cassino, but it was not immediately followed by an attack in force. Its clearest result was to turn the abbey into a vast expanse of rubble and craters, while leaving the massive outer walls partially intact, which lends itself perfectly to defence, especially by paratroopers, given the endowment raised in light and heavy automatic weapons at their disposal.
The paratroopers easily repelled the attacks, executed with bravery but devoid of power, of February 16 and 17 (Freyberg did not attack until eighteen hours after the bombardment and with only six of his twenty-four Bns); and on the 18th General Alexander, Commander-in-Chief of the Allied forces in Italy, stopped the charges in order to prepare a new assault after a bombardment, this time, "worthy of the name".
The ensuing lull allowed the Div. of Heidrich to complete the occupation of his sector which had a front of thirteen km and, taking full advantage of the hours of darkness, to create valid defensive positions. The 3rd Regt. Para of Colonel Ludwig Heilmann, reinforced by the 2' Bn. of the 8th Regt. of the 3rd Panzergrenadier Division took over responsibility for the town of Cassino, Rocca Janula to the northeast, and Monte Cassino itself. The 4th Regt. Para, under Commander Grassmehl, was put in charge of the defense of "Cavalry Hill" and Colle San-Angelo, while Schulz, with the 1st Regt. Para, settled further to the northwest.
The Div. Para included the 1st Sn. Reconnaissance Para (one Radio and one Telephone Co.) and the 1st, 3rd and 4th Para Regts. Each of these had three Bns. of Inf., supported by a Sn. of Pioneers, a Sn. cyclist, a Mortar Co. and an Atk Co.; the Inf. Bn. had three rifle companies and one machine-gunner.
In addition, there was still the 1st Regt. of Art. Para (three batteries of 75mm mountain guns and three of 105mm light guns), the I Bn. of Para pioneers (three Cies. of pioneers and one of machine-gunners) and the 1st Bn. Atk Para (four Coys. of 75mm motorized Atk guns and one Coy. of 75mm self-propelled Atk guns).
Finally, there was still the 1st Bn. of Para machine gunners in three companies and a Para medical unit in two companies.