Canada’s Main Contributions The Battle of the Atlantic Hong Kong The Italian Campaign D-Day on Juno Beach Dieppe

Introduction Canadian troops played a vital role in the 20- month Mediterranean campaign which led to the liberation of Italy during the Second World War. Fought in Sicily from July 10 - August 6, 1943 Fought in mainland Italy from September 3, February 25, 1945 The Germans took full advantage of mountain peaks and swiftly running rivers. There were 25,264 Canadian casualties in the fighting, including more than 5,900 who were killed.

The Conquest of Sicily The 1st Canadian Infantry Division and the 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade En route, 58 Canadians were drowned when enemy submarines sank three ships of the assault convoy, and 500 vehicles and a number of guns were lost.

Canadian troops pressed through the Southern Coast. American troops cleared the western part of the island. British troops took the east coast. In taking Sicily, the Allies aimed to trap the German and Italian Armies and prevent their retreat across the Strait of Messina into Italy. Sicily had been conquered in 38 days.

Canadian casualties throughout the fighting totaled 562 killed, 664 wounded and 84 prisoners of war.

Canadians in Italy With Sicily in Allied hands, the Italian dictator, Mussolini, was overthrown. New Italian government surrendered on September 3, 1943 The Germans immediately seized control The 1st Canadian Division, The 5th British Division and The 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade

By the end of September, the German hold on northern and central Italy was still unshaken, but the Allies had overrun a vast and valuable tract of southern Italy. Allied armies stood on a line running across Italy from sea to sea. The next objective was Rome.

From October 1, 1943 – December 28, 1943, Canadian troops fought in battles to liberate towns like Campobasso, Vinchiaturo, Termoli, Cassino, and Ortona. By now the Canadian Army in Italy had reached its peak strength of nearly 76,000. Total casualties in the Corps had climbed to 9,934 in all ranks, of which 2,119 had been fatal.

Canadian troops participated in 2 more major battles in Italy between the spring of 1944 to February 1945: The Battle of Liri Valley Rimini Canadian troops did not stay in Italy for the final victory. Troops needed a well-deserved break and to prepare for D-Day at Normandy.

Canadian Cemeteries and Memorials in Italy Canada has more than 5,900 identified war dead in Italy, buried mainly in 18 Commonwealth War Cemeteries or commemorated on the Cassino Memorial.

WITHIN THIS CEMETERY STAND MONUMENTS WHICH BEAR THE NAMES OF SOLDIERS OF THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AND EMPIRE WHO FELL IN THE ASSAULTS UPON THE SHORES OF SICILY AND ITALY OR IN LATER BATTLES TO FREE ITALIAN SOIL AND TO WHOM THE FORTUNE OF WAR DENIED A KNOWN AND HONOURED GRAVE. AROUND THEM ARE THE GRAVES OF THEIR COMRADES WHO DIED FIGHTING IN THESE PARTS TO OPEN THE WAY TO ROME AND THE NORTH