1. The Italian Campaign
1943 – the end of the war

2. The Italian Campaign
Disagreement between US and Britain about how to defeat the Axis powers
US wants to invade France – Large Army
Britain wants to weaken enemy with small attacks in the Mediterranean
Attack France in 1944 – smaller campaign in Italy 1943

3. The Italian Campaign
A combined British-Canadian-American invasion of Sicily began on 10 July 1943
Allies take island, but Axis powers evacuate most men and equipment
British forces land at “the toe” of Italy Sept
Italy signs armistice – Germans fight on without Italian support

4. The Italian Campaign
Hitler did not want to lose Italy – spring board to the Balkan states where key German resources were located – Oil, copper etc.
Line of defense set up around Rome
Allies did not breakthrough until May 1944
Canada’s first major ground participation in the Second World - cost 25,264 casualties, 5,900 of them fatal
over 76,000 Canadians served in Italy.

5. The Italian Campaign
nch_ani_italy_campaign.shtml

6. The Battle of Ortona

7. The Battle of Ortona
Ortona was a modern port and a communications center for the German army
Canadian objective was to take port with little damage
Occurred in Dec. 1943
Was given the name of “little Stalingrad” or “Canada’s Stalingrad” – city fighting

8. The Battle of Ortona
Attack began at the Moro (series of valleys, ridges)
Hard fighting – Germans had better strategic positions
The next obstacle was “the Gully” - a long ravine fortified by German mines, armor, and machine guns
Mud was also an obstacle – Can. Tanks, and equipment stuck

9. The Battle of Ortona Dec. 18th they pushed towards their goal
Launched Operation Morning Glory - objective was to drive a wedge into the enemy defenses to the south and west of Ortona
Operation Morning Glory was successful

10. The Battle of Ortona House to house battles – like Stalingrad
Germans were intent on holding the city
Fought over Christmas of 1943
Royal Edmonton Regiment given the task of clearing the city

11. The Battle of Ortona Tactic employed called “mouse-holing”
start on top floor, use explosives to gain access to next building & then lob grenades down stairs to clear main floor
“Streets of houses were to be taken, both sides….A section would perhaps storm its way into a house at the head of the block, clear it to the top, then blow a way throughout at roof-level into the adjoining house, where it would clear to the bottom. Then it would go back up to the top…”

12. The Battle of Ortona During the night of Dec. 27 Germans withdrew
2 339 brave Canadian soldiers lay dead, wounded, and missing
Showed the courage and bravery that has defined Canadian soldiers for hundreds of years (HS?)
Significant as it proved the worth of Canadian soldiers and defined Canada in WW2 (HS?)