Eighty Years Ago the Allied Armies invaded Italy, the so called “soft underbelly” of Fortress Europe. What followed was twenty months of hard fighting. Canada’s Citizen Army participated in this fighting – and would go on to play a vital role in the liberation of Italy from fascism.
Sicily
Beginning with a strategic introduction to the Mediterranean Sea in early 1943, Allied forces have repulsed German and Italian armies out of North Africa and are preparing to invade Italy. On 9 July 1943, Operation Husky commences as a massive American, British and Canadian airborne and amphibious armada invades southern Sicily in July 1943. The Canadian 1st Division and 1st Armoured Brigade were there; sandwiched between the US Seventh Army of General George Patton in the west and the British Eighth Army to the East. Fighting through extreme heat and rugged terrain, Sicily would be the first real test to Canada’s citizen army. Begin chapter…
Into Italy
With Sicily secured, Allied armies controversially carry the offensive onto the Italian mainland. Canadian forces crosses the Straits of Messina with the rest of British Eighth Army. While the American Fifth Army holds the bulk of the German forces at the landing beaches at Salerno, the Eighth Army advances up the toe of Italy. The Canadians move into the southern Apennine Mountains and begin battling towards the Adriatic Coast. Begin Chapter…
The Moro River Campaign
The Anglo-American armies have liberated southern Italy up to Naples, but now face the defences of the German Winter Line. With multiple defensive lines dug into the mountains, Allied forces face a daunting, multi-month challenge of heavy fighting along the Rapido River, Monte Cassino and Orsogna. For the Canadians along the Adriatic flank, the first approaches to the Winter Line means assaulting tough German defences along the Moro River. Begin Chapter…
Ortona
The final stages of the Battle of the Moro River sees the Canadians descend into “the Gully”. The Gully is seized, but with tough German resistance all along Eighth Army’s line, the Canadians are tasked with seizing one more objective before the end of 1943 – Ortona. It would be there, in the streets and alleyways of Ortona, that one of the most famous battles in Canadian military history would be fought. Begin Chapter…
Cracking the Winter Line
1944 begins poorly as the Allied armies in Italy face disasters at Monte Cassino, the Garigliano and Anzio. When the spring campaign season arrives, the Canadians – now organized into the 1st Canadian Corps – moves west into the Liri Valley to play its part in finally cracking the Winter Line and finally seizing Rome. Begin Chapter…
North of Rome and the Gothic Line
Rome is finally secured in June 1944, just as the Allies invade Normandy. To draw more German forces away from France and other fronts, combat operations are kept up in Italy. The Allied Armies in Italy move north from Rome, but once again find that the Germans have constructed another formidable defensive line – the Gothic Line. Begin Chapter…
Battle of the Rivers
1944 draws to a close with the 1st Canadian Crops fighting through the last river defence lines before the flatlands of the Po River Valley. Northern Italy will be captured in the Spring 1945 campaign, but before then, in early 1945 1st Canadian Corps is transferred out of Italy to join their compatriots fighting in Northwest Europe. Canada’s part in the Italian Campaign was over. Begin Chapter…
Reflections
Final reflections on the cost and meaning of the Italian Campaign during the Second World War and Canada’s part in it. Begin Chapter…
Canada in Italy 1943-1945 