The Italian CampaignThe Italian Campaign

BackgroundBackground German and Russian TroopsGerman and Russian Troops

German troops faced disaster in German troops faced disaster in Russia.Russia.

They were unable to handle the They were unable to handle the freezing Russian weather.freezing Russian weather.

The German army surrendered in The German army surrendered in 1943.1943.

The Russian forces now turned their The Russian forces now turned their attention towards Germany. After attention towards Germany. After failing in Russia, Hitler sent his failing in Russia, Hitler sent his forces to Italy.forces to Italy.

BackgroundBackground The American’s recovered The American’s recovered

quickly after Pearl Harbor. quickly after Pearl Harbor.

The American aircraft carriers The American aircraft carriers defeated the Japanese navy defeated the Japanese navy island by island moving closer island by island moving closer to Japan.to Japan.

In 1942, British and American In 1942, British and American troops drove back the Italian troops drove back the Italian and German forces in North and German forces in North Africa.Africa.

The British and American troops The British and American troops then moved to Italy where the then moved to Italy where the German troops had moved.German troops had moved.

The Liberation of ItalyThe Liberation of Italy The Italian campaign was long The Italian campaign was long

and tough.and tough. The German’s put up a wall of The German’s put up a wall of

defenses from Rome to defenses from Rome to Ortona.Ortona.

The American, British and The American, British and Canadian forces followed the Canadian forces followed the German’s through Italy.German’s through Italy.

They had to trek through the They had to trek through the rugged mountains and were rugged mountains and were often attacked by German often attacked by German snipers hidden in the snipers hidden in the mountains.mountains.

It was a city-by-city takeover.It was a city-by-city takeover. More than 30, 000 soldiers More than 30, 000 soldiers

were wounded or killed.were wounded or killed.

The Invasion of SicilyThe Invasion of Sicily

The Invasion of SicilyThe Invasion of Sicily

Canadian soldiers had not seen any action since the Canadian soldiers had not seen any action since the disastrous raid on Dieppe.disastrous raid on Dieppe.

In July 1943, Canadian’s were sent to Italy to aid in the In July 1943, Canadian’s were sent to Italy to aid in the invasion of Sicily.invasion of Sicily.

This battle was fought in the hot Italian summer and This battle was fought in the hot Italian summer and lasted 38 days.lasted 38 days.

Mussolini’s dream of a new Roman Empire was Mussolini’s dream of a new Roman Empire was shattered and his own people rebelled and through shattered and his own people rebelled and through him out of power in 1943.him out of power in 1943.

Hitler swiftly moved German troops into Italy; he would Hitler swiftly moved German troops into Italy; he would not let Italy’s surrender hold him back.not let Italy’s surrender hold him back.

The Battle of OrtonaThe Battle of Ortona

The Battle of OrtonaThe Battle of Ortona

It was a house-by-house It was a house-by-house takeover. takeover.

Canadian’s became experts Canadian’s became experts at street fighting. at street fighting.

They developed the mouse-They developed the mouse-holing technique. holing technique.

The Battle of OrtonaThe Battle of Ortona 1,375 Canadian soldiers 1,375 Canadian soldiers

lost their lives.lost their lives.

On June 4, 1944, the On June 4, 1944, the Allied armies entered Allied armies entered Rome to the cheers of Rome to the cheers of the Italian people.the Italian people.

These soldiers, in These soldiers, in February 1945 were February 1945 were transferred to join the transferred to join the Canadian army fighting Canadian army fighting to free Holland from to free Holland from German control.German control.