By the Numbers
How many Canadians took part in the Italian Campaign? (To the nearest 1,000)
93 000
Why did the Allied Forces take part in the Italian Campaign?
Stalin asked for help from the Allies
During Christmas, 1943, Canadians took part in a very difficult battle in a small city on the Adriatic coast. Name that city.
Ortona
How long was the Italian Campaign?
20 months
Name at least two of Canada's allies.
Great Britain, France, United States, Soviet Union
Why was Ortona considered a difficult battle?
Ortona was a medieval town of castles and stone buildings and was located on a ledge overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Its steep, rubble-filled streets limited the use of tanks and artillery and resulted in vicious street fighting.
How long did it take to capture the town of Ortona?
7 days
When did the Italian Campaign begin?
July 10, 1943
The type of fighting that is described as smashing through walls and buildings.
Mouseholing
How many Canadian casualties resulted from the Italian Campaign?
More than 26 000 casualties
The Italian Campaign began with the invasion of Sicily. This invasion was also known as?
Operation Husky
When was Rome liberated?
June 4, 1944
How many Canadian casualties died?
Almost 6000 (5900) died
Give at least one reason why the invasion of Sicily was successful.
It allowed the Allied Forces to establish an air base from which they could start the liberation of Italy.
It freed the Mediterranean Sea for Allied shipping.
It contributed to the downfall of the Italian leader Mussolini, which put an end to the war in Italy.
Though the Italian Campaign lasted until the spring of 1945, Canadians did not participate in the final victory; why not?
They began to move to Northwest Europe to be reunited with the First Canadian Army in February of 1945 where they joined the Allied Forces movement into the Netherlands and Germany to participate in the conclusion of the war.