Setting the Scene
This axis controlled country was the target of the Allies 1943 invasion starting in Sicily.
Italy
This battle in December 1943 featured brutal street fighting and the Canadian tactic called "mouse-holing"
Battle of Ortona
The two Canadian formations most involved in Italy were the 1st Canadian infantry Division and this armoured division.
1st Canadian Armoured Brigade
The campaign ultimately removed this country as an Axis power in 1943.
Italy
Hitler invaded Poland on this day.
September 1, 1939
This country asked the Allies to open a new front to relieve pressure on the Eastern Front.
Soviet Union (Russia, USSR)
This major mountain-top monastery became the center of heavy fighting along the Gustav line in 1944.
Monte Cassino
This Canadian division earned worldwide recognition for its performance during the invasion of Sicily.
1st Canadian Infantry Divison
One major impact of the campaign was forcing Germany to divert many divisions away from these two key fronts.
Eastern Front and Fance
This was the strategy used by the Germans during the early part of WWII
Blitzkrieg
The Italian Campaign began with this July 1943 invasion. (Operation name)
Operation Husky
This was the first major stage of the campaign and lasted more than four weeks in summer heat and rough terrain.
Invasion of Sicily
This dangerous tactic- blasting through interior walls to avoid streets - was famously used by Canadians in Ortana.
Mouse-holing
About 6,000 Canadians were killed in Italy. Part of the larger total casualty number. The total casualty number was.
26,000
This was the name given to Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union
Operation Barbarossa
After the fall of Sicily, this dictator was removed from power.
Benito Mussolini
IN 1944, the Allies attempted to break this heavily defended German line.
Gustav Line
Approx. this many Canadians served in the Italian Campaign from 1943-1945.
93,000
This Italian city was liberated by the Allies on June 4, 1944, shortly before D-Day.
Rome
The evacuation at Dunkirk was successful for these reasons (give 1 or more)
1. Cloud/smoke cover
2. Halt of the German advance
3. Contributions from non-military individuals.
This nickname suggested Italy was an easy entry point into Europe, though the campaign proved extremely difficult.
Hitler's soft underbelly
In 1944-1945, German defensive line on Italy's east coast was eventually broken down by Allied forces - near Rimini.
This battle in 1944 saw Canadians play a key roles in breaching German defences as part of a major breakthrough in Italy.
The attack on the Gothic Line
The Italian Campaign is often viewed this way strategically.
This was the name of the General in charge of the Lutftwaffe
Herman Goering