The Canadians did not expect that the Germans would make a They expected to follow this with a quick advance around the flank of Ortona, a port and fishing town on the Adriatic Sea. It took until 9 December for the Canadians to win a firm bridgehead. When engineers were unable to erect a bridge across the Moro to enable tanks to support the PPCLI, a withdrawal was ordered. Made headway, winning Villa Rogatti on the left flank. Only the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) In the early morning hours of 6 December, a three-pronged attack began. On the night of 5–6 December, the 1st Canadian Infantry Division and 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade took over Eighth Army’s lead and drew the job of forcing a crossing of The Germans withdrew to the next river - the Moro - and dug in for another round. That cost 2,800 British, New Zealand and Indian casualties.

A two-day fight to win a strategic ridge overlooking the river ensued Despite heavy casualties, on 28 November, Eighth Army launched a major attack to breakout of its bridgehead. ArrivingĪt the Sangro River, the British won a small bridgehead on 24 November. He envisioned seizing the Italian capital before Christmas. In early November, British Eighth Army’s Major General Bernard Montgomery decided that a bold advance up the Adriatic coast could enable a left hook from the town of Pescara inland to Rome. Between these two lines lay the militarily impossible mountains of the Apennines. While the Bernhard Line stood behind the Sangro River. The Gustav Line hinged on the high point of Monte Cassino, First came the capture of the island of Sicily, followed byĪ slow advance up the boot of mainland Italy.īy the fall of 1943, the advance had bogged down in the face of determined German resistance, anchored on two defensive positions – the Gustav Line to the west and the Bernhard Line in the east.

Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy 1943-1945 (1956), Map 11, Department of National Defence) Italian CampaignĪllied forces, including Canadians, had invaded Italy in July 1943, opening up a new front in southern Europe. The Battle for Ortona (inset) and the Adriatic Sector, 28 November 1943 to 4 January 1944.

Major tank battles after wwii