Reaching monte cassino in 1944, the force suffered 1600 casualties in 12 weeks of bitter fighting. The italian campaign of world war ii consisted of allied and axis operations in and around italy, from 1943 to 1945. Some other good references are after the battle issues cassino, 52 anzio, 95 salerno, 129 florence and 152 rome. For those interested in reading about canada s contribution to the italian campaign during ww2 here are a series of books by the canadian military historian, mark zuehlke, that may interest some members. The italian campaign was one of the major campaigns canadians fought during the second world war. How important was the italian campaign during wwii.
The battle of monte cassino was a costly series of four assaults by the allies against the winter line in italy held by axis forces during the italian campaign of world war ii. In the river battles, mark zuehlke vividly chronicles the. Winter line stories original stories from the front lines of the italian campaign by us army liaison officer major ralph r. After the defeat of the axis forces in north africa, the stage is set for the allies to reenter the occupied european mainland. The italian campaign world war ii wallace, robert on.
Back in canada, he turned up hundreds of historical records more than enough to. The joint allied forces headquarters afhq was operationally responsible for all allied land forces in the mediterranean theatre and it planned and led the invasion of sicily in july 1943, followed in september by the invasion of the italian mainland and the campaign in italy. On july 10, 1943, two great allied armadas of over 2,000 ships readied to invade sicily. Canadians in italy, 19431945 lots of media and photos and info on canadians in the italian theatre. I would conjecture that this is due to the heavy involvement of french free forces mostly from northern africa and to the fact that this was the first time in wwii where french forces inflicted significant. American readers may not come across too many books on the canadian role in wwii europe. Gebirgskrieg, mountain war was a series of battles at the border between austriahungary and italy, fought between 1915 and 1918 in world war i. Allied troops captured rome on 4 june 1944, presenting a great opportunity for aggressive exploitation northward. The day of battle by rick atkinson is a very detailed description of the italian campaign mainly from the us and british perspective, but with plenty of input from german commanders.
Canadas final campaign in world war ii italy canadian battle series. The italian campaign, from july 10, 1943, to may 2, 1945, was a series of allied beach landings and land battles from sicily and southern italy up the italian mainland toward nazi germany during. The main purpose for the allies going in to italy was because they wanted to create a position in italy, so they could attack the german. Italy did not fight on the side of its allies germany and austria in 1914 when the war started. The internment of italiancanadians during wwii last month, it was hard to miss all the news about wwii for those of us in the italiancanadian community. The italian campaign ended in the spring of 1945, with germanys eventual surrender. Italian campaign july 10, 1943 in this battle, after landing in sicily, canadians first task was to capture reggio, and they did as there were little german defense. During the second world war, the north african campaign took place in north africa from 10 june 1940 to may 1943. The canadians who had slogged their way through italy from south to north since 1943 would not see victory there, participating instead in the liberation of the netherlands, and the eventual invasion and defeat of.
The years back 6, the italian campaign episode six. The present volume describes in some detail the canadian armys part in the italian campaignthe operations which began with the allied invasion of sicily in july 1943 and, developing into an arduous advance up the italian peninsula, ended with the german. Italian front in wwii ebooks by campaignbattle view italian front in wwii books. Other articles where italian campaign is discussed. In french common historiography as presented for instance in history textbooks, the italian campaign is treated with great importance. The italian campaign was new zealands primary combat contribution to the war following the hardwon victory over axis forces in north africa. The campaign after the allied landing at anzio was bitterly fought by the germans and cost many allied lives. The canadians who had slogged their way through italy from south to north since 1943 would not see victory there, participating instead in the liberation of the netherlands, and the eventual invasion and defeat of germany itself.
Dispatches in this volume include that on the conquest of sicily from 10 july 1942 to 17 august 1943 by fieldmarshall viscount alexander of tunis. These are two other books that i am yet to read, the last one being a new release due out soon. The italian campaign of wwii by ben hayles on prezi. If the italian and south of france fronts had not been opened, all the german fighting strength not consentrated on the russian front would have been fighting against the. The years back 6, the italian campaign episode six in this the years back episode bernard kearns charts new zealands 6th brigade and maori battalion as they fight their way through italy between 1943 and 1945. A brief outline of the key events of the italian campaign, particularly focusing on the involvement of new zealand. These battles happened in in the mountains of northern italy between the years 1915 and 1918. The fivemonth monte cassino campaign in central italy is one of the bestknown european land battles of world war two, alongside d. The history of the allied operations that knocked fascist italy out of the war chronicles the crucial fighting, which featured the largest amphibious invasion in history at the time. Almost all the new zealanders who served in italy did so as members of the 2nd new zealand division a highly competent fighting force affectionately known as the div. Italian front in wwii ebooks by campaign battle view italian front in wwii books. The allies invasion of italy and the italian volteface, 1943. Notable for canada was the battle in the liri valley, with the ensuing liberation of rome by the american army on june 4, 1944. It included campaigns fought in the libyan and egyptian deserts western desert campaign, also known as the desert war and in morocco and algeria operation torch and tunisia tunisia campaign.
Buy italian campaign world war ii by wallace, robert isbn. The primary focus of my website will be the period after the capture of rome in june 1944, because most history books do not cover the last year of the war in italy. Major areas for discussion included the european invasion in 1944, landings in sicily and italy after the tunisian campaign, the bombing of germany and the continuation of the war in burma and the pacific. Canadians were then instructed to push into the central mountain range, which is where they fought their first fight against germany, and captured campobasso.
But the italian campaign was far from a holiday with pay. A fifteenmonth chronicle of reality as it happened in the midst of the italian campaign of world war ii the bloodiest conflict in the history of humankind with an estimated death toll of near 70 million people. The italian campaign was a series of battles fought between austriahungary and italy. Jun 14, 2016 but the italian campaign was far from a holiday with pay.
The italian campaign included canadian participation in several major periods of action. There is also the rather short section on the italian campaign in the drzw series, vol. But i have never found any books which seemed to be devoted exclusively to the italian campaign of this war. Official history of the canadian army in the second world war. Between 1939 1943 canadian troops fight in many different battles alongside british and french troops. As a long time reader of military history it seems i have read histories of pretty much every aspect of world war two. Dec 09, 20 canada and the italian campaign in wwii 1. This page is best viewed in an uptodate web browser with style sheets css enabled. That may seem strange, but last month saw the release of a number of projects that documented how italiancanadians were treated during that tense time in canadian, and world, history. Publishers of a variety of military, aviation, maritime, local history, true crime and nostalgia books. Memoirs of a junior infantry officer in world war ii, 1988.
World war ii italian campaign 85th infantry division. Dec 12, 2014 85th infantry division in world war ii by paul l. Bill mcandrew, canadians and the italian campaign, 19431945, 1996. Advertisment cbc digital archives cbc butterfly logo. Canadas italian campaign, which culminated in these river battles, lasted 20. Italian campaign canadas role in world war iis major.
The italian resistance was partly offset by partisan fighters. Advance to florence was a battle honour granted to canadian regiments participating in actions in june, july and august 1944 south of the city of florence, a phase of the italian campaign during the second world war background. However, it was incredibly important to the allies as it allowed 100% control over the mediterranean, cutting the axis off from the valuable resources of the balkands, removing hitlers only ally capable of doing anything, and essentially taking the entire german. This book covers one of the most intensive engagements the canadians had in italy. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. January 1943 casablanca conference prime minister churchill and president roosevelt with their chiefs of staff met for this important conference. From the beaches of sicily to the hitler line with the seaforth highlanders of canada, 19431944, 1996. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. This period is after the front opened in france and italy became known as as the forgotten front. I noted from another thread that you are surely aware of the books on monte cassino. Canadas month of hell in world war ii italy mark zuehlke. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the italian campaign like never before. Almost all the new zealanders who served in italy did so as members of the 2nd new zealand division a highly competent.
Canada remembers the italian campaign history the italian. Canadians were then instructed to push into the central mountain range, which is where they fought their. From sicily, the allies had a wide choice of directions for their next offensive. Canadian soldiers served in italy from 10 july 1943 to the spring of 1945. It was well understood, however, that the italian campaign should in no way interfere with the.
Calabria, the toe of italy, was the nearest and most obvious possible destination, and the shin was also vulnerable. See more ideas about world war ii, world war and war. The italian campaign and the battle of ortona in july 1943, canadian, british, and american forces launched an assault on the italian island of sicily tired of war, the italians offered little resistance to the allied invaders by september of 1943, the allies had pushed on the italian mainlandthe battle for the mainland would be a greater challenge for the allies thoughthey encountered. The italian campaign the italian campaign nzhistory. I would recommend this book for anyone who has a serious interest in ww2, the italian campaign and alliedcanadian ground. Full of detailed history and facts of 85th custer division, such as training in us and even includes a brief history of its ww1 experience. For more than a week in december 1943, elements of the canadian 1 st infantry division bitterly clashed with the elite german 1 st parachute division over the town of ortona, a normally peaceful adriatic coast community of 10,000. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Canada and the italian campaign in wwii linkedin slideshare. Following the secret promises made by the allies in the treaty of london, italy entered the war in order to annex the austrian littoral and northern dalmatia, and. Media in category maps of world war ii in italy the following 110 files are in this category, out of 110 total.
In the mind of allied strategists and military leaders, the campaign of italy was not the logical. The official history of the canadian army in the second world war was a three volume set of. This web site contains information on the italian campaign in world war 2. Search terms must be at least 3 characters in length. This is the best info on the participation of the 85th division in the italian campaign. The italian campaign of world war ii book depository. The fivemonth monte cassino campaign in central italy is one of the bestknown european land battles of world war two, alongside dday and stalingrad. In the late summer and fall of 1944, the allies broke through germanys gothic line in the. Italian campaign world war i simple english wikipedia.
Using nfu pictures, the documentary traces the advance north after cassino falls. Authored by colonel stacey, the book was a 159page look at canadas experiences. Fighting in the italian campaign continued as the allies made their way north through many german defensive positions. The italian campaign isnt mentioned mainly because the entire thing boiled down to the allies attacking, and the axis retreating. The third, dealing with the campaign in northwest europe in 194445, is in preparation. Media in category italian campaign world war ii the following 148 files are in this category, out of 148 total. The war in sicily and italy, 19431944 by rick atkinson, corps commanders.
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