Having known that Germany had obtained most of Europe in the preceding years of the war, the Allies knew that a carefully planned attack would be needed to take back the German-occupied regions.
The Allies decided that they were not prepared for fierce conflict yet, so instead, got involved in the North African campaign. They eventually were successful, and were able to inflict heavy losses on the Axis powers. With North Africa fortified by the Allies, they directed their attention to capturing the Italian island of Sicily. Canadians assisted in pushing German and Italian powers farther back into Italy and imposing significant losses on the enemy.
The Allies decided that they were not prepared for fierce conflict yet, so instead, got involved in the North African campaign. They eventually were successful, and were able to inflict heavy losses on the Axis powers. With North Africa fortified by the Allies, they directed their attention to capturing the Italian island of Sicily. Canadians assisted in pushing German and Italian powers farther back into Italy and imposing significant losses on the enemy.
The Battle Up The Boot: Despite the fall of the Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini, and the surrender of the government, Allied forces were still faced with vigorous fighting as they fought their way up the "boot" of Italy.
The Canadians' role in this conflict was seizing power of the city of Ortona, located near the Adriatic Sea. To reach Ortona, Canadian soldiers had to go up the surrounding mountains for almost four months, and once they arrived, they had to engage in street combat with German troops. Although the campaign cost many Canadian soldiers their lives, the city was under Canadian reign by December 28, 1943.
The Canadians' role in this conflict was seizing power of the city of Ortona, located near the Adriatic Sea. To reach Ortona, Canadian soldiers had to go up the surrounding mountains for almost four months, and once they arrived, they had to engage in street combat with German troops. Although the campaign cost many Canadian soldiers their lives, the city was under Canadian reign by December 28, 1943.
The Devil's Brigade: In 1942, a group of Canadian and American men were congregated into the First Special Service Force that altered the way the military functioned thereafter. This group of elite soldiers were trained more extensively and more strenuously than any other unit, and thus, completed the most difficult and dangerous tasks. In doing so, they developed a menacing reputation that even the harshly-trained Germans could not deny.