Italian Campaign
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Italian Campaign |
| The Italian Campaign refers to the invasions of Sicily and Italy that began in 1943. Canada participated in both of these invasions and is best known for their innovative street fighting strategy known as "mouse-holing" used in the Battle of Ortona. |
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Stills |
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| pa-177156lg.jpg | Observation Post, "B" Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, in Potenza, Italy, 24 September 1943. From left to right, Gunner Chuck Drickerson (rangefinder), Signalman Jim Tully (telephone), Regimental Sergeant-Major George Gilpin (plotting board), Captain G.E. Baxter (field glasses), and Signalman Hugh Graham (radio). Photo by Alexander M. Stirton. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-177156. |
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| pa-107935lg.jpg | Canadian troops moving anti-tank gun into position during street fighting in Ortona, 21 December 1943. Photo by Terry F. Rowe. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-107935. |  |
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| pa-163670lg.jpg | Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in action over a rise, near Valguarnera, Sicily, 20 July 1943. Enemy heavy trucks are ablaze in the distance. Photo by Frank Royal. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-163670. |  |
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| pa-116844lg.jpg | Private Thomas Hawkins, Royal Canadian Regiment, digging slit trench near Motta, Italy, 3 October 1943. Photo by J.H. Smith. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada. PA-116844. |  |
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| pa-163411lg.jpg | Platoon Commander Lieutenant I. Macdonald (with binoculars) ready to give order to attack at S. Leonardo di Ortona, Italy, 10 December 1943. Left to right, Sergeant J.T. Cooney, Privates A.R. Downie, O.E. Bernier, G.R. Young (kneeling, with Lee-Enfield rifle), Corporal T. Fereday and Private S.L. Hart (lying down with Bren gun) all of the 48th Highlanders. Photo by Frederick G. Whitcombe. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-163411. |
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| PA-152749lrg.jpg | Company "B" of the Seaforth Highlanders moving along a mined coastal path December 21st, 1943; Ortona can be seen in the distance. Photo by Frederick G. Whitcombe. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-152749. |
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| pa-132903lg.jpg | Service point for rations, Normandy, 7 August 1944. Photo by Donald I. Grant. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-132903. |
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| pa-151180lg.jpg | Army Supply vehicles on their way to the front, packed along a track the Engineers ran through the Rapido River flats at the junction of the Rapido and Liri Rivers, near Cassino, Italy, 21 May 1944. Photo by W.H. Agnew. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA- 151180. |
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| pa-142076lg.jpg | Diamond T tractor-trailer transporters hauling Sherman tanks of the 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade, Manfredonia, Italy, 12 October 1943. Photo by Dwight E. Dolan. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-142076. |
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| PA-166751lrg.jpg | The landing in Pachino, Sicily, July 10th, 1943 Photo by Frank Royal. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-166751. |
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| PA-151748lrg.jpg | Amid heat and dust, gunners of the 7th Battery, 2nd Field Artillery Regiment firing at enemy positions with a 25-pounder gun, Nissoria, July 28th, 1943. Photo by Frank Royal. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-151748. |
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| PA-137512lrg.jpg | On the road to Agira, Allied jeeps driving by torched German vehicles, around July 28th, 1943. Photo by Jack H. Smith. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-137512. |
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| PA-170290lrg.jpg | Régiment de Trois-Rivières tanks entering the ruins of Regalbuto, August 4th, 1943. Photo by Jack H. Smith, Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-170290. |
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| PA-177114rg.jpg | The Royal 22e Regiment landing on the beach at Reggio di Calabria on the morning of September 3rd, 1943 Photo by Alexander M. Stirton. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-177114. |
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| PA-177088lrg.jpg | In the mountains of Calabria, the progression of tanks and armoured vehicles was often slowed down as many bridges had been destroyed by the retreating German forces. The 1st Field Company of the Royal Canadian Corps of Engineers setting up a Bailey bridge over a ravine of the Straorini River, September 4th, 1943. Photo by Jack H. Smith. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-177088. |
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| PA-144103lrg.jpg | From higher ground, a 14th Armoured Regiment (Calgary) Sherman tank covers the progression of the West Nova Scotia Regiment towards Potenza, September 20th, 1943. Photo by Alexander M. Stirton. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-144103. |
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| PA-135904lrg.jpg | Troops of the Cape Breton Highlanders moving along a road near the Melfa river, May 24th, 1944. A dead German soldier lies by the roadside. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-135904. |
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| PA-185004lrg.jpg | Canadian gunners during the attack against the Gothic Line, around August 24th, 1944. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada PA-185004. |
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| pa-141671lg.jpg | Soldier firing 6-pounder anti-tank gun at the end of a street in Ortona, Italy, 21 December 1943. Photo by Terry F. Rowe. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-141671. |
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| PA-152749lrg.jpg | Tanks of the Régiment de Trois-Rivières driving along the corso Vittorio Emanuele towards the Piazza Municipale, December 23rd, 1943. Photo by Terry F. Rowe. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-114029. |
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| PA-114040lrg.jpg | The battle over, the population resumes its daily activities in a city in ruins; a young woman hanging clothes to dry amid the rubble, January 13th, 1944. Photo by Terry F. Rowe. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-114040. |
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| PA-136308lrg.jpg | The San Tommaso Cathedral in Ortona was literally gutted during the December 1943 fighting. Photo by Terry F. Rowe. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-136308. |
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| It_still_01.jpg | Canadians in Sicily |  |
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| It_still_02.jpg | Use chains |  |
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Video |
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| it_001.mpg | Canadians invited to take part of in the Invasion of Sicily. |  |
6 sec |
| it_002.mpg | Street fighting or "mouse holing" in Italy. |  |
9 sec |
| it_003.mpg | The horrible mud in Italy during the winter. |  |
6 sec |
| it_006.mpg | Canadians in Italy- prepare to push toward the Alps but must push through the last German stronghold - The Gothic line. |  |
5 sec |
| it_007.mpg | Canadian soldiers in Italy. |  |
14 sec |
| it_008.mpg | Canadian tanks push forward in Italy. |
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47 sec |
| it_009.mpg | Canadian infantry moves forward in the Italian heat and dust. |  |
33 sec |
| it_010.mpg | Italian refugees. |  |
3 sec |