The Tide Turns
Ch. 5 (p. 144-148)
The Italian Campaign
► War
turning in Allies favour, invasion of France
being planned, second invasion needed to
divide German military
► Italy “soft underbelly” of Europe
► Battle of Sicily: 7/1943, Allies (inc. Canadians)
invade Sicily, move to mainland Italy
► Muddy conditions, slow moving like WWI
► Urban warfare – fighting in streets, buildings
► Battled both Italians and Germans until Italy
surrendered Sept. 1943
The Italian Campaign
The Italian Campaign
► Battle
of Ortona
 Small town on Italy’s east coast
 December 1943, battle in town between
Canadians and Germans
 Long, fierce battle
 Fighting in the streets, from house to house
 Canadians take town by New Years
 1372 Canadians killed
► Nearly
6000 Canadians killed in Italy
The Italian Campaign
The Italian Campaign
The Italian Campaign
Video Clip
► The
Crucible – On the Attack
D-Day
► Full-scale
invasion of Europe
► Codenamed “Operation Overlord”
► Planned and prepared for months in advance
► Launched June 6, 1944
 Had been delayed because of bad weather
British, Americans, and Canadians to invade
coast of Normandy (north coast of France)
► Amphibious attack (originated from the sea)
►
D-Day
► Air
attacks weaken German defences,
paratroopers dropped behind enemy lines
► Ships land soldiers on beaches, shell defences
 5 beaches codenamed Utah and Omaha
(American); Sword and Gold (British); and Juno
(Canadian)
► 30,000
Canadian soldiers storm Juno beach
 Extremely dangerous: concrete barriers and
barbed wire, machine gun nests on shore
 Germans surprised by invasion in poor weather
 359 Canadians killed, 715 wounded
D-Day Animation
D-Day
D-Day
D-Day
D-Day
D-Day Video
► Saving
Private Ryan
The Liberation of Europe
► Reinforcements
pouring in behind D-Day
invasion, Allies work their way eastwards
► Battle of the Scheldt (Belgium – Oct. 1944)
 Scheldt River controlled by Germans
 Bitter fighting for a month, Canadian victory
 Allies use river to get supplies
► Battle
of the Rhineland (N. Germ. – Feb 1945)
 Slow, muddy fighting – 5300 Canadians killed
 Germans were pushed back, allowed Allies access
to Netherlands
Battle of the Scheldt
Battle of the Rhineland
The Liberation of Europe
► Netherlands
Campaign
 Canadians to liberate Netherlands while other
Allies move on to Germany
 Dutch supplies cut-off, land flooded, many
starving to death
 Canadians begin to air drop food
 Spring 1945: attack Germans in Netherlands
 Slow, fierce fighting (similar to Italian
Campaign)
The Liberation of Europe
► Netherlands




Campaign
Canadians eventually surround Germans
Germans in Netherlands surrender May 5, 1945
6300 Canadians killed
Canadians increase food supplies to Dutch,
treated like heroes in victory parades
► Victory
in Europe (V-E Day)
 Germany invaded by British/Americans (west)
and Soviets (east)
 Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945
►Hitler
had committed suicide earlier in his bunker
Netherlands Campaign
Netherlands Campaign
Netherlands Campaign
V-E Day
V-E Day
V-E Day