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Battle Timeline
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Historical Recount
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Photo Gallery
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References
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Discussion
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The
The Battle of Ortona
took place over the space of approximately one week in December 1943,
decimating the village and inflaming the total number of Canadian casualties
during that December to almost 2400. The Canadian army was victorious despite
its massive losses, giving the Battle of Ortona the nick-name of “Little
Stalingrad”.
Timeline source
information: CMHQ Historical Officers Report: Report NO. 129.
Canadian
Operations in
December 1943
After a successful
breakthrough at the Moro, the 1
st
Canadian Division prepares for an
assault on the port town of
20 Dec:
2 Canadian Infantry Brigade forces through German defences to take up
positions on the outskirts of Ortona. The advance is made possible with the
support of 1 Canadian Armour Brigade and a heavy artillery barrage covering
the advancing Canadians’ flanks with smoke screen.
21 Dec:
The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (the “Loyal Eddies”), along with the Seaforth
Highlanders of Canada, supported by armour begin the bloody advance into the
town of
22 Dec:
Canadian commanders divide Ortona into sectors and assign each fighting
battalion a sector to clear of enemies. In a move to reduce pressure on the
Canadians in Ortona, 1 Canadian Infantry Brigade moves into position
northwest of Ortona to cut of key German supply routes.
23/24 Dec:
Canadian reinforcements begin to arrive at Ortona to relieve
exhausted troops and shore up units still embroiled in the bitterly slow and
brutal advance into the town.
24 Dec:
Two days into the advance on Ortona, Canadian soldiers are fighting a
yard-by-yard battle to take the town. The Loyal Eddies and the Seaforths
fight vicious house-to-house battles, and even room-to-room battles against
the occupying German garrison forces.
25 Dec:
Christmas Day brings no relief for Canadian soldiers in their efforts to take
Ortona. Soldiers are rotated back to a Church to enjoy a hot Christmas meal where
possible, though many are shot down by German forces in the attempt. Some
commanders order their men to hold their positions rather than risk getting
killed over trying to make it to Christmas Dinner.
26 Dec:
The slow and perilous advance by Canadian forces begins to pay off as
Canadian commanders in the field begin to report to their superiors that
two-thirds of the battered town are now under Canadian control. However the
battle continues to wage with the German forces making the Canadians fight for
every yard gained in Ortona.
27 Dec:
With the Canadian advance seemingly unstoppable, the German forces begin
their withdrawal from Ortona.
28 Dec:
Canadian forces take full control of Ortona. Canadian casualties for the
month of December 1943 near 2400 men, effectively taking the 1
st
Canadian Division out of the war for a short period in order to rest its
wounds. The
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