Battle of Ortona

The Battle of Ortona was a small, very violent battle fought between German and Canadian troops. It was fought on December 20–28, 1943. It was part of World War II.

Battle of Ortona
Part of the Winter Line and the battle for Rome of the Second World War Italian Campaign
Canadian Armour Passing Through Ortona, by Charles Comfort. Canadian War Museum (CN 12245).
Date December 20–28, 1943 Location Ortona, Italy Result Canadian victory
Belligerents
Canada	Germany
Commanders and leaders
Chris Vokes	Richard Heidrich
Strength
2 Battalions	2 Battalions
Casualties and losses
1375	Unknown
1300 civilian deaths

The battalion of German paratroops were from the German 1st Parachute Division under Generalleutnant Richard Heidrich. The Canadian forces were from the 1st Canadian Infantry Division under Major General Chris Vokes.

It was part of the fighting on the Adriatic area in Italy. The battle has been called "Little Stalingrad" because of the violent, close fighting. The battle took place in the Adriatic Sea town of Ortona, with a population of 10,000.

Background

The Eighth Army's attack on the Winter Line defences started on 23 November. By the end of the month, Allied troops broke through the Gustav Line defences. The Allied troops were fighting towards the Moro river, near Ortona.

Ortona was one of Italy's few deep water ports on the east coast. The Allies wanted to capture the port. The Germans had constructed a series of defensive positions in the town.

The battle

Canadian sniper at the Battle of Ortona

The Canadians had to battle the German 1st Parachute Division. These soldiers were experienced after many years of war. Adolf Hitler ordered them to defend Ortona.

The Canadian attack on the town was on December 20. The Germans had hidden machine guns and anti-tank guns in the town. This made it hard for Canadian tanks and infantry to move. The fighting was very violent. The soldiers fought for every house.

After six days fighting, 2nd Brigade's third battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, joined the battle. Tanks from 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade also joined the battle.

On 28 December, after eight days of fighting, the Germans withdrew from the town. The Canadians had 1,375 dead.

Battle Of Ortona Media

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  Communities around the Moro River. Ortona was a city of strategic importance, as one of Italy's few deep water ports on the east coast.

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  The battle saw house-to-house combat between the German 1st Parachute Division and the Canadian First Infantry Division.

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  A jeep ambulance of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC) bringing in two wounded Canadian soldiers on the Moro River front, south of San Leonardo di Ortona, Italy, December 10, 1943.

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  Private Ralph Forrester of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, 1st Canadian Division, places flowers on the grave of his brother, who was killed in action at Ortona, 16 January 1944.

Bibliography

• Bercuson, David (2001) [1996]. Maple Leaf Against the Axis. Red Deer Press. ISBN 0-88995-305-8. OCLC 55973783.
• Zuehlke, Mark (1999). Ortona: Canada's epic World War II battle. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre. ISBN 1-55054-557-4.