Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War
Volume II
The Canadians in Italy 1943–1945
by Lt-Col. G. W. L. Nicholson
Deputy Director, Historical Section, General Staff
Maps drawn by Captain C. C. J. Bond
Ottawa
1956
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: The Allied Decision To Invade Sicily
The Invitation for Canadian Participation in the Mediterranean Theatre – The Casablanca Conference – Early Planning for Operation HUSKY – The Second Outline Plan – Further Revision of the Plan – The Final Plan of Attack – The Background to Canadian Participation
Chapter 2: The 1st Division Goes to the Mediterranean
After Long Waiting – The 1st Division “Takes Over” – Canadian Planning Begins – Training for the Assault – Administrative Preparations – The Convoy Programme – Embarkation and Sailing – The Voyage to Sicily – In Mediterranean Waters
Chapter 3: The Invasion of Sicily, 10 July 1943
Sicily and its People – The Defences of the Island – The German Garrison – The Allied Pattern of Assault – The Role of the 1st Canadian Division – The Canadian Landings and the Capture of the First Objectives – How Canada Learned the News – Early Allied Successes – The Advance Inland
Chapter 4: The First Fighting in the Sicilian Hills, 14–22 July 1943
Plans for Further Action – The First Encounter with the Germans – Grammichele, 15 July – Piazza Armerina, 16 July – The Fighting at Grottacalda and Valguarnera, 17–18 July – The By-Passing of Enna – The 1st Brigade Takes Assoro, 20–22 July – The Capture of Leonforte by the 2nd Brigade, 21–22 July
Chapter 5: The Beginning of the Eastward Drive, 23–31 July 1943
The Conquest of Western Sicily – Reinforcing the German Garrison – The Eighth Army’s Change of Plan – The Opening of the Struggle for Agira, 23 July – The Reverse at Nissoria, 24–25 July – The Winning of “Lion” and “Tiger” Ridges, 26 July – The Capture of “Grizzly” and the Entry into Agira, 27–28 July – The 3rd Brigade in the Dittaino Valley – Preliminaries to Operation “Hardgate” – The Catenanuova Bridgehead, 29–30 July
Chapter 6: Final Stages of the Sicilian Campaign, 31 July–17 August 1943
The Capture of Regalbuto, 31 July–2 August – The Fighting North of the Salso – Hill 736, 2–5 August – The Thrust Eastward from the Troina, 5 August – Mount Revisotto and Mount Seggio, 5–6 August – The Halt at the Simeto – The Army Tank Brigade’s Part in HUSKY – The German Retreat from Sicily – A Respite from Combat
Chapter 7: The Invasion of the Italian Mainland, 3 September 1943
Early Proposals for Post–Sicilian Operations – The Decision to Mount Operation BAYTOWN – Planning for BAYTOWN – Enemy Dispositions in Italy – Prelude to Invasion – The Assault Across the Strait, 3 September – Over the Aspromonte, 4–8 September
Chapter 8: From Calabria to the Foggia Plain, September 1943
The Capitulation of Italy – The Battle of Salerno, 9–16 September – The Canadian Advance up the East Coast – The Drive to Potenza, 17–20 September – Patrols to the Ofanto
Chapter 9: The Fortore and Biferno Rivers, October 1943
The Canadians Move Westward from Foggia – The 1st Brigade’s Advance from Motta to the Fortore, 2–6 October – The Capture of Gambatesa by the 3rd Brigade, 7–8 October – The 2nd Brigade’s Fighting on the Left Flank, 6–12 October – The Occupation of Campobasso, 13–14 October – The Three Rivers Regiment at Termoli, 5–6 October – Clearing the Right Bank of the Upper Biferno, 15–24 October – The Fighting West of the Biferno – The German Plans for the Winter Campaign
Chapter 10: The Upper Sangro Diversion and the Battle of the Moro River, November–December 1943
The Allied Decision to Take Rome – The Allied Armies Reach the Winter Line – The 3rd Brigade’s Demonstration on the Upper Sangro, 16–30 November – The Fighting for Point 1069, 23–24 November – The Eighth Army Breaks the Bernhard Line – The 1st Canadian Division at the Moro River – The First Crossings and the Capture of Villa Rogatti, 6 December – The Battle for San Leonardo, 8–9 December
Chapter 11: Ortona, December 1943
The Advance from the Moro, 10–11 December – The Fight for the Gully – Casa Berardi, 13–15 December – The Capture of “Cider” Crossroads, 18–19 December – The Approach to Ortona, 20 December – The 2nd Brigade’s Struggle in the Streets – Christmas Day – and the End of the Battle – Clearing to the Riccio, 22 December–4 January – The Offensive is Abandoned
Chapter 12: The Ortona Salient, January–April 1944
The Background of Operation “Timberwolf” – Planning for the Movement – The 1st Canadian Corps Arrives in Italy – Equipping the 5th Armoured Division – Vehicles and Guns for the Corps Troops – The “Arielli show”, 17 January – The Anzio Landings and the German Reaction – The Attack Along the Villa Grande–Tollo Road, 30–31 January – “The Adriatic Barricade”
Chapter 13: The Battle For Rome Begins, May 1944
Allied Plans for the Spring Offensive – Outwitting the Enemy – The German Defences South of Rome – The Assault of the Gustav Line, 11 May – The Advance to the Hitler Line, 16–19 May – Preliminaries to Operation “Chesterfield” – The Launching of the Assault, 23 May – The Hitler Line is Breached
Chapter 14: The End of the Battle for Rome, 24 May–4 June 1944
The Exploitation by the 5th Canadian Armoured Division – The Battle at the Melfa, 24–25 May – The Enemy’s Plans for Retreat – Bridgeheads Over the Liri, 26–28 May – Up the Sacco Valley to Frosinone, 29–31 May – The Final Phase – The First Special Service Force in Italy
Chapter 15: The Advance to Florence, June–August 1944
Enemy Intentions After the Fall of Rome – ANVIL is Given Priority – Canadian Tanks at the Trasimene Line, 21–28 June – The Advance to the Arezzo Line, 29 June–16 July – The Pursuit to the Arno, 16 July–5 August – The Organization of the 12th Brigade – The Red Patch at Florence, 5–6 August – Canadian Armour Across the Arno
Chapter 16: The Breaking of the Gothic Line, 25 August–2 September 1944
The Enemy Bewildered – The Allied Change of Plan – The Gothic Line Defences – Preparations for the Attack – The Enemy Surprised – The Advance from the Metauro Bridgehead, 26–27 August – The Fighting at the Arzilla River Line, 28–29 August – The Assault on the Gothic Line, 30–31 August – The Capture of Point 253 and Tomba di Pesaro, 1 September – To the Conca and the Sea
Chapter 17: The Battle of the Rimini Line, 3–22 September 1944
The Offensive is Checked – The Capture of Coriano Ridge, 13 September – First Crossings Over the Marano, 14 September – The 3rd Brigade Takes San Lorenzo in Correggiano, 15 September – The Reverse at San Martino in Monte l’Abate, 16–18 September – The Fighting at the River Ausa, 17–19 September – The Assault of San Fortunato Ridge, 19–20 September – Bridgeheads Over the Marecchia – The Greeks Occupy Rimini, 21 September – “A Great, Hard-Fought Victory”
Chapter 18: Into the Lombard Plain, September–October 1944
The 5th Armoured Division’s Advance from the Marecchia – The German Decision Not to Withdraw – The Halt at the Fiumicino, 28 September–10 October – The Crossing of the Pisciatello and the Advance to Cesena, 11–19 October – Cumberland Force on the Coastal Flank – The Savio Bridgeheads, 20–23 October – The Pursuit to the Ronco – Allied Plans for the Winter Campaign – The Armoured Brigade in the Apennines
Chapter 19: The Battle of the Rivers, December 1944
The Canadian Corps in Reserve – The Operations of Porterforce, 28 October–30 November – The Planning of Operation “Chuckle” – The 1st Division’s Repulse at the Lamone, 2–5 December – The Capture of Ravenna, 4 December – The Corps Assault Across the Lamone, 10–11 December – The Naviglio Bridgeheads, 12–15 December – The 1st Brigade’s Fight South of Bagnacavallo, 16–18 December – The Advance to the Senior, 19–21 December – The Offensive Abandoned
Chapter 20: The End of the Campaign, January–February 1945
Clearing the Granarolo Salient, 3–5 January – The 5th Armoured Division’s Advance to the Valli di Comacchio, 2–6 January – Holding the Winter Line – The Case for Reuniting the First Canadian Army – Operation GOLDFLAKE, the Move to North-West Europe – The 1st Special Service Battalion on the Riviera – The Final Allied Offensive in Italy, 9 April–2 May – From Pachino to the Senio – The Balance sheet
Appendix A: Allied Order of Battle–Allied Armies in Italy, 25 August 1944
Appendix B: Enemy Order of Battle–Army Group “C”, 12 August 1944
Appendix C: Canadian Army Units in Italy, 19 August 1944
The Pronunciation of Italian Geographical Names
Ortona, by Major C. F. Comfort, Frontispiece – Off to Sicily – The Pachino Beaches – The Approach to Leonforte – Canadian Artillery in Sicily – Agira from the West – Nissoria from the South-West – The Ruins of Regalbuto – A Mule Train in Sicily – The Canadian Army Commander in Sicily – Embarkation for Operation BAYTOWN – Canadian Armour Lands in Italy – Canadian Sappers Assist the Advance – Potenza from across the Basento Valley – Overlooking the Fortore Valley – The Approach to Campobasso – The Clearing of Campochiaro – The Pipes Play in “Maple Leaf City” – The Biferno Valley from Oratino – San Pietro, 26 November 1943 – “Rail-Rooting”, November 1943 – Visit of the Minister of National Defence – GOC’s Orders – The Moro Valley looking North-West – The CIGS Visits the 1st Canadian Division – Ortona – Entry into Ortona – Fighting in an Ortona Alley – Canadian Tanks in Ortona – A Hit by German Mortars – A Company Headquarters in the Ortona Salient – With the Canadian Provost Corps in Italy – Tanks in an Artillery Role – Change of Command, 1st Canadian Corps – Canadian Artillery at Castelfrentano – Visit by the Eighth Army Commander – Junction of the Liri and the Rapido – Canadian Troops Relieve Indians in the Liri Valley – Supplies to the Front – The Liri Valley from Piedimonte – A German Anti–Tank Position in the Hitler Line – Canadian Gunners View a German Weapon – Pontecorvo, 24 May 1944 – Patrol in Blackface on the Anzio Beachhead – Arrival of CWAC in Italy – San Fortunato Ridge from San Lorenzo in Correggiano – Canadian Armour at the Uso – Action at Cesena, 20 October 1944 – German Anti-Tank Defences along the Adriatic – The Lamone River – Distinguished Visitors at Corps Headquarters – Commanders Discuss the Move to France – improvised Winter Quarters in the Apennines – Operation GOLDFLAKE
Maps
Southern Italy, 10 July 1943–9 June 1944
1. Sicily, 10 July–17 August 1943
2. South-Eastern Sicily, 10–12 July 1943
3. Giarratana to Valguarnera, 14–18 July 1943
4. The Fighting for Agira, 24–28 July 1943
5. Valguarnera to the Simeto, 19 July–7 August 1943
6. The Landings in Southern Italy, 3–5 September 1943
7. Out of the Aspromonte, 6–8 September 1943
8. The Advance to the Foggia Plain, 8 September–1 October 1943
9. The Fighting on the Upper Fortore and Biferno, 1 October–6 November 1943
10. The Upper Sangro, 5–26 November 1943
11. The Adriatic Sector, 28 November 1943–4 January 1944
12. The Italian Front, 11 May 1944
13. The Breaking of the Gustav and Hitler Lines, 11–23 May 1944
14. The Breakout from the Hitler Line, 24–28 May 1944
15. The Battle for Rome, 11 May–4 June 1944
16. Operations of First Special Service Force, 2 December 1943–17 January 1944
17. The Advance to the Arno, 21 June–5 August 1944
18. The Advance to the Gothic Line, 26–29 August 1944
19. The Breaking of the Gothic Line, 30 August–3 September 1944
20. The Advance to Rimini, 3–22 September 1944
21. Into the Romagna, 22 September–20 October 1944
22. The Crossing of the Savio, 21–28 October 1944
23. The Advance Towards Bologna, September 1944–January 1945
24. Operations of Porterforce, 28 October–28 November 1944
25. From the Montone to the Senio, 2 December 1944–5 January 1945
Northern Italy, 10 June 1944–25 February 1945 (back end-paper)
Sketches
1. Operation HUSKY, The Progress of Planning
2. The Capture of Regalbuto, 30 July–2 August 1943
3. The Fighting at Termoli, 6 October 1943
4. The Adriatic Front, 26 December 1943
5. The Attack Towards the Arielli, 17 January 1944
6. Villa Grande–Tollo Road, 30-31 January 1944
7. German Dispositions, Hitler Line, 23 May 1944
8. Operations, Florence Area, 6 August–1 September 1944
9. Plans for Attack on the Gothic Line
10. The Italian Front, 8 October 1944
11. 1st Brigade’s Attack at the Lamone, 5 December 1944
12. The Italian Front, 31 December 1944
13. First Special Service Force on the Riviera, 15 August–9 September 1944
14. Final Offensive in Italy, 9 April–2 May 1945