© Minister of Supply and Services Canada 1993 Cat. no. V32-39/1994 ISBN 0-662-02331-5

The Conquest of Sicily

Canadians in Italy

• The Battle in the Liri Valley
• The Road to Rimini

Canadian Cemeteries and Memorials in Italy

Canadian Armed Forces Associated with the Italian Campaign, 1939-1945

Canadian troops played a vital role in the 20-month Mediterranean campaign which led to the liberation of Italy during the Second World War. In fact, this campaign was the first large-scale land operation in which the Canadian Army stationed in Great Britain took part.

In this campaign, which was fought in Sicily from July 10 to August 6, 1943 and in mainland Italy from September 3, 1943 to February 25, 1945, the fighting was particularly bitter. The Germans, taking full advantage of mountain peaks and swiftly running rivers, made Allied advance very difficult and costly. There were 25,264 Canadian casualties in the fighting, including more than 5,900 who were killed.