Hell & High Water - Canada and the Italian Campaign WWII

Buy the Dundurn book - now available on-line on Amazon and Chapters. The book tells the story of Canada's role in the Italian Campaign in WWII, interweaving interviews with veterans and illustrated with hundreds of archival photos and numerous maps. Written by the author of the bestselling books "D-Day: Canada's 24 Hours Of Destiny" (2004) and "Canada And The Liberation Of The Netherlands" (2005). Check out www.dundurn.com for more details.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• WWII
• military
• history
• Canada
• Italy
• Italian
• Campaign
• veterans
• war
• World
• War
• II
• battle
• Lance
• Goddard

[mbonnar]

Is the book mainly filled out with photographs and drawings?

[tvboy61]

It is a mix of text and photos. The text is an overview of the Canadian role in the Italian Campaign with lots of interviews with veterans about their experiences during the war.

[guitar241990]

Canada was one of the first countries to declare war on Germany. They did in 1939. The United States didn't declare war until 1941. They fought in the Pacific and entered Europe in 1944...a solid year before it ended. Most people don't realize Canada was in Europe from the start. They don't get enough credit at all.

[heliodor001]

I am always amazed and disheartened that the Canadians are never recognized in the media etc; for their participation in the Italian campain. I don't think that the aiiles would have won so easily without them.

[jordan390a]

Canada played a crucial role in the outsome of both WWI and WWII.

Why do you think Hitler found it so important to commandeer the Vimy Memorial..?

Hitler was traumatised in WWI by Canadian "Shock Troops", and never underestimated them again.

[pallii]

@OBSysteme my city, Ancona, was freed by the polish army.

the whole italian campaign is probably underrated by the medias, and so its partecipants, who sacrfied a lot of lives for the liberation italy.

[MultiMarcus99]

@guitar241990 Hilter decelcered war on usa a wea kafter pearl barbo

[MadNing420]

d-day doggers where the unsung heros of wwII canadian pride some of the most hard fought battles dwn in the ol dirty muddy italian boot

[Number7smokesForEver]

Canadian Divisions ALWAYS punched way above their weight being some of the most if not the most widely used divisions but you are right. In particular we should NEVER EVER forget the Polish contribution to the Allied cause in the Second World War - the first to fight and some of the most dedicated. Those men fought to liberate other lands when their own was under brutal occupation and the possibility and later reality of failing under that of another tyrannical regime.

[OBSysteme]

Canadians are not the only under-reported participants of that campain... In fact, Two groups that performed critical breakthroughs were the Polish divisions and the French divisions.

[OBSysteme]

@heliodor001 In fact, the Canadians performed brilliantly in Italy.. but things have to be put in perspective.. there were only two Canadian division in Italy,,, compared to the number of American and British troops, it is quite negligible. Also, there were New Zealand division, Indian divisions, even a Polish Division of freed ex german captives. There were I think four French division from North Africa. So even more french troops than canadians participeted there, which is very underreported.

[MaRcoPoLo12232]

the Italian Campaign was the forgotten war...

[kapquarfa]

Hitler said himself that Canadian soldiers fought with quality, not quantity

[Number7smokesForEver]

@ventus16

Very interesting. I have seen the pic in a few books before. In case you didn't know and were interested the picture was taken during the battle for Campochiaro, Italy on October 23, 1943. One thing most people wouldn't pick up is that it illustrates the shortage of even the simplest items even this early on. Your father has apparently lost his original battleblouse and has replaced it with a discarded German tropical shirt though he has taken the time to sew on 'CANADA' titles.