The Liberation The Liberation of Europeof Europe

The Canadians in Sicily and ItalyThe Canadians in Sicily and Italy

In the summer of 1943, In the summer of 1943, after 3 yrs. of training, after 3 yrs. of training, Canadians were sent to Canadians were sent to SicilySicily

They were to join Br. They were to join Br. troops under General troops under General Montgomery. Montgomery.

The plan was to trap the The plan was to trap the Italian and Ger. soldiers Italian and Ger. soldiers before they could escape before they could escape to the mainland. to the mainland.

The next step would be The next step would be to attack Italy, the to attack Italy, the weakest of the Axis weakest of the Axis powers.powers.

•The Canadians The Canadians (along with Br. (along with Br. and U.S. forces) and U.S. forces) landed on the landed on the Italian mainland in Italian mainland in late 1943.late 1943.

•The Allies moved The Allies moved towards Rome, towards Rome, but it would be a but it would be a difficult campaigndifficult campaign

The Canadians at OrtonaThe Canadians at Ortona

The route to Rome The route to Rome was blocked by the was blocked by the Germans at Ortona Germans at Ortona and Cdn forces were and Cdn forces were ordered to capture the ordered to capture the town.town.

The Germans had The Germans had blown up all the blown up all the bridges in the area bridges in the area and the steep and the steep countryside gave countryside gave them an advantage. them an advantage.

On Dec. 27th the On Dec. 27th the Canadians captured Canadians captured OrtonaOrtona

Germans Defending a Street

German under fire in Ortona

The Canadians at OrtonaThe Canadians at Ortona Can. casualties were Can. casualties were

high – many had to be high – many had to be evacuated because of evacuated because of sickness and battle sickness and battle fatigue.fatigue.

By June 1944. the By June 1944. the Allies captured Rome.Allies captured Rome.

Canadians continued Canadians continued fighting until 1945 in fighting until 1945 in Italy, and then were Italy, and then were re-united in north-re-united in north-western Europe as the western Europe as the 1st Canadian army.1st Canadian army.

Canadian Infantry in Ortona

Italy surrendered Italy surrendered by the end of by the end of Sept. (Mussolini Sept. (Mussolini was deposed), but was deposed), but the Germans had the Germans had taken over the taken over the country.country.

Mussolini, after being killed he was hung at a gas station along with 15 other leading fascists. People were allowed to desecrate his body in order to take out their frustrations with his rule.

D-Day/The Normandy InvasionD-Day/The Normandy Invasion The The “lessons of Dieppe”“lessons of Dieppe”

(?) were taken into account (?) were taken into account in 1944 - better planning & in 1944 - better planning & communications and a communications and a unified command were in unified command were in place place

Supreme Allied Supreme Allied CommanderCommander = =

The invasion was preceded The invasion was preceded by: effective training – by: effective training – attention to detail attention to detail

- Meteorology/Geology - Meteorology/Geology – – Espionage/Disinformation Espionage/Disinformation

((La ResistanceLa Resistance) ) – – Massive naval/aerial prelim. Massive naval/aerial prelim.

bombardment bombardment – – Tech. improvements Tech. improvements

("("FunniesFunnies")...")...

all were taken into acc't all were taken into acc't in this ambitious plan in this ambitious plan that sought to open a that sought to open a 2nd front against Ger. in 2nd front against Ger. in W. Europe and therefore W. Europe and therefore bring WW II to an end. bring WW II to an end.

The plan was to invade The plan was to invade Normandy w/ an invasion Normandy w/ an invasion force of 150 000 men, force of 150 000 men, inc. 30 000 Cdns. inc. 30 000 Cdns.

The Americans attacked The Americans attacked on the w. (Utah and on the w. (Utah and Omaha beaches), w/ the Omaha beaches), w/ the Br. and Cdns. taking the Br. and Cdns. taking the e. (Gold, Sword, and e. (Gold, Sword, and JunoJuno beaches. beaches.

7000 ships played a role 7000 ships played a role here too, and all the here too, and all the allied air forces allied air forces participated in this participated in this largest invasion in world largest invasion in world history. history.

After all the After all the planning, the planning, the invasion (invasion (Op. Op. OverlordOverlord) - surprise ) - surprise intact - took place on intact - took place on June 6, 1944June 6, 1944. .

There were still sig. There were still sig. probs. - American probs. - American forces at Omaha forces at Omaha beach were hard hit, beach were hard hit, and Cdn. forces were and Cdn. forces were delayed b/c of high delayed b/c of high seas and reefs. seas and reefs.

But beach heads But beach heads were established were established that first weekthat first week

by August, Paris by August, Paris would be liberated.would be liberated.

Ger. was on the run Ger. was on the run on 3 fronts now - in on 3 fronts now - in France, Italy, and E. France, Italy, and E. Europe...Europe...

At this point, the At this point, the Allies began to plan Allies began to plan for the end of the for the end of the war, scheduling the war, scheduling the Yalta ConferenceYalta Conference for for Feb. 1945 Feb. 1945

FDR, Churchill, and FDR, Churchill, and Stalin planned for Stalin planned for postwar Europe, postwar Europe, deciding that Ger. deciding that Ger. would be would be demilitarized and de-demilitarized and de-nazified,nazified,as well as dividedas well as dividedinto 4 occupationinto 4 occupation

zones. zones. The groundwork The groundwork

for the United for the United Nations was Nations was also set out here.also set out here.

The final events of the war: The final events of the war: Winter 1944-1945 - The Winter 1944-1945 - The Battle Battle

of the Bulgeof the Bulge – it was Hitler's – it was Hitler's last counteroffensive, intended last counteroffensive, intended to stop the W. Allies from to stop the W. Allies from crossing the Rhine River into crossing the Rhine River into Ger. Ger.

it delayed them until March, it delayed them until March, but the result was inevitable but the result was inevitable by this time... by this time...

Soviet forces were in Berlin by Soviet forces were in Berlin by April, and on April 30, Hitler April, and on April 30, Hitler committed suicide in his committed suicide in his bunker. bunker.

Command of the 3rd Reich Command of the 3rd Reich passed to Adm. Doenitz, who passed to Adm. Doenitz, who surrendered on May 8,1945 surrendered on May 8,1945 ((V-E DayV-E Day) )

Cdn. troops during this period Cdn. troops during this period were charged w/ the job of were charged w/ the job of liberating the Netherlands, liberating the Netherlands, under the command of Gen. under the command of Gen. Harry Crerar. (Harry Crerar. (Battle of the Battle of the ScheldtScheldt, Antwerp), Antwerp)

The Atomic Bomb and Victory in the PacificThe Atomic Bomb and Victory in the Pacific

kamikazekamikaze Manhattan Project Manhattan Project August 6,1945August 6,1945Enola GayEnola Gay "Little Boy”"Little Boy”VJ DayVJ Day