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Ending the War in Europe

Ending the War in Europe. How did Canadian Forces Contribute?. By 1939, Canada was committed to total war. Industry was retooled to produce the weapons and materials needed equip the allies. The Plans to take back Europe.

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Ending the War in Europe

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  1. Ending the War in Europe

  2. How did Canadian Forces Contribute? • By 1939, Canada was committed to total war. • Industry was retooled to produce the weapons and materials needed equip the allies.

  3. The Plans to take back Europe • The allies knew that they would need a massive and carefully planned assault to reclaim all the territory occupied by the Nazis.

  4. Europe in 1942

  5. Now the Americans are involved…. • In 1942, Winston Churchill (PM of Britain) and Franklin Roosevelt (American President) announce that they will help the Soviets by opening a second front in Europe as soon as possible. • Remember, at this time the Germans had engaged the Soviets in war with Operation Barbarossa, perhaps one of Hitler’s biggest mistakes.

  6. North Africa • The allies were not prepared to launch an all-out attack so they decided that they would start in North Africa, where they succeeded. • The battle of El Alamein deprived Germany of the Middle Eastern oil fields and necessitated the invasion of the Caucasus that ended disastrously at Stalingrad. • Resulted in the loss of the AfrikaKorps for the Germans. • Opened up the British for a more active role in the mainland war. • With this area secured, the allies were able to open a second European front, and Canadian troops were a major force with this mission.

  7. Canadians in Italy, 1943-1944 • The second European front began with an assault on the Italian island of Sicily. • Codenamed “Operation Husky” • The goal of this attack was to weaken the German troops by drawing them south • From July 10th to August 17th – 38 days – 500000 allied troops, including Canadians, fought and took Sicily from the German Army. • The German and Italian forces withdrew to the Italian mainland.

  8. The Italian Campaign

  9. The Italian Invasion – “Operation Overlord” • After the fall of Sicily, Benito Mussolini, the Italian dictator and Hitler’s ally, was overthrown. • The Campaign of Italy was designed to take the pressure off their Russian Allies and pull German troops out of north-western Europe readying the area for Operation “Overlord” • The new Italian government surrendered to the Allies. • It appeared that the war in Italy was over, BUT • Hitler had expected the surrender, and ordered the German army to take over. • As a result, the Allies faced stiff fighting as they worked their way up the “boot” of Italy.

  10. The Italians Surrender • The Allied planners thought the Italian Campaign would be over in a matter of weeks. • They were wrong. Italy would represent frustration and death for thousands of Allied soldiers in a bitter stagnated fight. • It would be a year before Allied troops entered Rome, and the Invasion of France would overshadow that victory.

  11. What is the significance of this photo?

  12. The Battle for Italy • When Italy formally surrendered on September 8th, the Italians separated into two camps, pro-Allied and pro-German factions. • On September 9, the Allies landed Americans at Salerno and the British landed at Taranto • By September 26 the Allies had built a force of 189,000 men and 30,000 vehicles. • Following the Italian surrender, the German Army took control of the defence of Germany http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/launch_ani_italy_campaign.shtml

  13. Canadians and Ortona • The mission for the Canadian soldiers was to capture the city of Ortona on the Adriatic Sea. • to do this, the soldiers had to fight their way north through mountains for almost 4 months.

  14. Ortona • Ortona is an ancient city that consists of narrow streets and connected houses • Much of Ortona was reduced to rubble, making it difficult for the Canadians to use tanks • The Germans barricaded themselves in houses and mined the streets • The fighting was house-to-house-literally – the Canadians blasted their way through walls to get from building to building. • The battle continued over Christmas Day, 1943 but three days later the Germans withdrew. • 5399 Canadian soldiers lost their lives in the campaign.

  15. The Liberation of Rome • Following the fall of Ortona the Allies ground to a halt due to blizzards and drifting snow at the end of December • The Allied focus then turned to the western front where it was considered to have the best chance of a breakthrough towards Rome. • It took four major offensives between January and May 1944 before the Allies including British, US, French, Polish, and Canadian Corps broke through • Rome was declared an open city by the German army and the Allies took possession on June 4th.

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