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The Battle of Ortona

Introduction

As part of their Social Studies 10 course work, Archbishop MacDonald High School students Irene C., Veronica K., Debbie B. and Sarah C. spoke with members of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment about their involvement at the Battle of Ortona in December 1943. 

Alberta Heritage Online acknowledges the generous contributions and cooperation of the students and their teacher, Phyllis Schumacher. A special acknowledgement to the members and museum of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, notably museum director Captain Chris Atkin who helped provide valuable resources for the student study and in arranging for the students to speak with veterans Mr. Paul Cote and Mr. Maurice White. 

The following stories and photographs are excerpted from the students' work: 

The Loyal Edmonton Regiment fought at the Battle of Ortona during World War II. Ortona is on Italy's Adriatic coast and is the town where German troops tried to delay the Allied advance up the Italian coast or the "boot" as it is often called. 

Canadian troops met the Germans at the Moro River, just outside Ortona, and fought their way into the town during eight bloody days in December of 1943. The Loyal Eddies battled elite paratroopers at Ortona, as well as other top German fighting units. The terrific battle continued through the streets of Ortona. 

The Road to Ortona

Canadians Advancing to Ortona

The Streets of Ortona

The Allies also used the seaport battle as a diversion: to delay and prevent Hitler from sending troops up to France or on to Rome, where the survivors of the brutal battle eventually wound up. 

It was a costly delay tactic: 1,375 Canadian soldiers lost their lives*, along with 169 Britons, 4 Australians, 42 New Zealanders, 16 South Africans, 5 Indians, and 2 unidentified others. 

The loss of Canadian soldier's lives was enormous. For this reason, Ortona is often called Canada's Stalingrad.

*Note: Casualty statistics include Canadian soldiers who died in the battles during the advance into Ortona and in the battles that followed, as Canadian soldiers continued to push the German forces from positions along Italy's Adriatic coast. The number of Canadian war dead in the battle that took place within the town of Ortona itself was 104.

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