On December 28, 1943, the Battle of Ortona ends in an Allied victory. The battle saw troops of the Canadian 1st Infantry Division facing off against paratroopers of the German 1. Fallschirm-Jäger-Division. Beginning on December 20, the Battle of Ortona quickly developed into fierce urban combat as both sides fought for control of the Italian port city. The Canadian troops began utilizing the tactic of mouse-holing in order to continue their advance without having to constantly expose themselves to enemy fire out on the streets. This tactic entailed blasting a hole in the walls between two adjoining buildings through the use of explosives, such as Teller mines or the PIAT anti-tank launcher. The soldiers would then advance through the whole, clearing the next building as they advanced. After eight days of intense fighting, the German forces were finally driven out by the Canadians and thus securing a victory for the Allies.
In 2000, a memorial plaque was placed in Ortona's Piazza Plebiscito by the Canadian government in recognition of the bravery and sacrifice of the Canadian soldiers who had fought there and for the battle's significance in Canadian history.
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29 Dec 2018 01:38 CET
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