“In the Access to History series I’ve found battles and their consequences presented in brief, crisp narratives, supplemented by readable maps and apt quotes of participants, better than I once thought possible.”                                 Doug Fisher, Legion Magazine

The Access to Canadian History Series is a unique series of booklets, profusely illustrated with color reproductions of war art, specially designed maps, and drawings, Each volume focuses on a specific battle, which allows the reader to see the action through the eyes of the men who were there. They are concise and effective in their use of quotations, maps and ephemera. Each volume is written by a leading authority on his subject. Nine volumes are currently available; four of the First World War and five on the Second World War.

NO.7: HARD-WON VICTORY: THE CANADIANS AT ORTONA
by Norm Christie

The invasion of Sicily and the battle for Italy were the first full-fledged fighting for the Canadian Army. They performed well, and in December 1943 they would be handed the mantle, to crush the German Line at the Moro River and take Ortona. This was to be their first great test. Against brilliantly designed defensive works the Canadians cracked the Moro River Line, and turned into Ortona, where they would have to beat the Germans in hand-to-hand, and house-to-house fighting. They would have to ‘Mousehole’ their way to victory, and that’s what they did. Ortona was the Canadian Army’s first great challenge and its first great victory.

“The morbid fascination of destruction held us in its grip as life and its moments dissolved before our eyes. Over all, the deafening voice of guns beat a massive dirge like the unmuffled drums of Hell.” Charles Comfort