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Canadian Battle #1
Ortona: Canada's Epic World War II Battle
A masterful retelling one of the major victories of Canadian troops over the German army’s elite division during WWII.
In one blood-soaked, furious week of fighting, from December 20 to December 27, 1943, the 1st Canadian Infantry Division took the town of Ortona, Italy, from elite German paratroopers ordered to hold the medieval port town at all costs. Infantrymen serving in the Loyal Edmonton Regiment and the Seaforth Highlanders, supported by tankers of the Three Rivers Regiment, moved from house to house in hand-to-hand combat amid heavy shelling and wrested the town from the grip of the fierce German defenders. Getting into Ortona had been a battle of its own. Ortona, the pearl of the Adriatic, stands on a promontory impregnable from three sides, with seacliffs on the north and east, and a deep ravine on the west. The Canadian infantrymen, drawn from virtually every corner of Canada, attacked from the south under the command of Major-General Chris Vokes, fighting across narrow gullies, mud-choked vineyards and olive groves, into the narrow streets of Ortona itself. When the vicious battle was over, 2605 Canadians were dead or wounded. But the town that had become known as "Little Stalingrad" was now in Allied hands.
In one blood-soaked, furious week of fighting, from December 20 to December 27, 1943, the 1st Canadian Infantry Division took the town of Ortona, Italy, from elite German paratroopers ordered to hold the medieval port town at all costs. Infantrymen serving in the Loyal Edmonton Regiment and the Seaforth Highlanders, supported by tankers of the Three Rivers Regiment, moved from house to house in hand-to-hand combat amid heavy shelling and wrested the town from the grip of the fierce German defenders. Getting into Ortona had been a battle of its own. Ortona, the pearl of the Adriatic, stands on a promontory impregnable from three sides, with seacliffs on the north and east, and a deep ravine on the west. The Canadian infantrymen, drawn from virtually every corner of Canada, attacked from the south under the command of Major-General Chris Vokes, fighting across narrow gullies, mud-choked vineyards and olive groves, into the narrow streets of Ortona itself. When the vicious battle was over, 2605 Canadians were dead or wounded. But the town that had become known as "Little Stalingrad" was now in Allied hands.
480 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1999
20 people are currently reading
297 people want to read
About the author
Mark Zuehlke
53 books91 followersOn January 1, 1981, Mark Zuehlke walked away from a journalism career to pursue magazine and book writing fulltime. He has never looked back. In 1992, Mark published his first book—Magazine Writing From the Boonies (co-authored with Louise Donnelly)—and now concentrates almost exclusively on writing of books.
Fascinated by Canada’s military heritage, Mark first set to writing about the role Canadians played in World War II after discussing the Battle of Ortona with several veterans in a Royal Canadian Legion following a Remembrance Day Ceremony in Kelowna, B.C. Discovering no book had been written on this pivotal battle, Mark decided to fill that gap. Ortona: Canada’s Epic World War II Battle was the result. The book’s success encouraged him to develop The Canadian Battle Series, which documents the Canadian World War II experience and has resulted in his being declared by Jack Granatstein as the nation’s leading popular military historian.
Mark is also an award winning mystery writer, whose popular Elias McCann series has garnered much critical praise. Set in storm-swept west coast Vancouver Island village of Tofino, the series follows the investigations of reluctant community coroner Elias McCann. Hands Like Clouds, the debut title in this series, won the Crime Writers of Canada’s Arthur Ellis Award for the 2000 Best First Novel and the third instalment, Sweep Lotus, was nominated for the 2004 Arthur Ellis Best Novel.
When not writing, this Victoria, British Columbia resident can often be found tinkering around the Fernwood heritage house he shares with partner and fellow writer Frances Backhouse. He enjoys hiking, backpacking, cycling, kayaking, travelling, and cooking.
Fascinated by Canada’s military heritage, Mark first set to writing about the role Canadians played in World War II after discussing the Battle of Ortona with several veterans in a Royal Canadian Legion following a Remembrance Day Ceremony in Kelowna, B.C. Discovering no book had been written on this pivotal battle, Mark decided to fill that gap. Ortona: Canada’s Epic World War II Battle was the result. The book’s success encouraged him to develop The Canadian Battle Series, which documents the Canadian World War II experience and has resulted in his being declared by Jack Granatstein as the nation’s leading popular military historian.
Mark is also an award winning mystery writer, whose popular Elias McCann series has garnered much critical praise. Set in storm-swept west coast Vancouver Island village of Tofino, the series follows the investigations of reluctant community coroner Elias McCann. Hands Like Clouds, the debut title in this series, won the Crime Writers of Canada’s Arthur Ellis Award for the 2000 Best First Novel and the third instalment, Sweep Lotus, was nominated for the 2004 Arthur Ellis Best Novel.
When not writing, this Victoria, British Columbia resident can often be found tinkering around the Fernwood heritage house he shares with partner and fellow writer Frances Backhouse. He enjoys hiking, backpacking, cycling, kayaking, travelling, and cooking.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 24, 2025
It's a stunningly immersive read of the brutal Battle of Ortona between three tough Canadian brigades and the defensive-minded Germans during the Allies' Italian campaign in WW2. Written largely from the Canadians' perspective at a regimental level, Mark Zuehlke's coverage of strategic objectives during the December-long battle adeptly depicts various macroscopic forces that made it incredibly difficult for infantry and destructive to soldiers and civilians alike. These include a rain-soaked landscape that reduced Canadians' mobility, the German Panzer Grenadiers' fortification of a ravine that rendered all Canadian frontal assaults to be futile, and a Canadian general's poor generalship. The conflict is enlivened by incredible actions at the company-level that allowed Canadian breakthroughs such as the Van Doos' heroic stand at Casa Berardi; a worn-down, behind-the-line men trying to survive repeated deadly sniper and machine gun-fire; and smart urban warfare tactics needing to counteract a veteran German paratrooper division's resilience and total warfare ideals at the port town of Ortona. Beneath this, accounts of veterans' experiences - from watching a fellow soldier's torso being pulled apart by an exploding artillery shell to two fighting platoons pausing to allow a mother and a child run away from the battlefield and then promptly returning to kill each other to a soldier relieved to be rescued after being buried for 3 days under rubble - paint a enduring varied picture of individuals who were committed. In addition to a clear-eyed assessment of the operation's necessity and execution in the last chapter, Zuehlke's closure that while 5 out of 6 Canadian veterans declined to be interviewed virtually all Italian civilians who had survived the battle, many of whom were orphaned or lost family members and saw their town utterly destroyed, welcomed him into their homes to retell the events is poignant in showing that it's an important aspect of Canadian military history that should be remembered.
4.5/5
4.5/5
April 29, 2014
My uncle fought in the Black Watch and I had another family member who had been in Sicily but for some strange reason I had not known about the Canadian forces who had fought in Italy. Years ago when I was working a summer job to pay for College I worked with a Canadian Vet who had been in Sicily and then Italy. He referred to himself and his fellow Candians as the forgotten soldiers. That he felt that all the stories after Sicily went to the "real soldiers" ( anyone who landed in France on D-Day and fought through France, Holland and Germany. That he and his companions were simply forgotten. This book along with the Gothic line and Liri Valey cover Italy while Operation Husky cover Sicily.
Great reading.
Great reading.
September 29, 2025
Ortona is my first read about Canadians in World War 2. Canada was very deeply involved in WW2 in all fronts and yet is very much sidelined in most books to playing the 2nd violin while USA and British run the show.
Although the books title is Ortona, the book covers a lot more than that basically the whole december of 1943 including some bloody fights when advancing towards Ortona. The focus is mainly in the fighting troops and in the frontlines although some comments are about the operative side of the battle. I like that the writer has included Italian civilians and German side into the book so it covers the battle more comprehensively even though the focus is on the Canadians.
The book offers quite a good glimpse to how hard the underbelly of Europe really was. Multiple times an assault ends in slaughter of the attackers and even with superior firepower the progress was slow unless a way around was found. Nothing tells it more succinct than the fact that many of the stories that are told are by those who were wounded and then carted of the battlefield for good. Not too many healthy survivors were left to tell their stories and the writer writes in the last chapter that quite many refused to reminisce those days.
It was also somewhat eye opening how the British run the show in Commonwealth armies and how it had interesting effects on those fighting the war. One anecdote was about passwords that included some famous cricket player and his team but Canadians had no idea why these two words would make any sense to be combined.
The maps were good and I liked how at the end of the book and even somewhere in the mid there were short explanations on weapons used in the battles and what Canadian troops generally thought about them.
Although the books title is Ortona, the book covers a lot more than that basically the whole december of 1943 including some bloody fights when advancing towards Ortona. The focus is mainly in the fighting troops and in the frontlines although some comments are about the operative side of the battle. I like that the writer has included Italian civilians and German side into the book so it covers the battle more comprehensively even though the focus is on the Canadians.
The book offers quite a good glimpse to how hard the underbelly of Europe really was. Multiple times an assault ends in slaughter of the attackers and even with superior firepower the progress was slow unless a way around was found. Nothing tells it more succinct than the fact that many of the stories that are told are by those who were wounded and then carted of the battlefield for good. Not too many healthy survivors were left to tell their stories and the writer writes in the last chapter that quite many refused to reminisce those days.
It was also somewhat eye opening how the British run the show in Commonwealth armies and how it had interesting effects on those fighting the war. One anecdote was about passwords that included some famous cricket player and his team but Canadians had no idea why these two words would make any sense to be combined.
The maps were good and I liked how at the end of the book and even somewhere in the mid there were short explanations on weapons used in the battles and what Canadian troops generally thought about them.
July 8, 2025
Canada wins Germany loses
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2010
Recommended for anyone with a serious interest in the Italian campaign and Canadian ground operations in Italy/Europe.
Mark Zuehlke's books on Canadian ground operations during WWII are, in my opinion, some of the most important books to have been published in recent years from a Canadian military history standpoint. Except for Stacey's official history, I am not aware of any specific work dealing with the battle of Ortona (except regimental histories).
Zuehlke's detailed account of the battle, as well as preliminary operations prior to the fierce urban combat that developed in that unlucky city, was sorely needed. Zuehlke's does pretty much everything right in this book: he visited the ground upon which the battle was fought, he went through a detail examination of available sources, and got in touch with as many veterans as possible to reconstruct events. So he really knows his subject through and through.
The only problem of the book, if any, has to do with maps. They're either not detailed enough, or the terrain is too intricate to be grasped from these maps. I am not sure how this problem could be circumvented, but at times, I was having a hard time understanding exactly which unit was where, and doing what. But this is no easy core in any leagues.
And the reason why this book is so important? so that a thorough account of the Canadian military experience is recorded before time puts the event deep into oblivion. In Canada, before Zuehlke and a handful of others undertook to write seriously on this subject, this risk was very real indeed.
Mark Zuehlke's books on Canadian ground operations during WWII are, in my opinion, some of the most important books to have been published in recent years from a Canadian military history standpoint. Except for Stacey's official history, I am not aware of any specific work dealing with the battle of Ortona (except regimental histories).
Zuehlke's detailed account of the battle, as well as preliminary operations prior to the fierce urban combat that developed in that unlucky city, was sorely needed. Zuehlke's does pretty much everything right in this book: he visited the ground upon which the battle was fought, he went through a detail examination of available sources, and got in touch with as many veterans as possible to reconstruct events. So he really knows his subject through and through.
The only problem of the book, if any, has to do with maps. They're either not detailed enough, or the terrain is too intricate to be grasped from these maps. I am not sure how this problem could be circumvented, but at times, I was having a hard time understanding exactly which unit was where, and doing what. But this is no easy core in any leagues.
And the reason why this book is so important? so that a thorough account of the Canadian military experience is recorded before time puts the event deep into oblivion. In Canada, before Zuehlke and a handful of others undertook to write seriously on this subject, this risk was very real indeed.
June 23, 2017
Extremely detailed, visceral, and very deeply researched through interviews with people who were there, diaries and official reports. It is about the Canadian soldiers, but there is input from the German side as well. This is the level from which war should be studied. Through the eyes of the soldiers on the ground and the civilians caught in the middle. Zuehlke details the personalities, hopes and dreams of the named individuals who fought in this battle, or lived in and around Ortona.
I'm looking forward to reading more of his Canadian Battles series.
I'm looking forward to reading more of his Canadian Battles series.
April 7, 2018
I believe that Mr. Zuehlke has written 10 novels in his series of Canada's WWII battles and if this first book in the series is any indication of what is to follow then I'm in for the ride!
The battle for Ortona is a detailed work of writing intelligence. From division to platoon, every movement is captured with detail that brings one to believe that he is there reliving the scene of battle. as mentioned, this is the Canadians at war and that is what you will be reading.
The battle for Ortona is a detailed work of writing intelligence. From division to platoon, every movement is captured with detail that brings one to believe that he is there reliving the scene of battle. as mentioned, this is the Canadians at war and that is what you will be reading.
July 31, 2011
A readable precis not just of Ortona, but of the entire Moro River campaign (the title is a bit of a misnomer). Covers ground ably covered by Daniel Dancocks in D-DAY DODGERS and by Gerry Nicholson in the official history THE CANADIANS IN ITALY, but really offers no new insights into how the battle of Ortona itself was fought. A good book for anyone looking for a general description of the Canadians in the Moro, and some good interviews with vets, but again - the appendices are strewn with errors, there has been almost no research done regarding the German side of the story, and the actual fighting in Ortona isn't touched until page 251, and takes up less than 100 pages of this 400 page book. Anyone expecting a detailed study of the house-to-house struggle that came to be known as "Little Stalingrad" will be sorely disappointed, as I was.
Very little here that hasn't been covered in other volumes already.
A better bet for detailed tactical info on the battle itself would be HISTORY OF THE SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS 1919-1965 by Reginald Roy.
Very little here that hasn't been covered in other volumes already.
A better bet for detailed tactical info on the battle itself would be HISTORY OF THE SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS 1919-1965 by Reginald Roy.
August 3, 2020
An absolutely fascinating, minute-by-minute account of incredibly brave men crawling through muck, mines and mortars, to seize objectives that often weren't even necessary to take. This book is a masterpiece, written by a war historian who cares as much for the men is the ditches as for platoon and division tactics, and tank battles.
Although they fought shoulder to shoulder with the British and Americans, many would say the Canadians haven't received their due for their sacrifices in World War 2. The battle for Ortona is an example of this. I've read many books about wars, particularly the Civil War, WW 1 and WW 2, and had never even heard of Ortona.
Mind you, this book isn't all about the Canadians. Zuehlke also describes the incredible suffering endured by the Italians during the battle, as well as the bravery shown by an enemy who realized they could not win the war. A first-rate book.
Although they fought shoulder to shoulder with the British and Americans, many would say the Canadians haven't received their due for their sacrifices in World War 2. The battle for Ortona is an example of this. I've read many books about wars, particularly the Civil War, WW 1 and WW 2, and had never even heard of Ortona.
Mind you, this book isn't all about the Canadians. Zuehlke also describes the incredible suffering endured by the Italians during the battle, as well as the bravery shown by an enemy who realized they could not win the war. A first-rate book.
February 6, 2020
Zuehlke has delivered a fair-minded blow-by-blow account of the battle for Ortona, Italy, in December of 1943. Initiated because of Montgomery's half-baked notion of sweeping around and beating the Americans to Rome, Ortona became a political prestige prize, more important for bragging rights than any real strategic value. The battle for the city itself was characterized by intense street fighting of a kind not experienced before by the Canadian troops; in fact, Ortona was dubbed "Little Stalingrad" for its concentrated violence, and was enormously costly in terms of lives lost. This was preceded by equally ferocious fighting as Canadian forces crossed the Moro River and then needlessly sacrificed themselves against a fortified natural barrier nicknamed the Gully. Ortona stands as a tragic example of heroism, self-sacrifice, and irrationality in equal measures.
August 21, 2014
Very good book about a battle I had never heard of. Also of interest to me was the fact it is a Canadian study about the Canadian forces (The author does take the time to intersperse some Italian and German accounts as well), the first I have read focusing on Canadian troops. Overall a good book, however some forgivable mistakes on the technical side of things (The author is overly fond of referring to the Mp-40 sub machine gun erroneously as the 'Schmeisser' he does this throughout the entire book) amongst a few other small niggles.
The author being Canadian shows in his writing as it has a slight tilt towards their side of things but this is to be expected given the subject and content. Overall I am looking forward to reading the authors other works on major Canadian battles in WWII.
The author being Canadian shows in his writing as it has a slight tilt towards their side of things but this is to be expected given the subject and content. Overall I am looking forward to reading the authors other works on major Canadian battles in WWII.
August 28, 2022
Mark Zuehlke's Ortona is one of the finest battlefield histories I've read. Like Pierre Berton at his best, Zuehlke masterfully blends micro and macro history, giving us insight into the daily horrors of "Little Stalingrad" from the perspectives of privates, NCOs, officers, and generals. German perspectives are also woven into the book. The order, size and weaponry of divisional structures are examined in detail, and I found that very satisfying. Even the maps and pictures - elements that are often missing from good popular history - add clarity to Zuehlke's narrative. Overall, Ortona is highly recommended.
May 28, 2018
The third of Zuehlke's books I've read so far this year, and I've come to appreciate the very personal art of storytelling he has exhibited throughout this series following the Canadian armed forces throughout the Second World War. This particular volume also includes the memoirs/accounts of German forces opposing the Canadians, and those of the local Italians who somehow survived amongst the fighting/
August 10, 2021
The author and narrator do a tremendous job of bringing us to the Italian campaign and Ortona. It is beyond incredible what these soliders had to do. The sacafice, courage and determination of the Canadian army is on full display. Author does a superb job of capturing the grit of the frontlines and the detached nature of the generals pulling the strings, sometimes very poorly. WW II was truly a different era. Well done, highly recommended.
May 14, 2023
Not as good as later Zuehlke works but probably the best way to learn about a campaign most of us — Americans especially— have never heard of. Since the actually Ortona fighting only lasted a week of the five weeks covered in the book, I would respectfully suggest a new subtitle, perhaps something like Ortona: Canada’s Bloody Campaign From The Moro to Torre Muchia.
February 7, 2012
Not so much a detailed study of the fighting in Ortona as an overall picture of the Moro campaign. The writing is serviceable, but the wealth of first hand accounts included are counterbalanced by a lack of any new thesis.
June 23, 2017
4.5 really. Text excellent but maps were very average
July 27, 2024
Mark Zuehlke is one of the best military historians I have read in a lifetime of reading books on such conflicts. His telling of the Battle of Ortona is highly detailed and also includes a great deal of the personal experiences of the soldiers and civilians wrapped up in this conflict. Ortona became known at the time as "Little Stalingrad" due to the ferocious nature of the house to house combat. Zuehlke is excellent at portraying the nature of war on an individual soldier's level and he relates the tale of the battles high casualty rate in gut wrenching detail. Well worth a read for those with an interest in not just Canadian military history. I've also read his tale of the Battle of Dieppe, a better known episode in Canada's World War 2 saga and just as well written.
November 21, 2025
So well researched and assembled to tell the story of Canadian soldiers struggle in Italy for one month of 1943. This is a must read to learn that there was a lot more to the Canadian military than D-Day and the battles that ensued after.
October 21, 2018
The book is a well researched and well written account of the battle for Ortona. Zuehlke always does a good job of explaining Canadian military history. And as a bonus, he is a local author.
December 7, 2021
I Will Remember.
My Uncle fought
in Italy but now I know some of Canadian history. Our children don't care.
A shame which makes our country weaker.
My Uncle fought
in Italy but now I know some of Canadian history. Our children don't care.
A shame which makes our country weaker.
February 2, 2023
A very good read
April 22, 2025
quite detailed and an amazing story
February 16, 2018
Mark Zuehike series on the Italy campaigns are must reads. Those mentioned in one book you will see in the next one
I had two Grandfather's and my father involved in Ortona, Liri Valley, and other battles of Italy. awesome book read them all
I had two Grandfather's and my father involved in Ortona, Liri Valley, and other battles of Italy. awesome book read them all
September 3, 2016
I am reading Zuehlke's books on Canadian campaigns in Italy in chronological order, rather than the order he wrote them. Like his Operation Husky book (the latest book, but first Italian campaign to occur), this one is very well researched and presented. Like Husky, it would have benefited from having the maps closer to the relevant text, but it is less of an issue here, since more than one set of actions were happening simultaneously at Ortona. Also, in Husky, Zuehlke mentions more frequently medals that were handed out where the action is described. There must have been a lot at Ortona, since there were so many acts of Canadians' bravery, which are recounted here (as well as some battle fatigue, cowardice, and a certain amount of upper level stupidity). The losses were horrendous. Ortona was a major Canadian Division campaign that is unfortunately mostly overlooked.
Next, on to Zuehlke's Liri Valley history, another nearly unknown Canadian Army campaign.
Next, on to Zuehlke's Liri Valley history, another nearly unknown Canadian Army campaign.
September 1, 2016
My father served with the Loyal Edmonton Regiment from 1939 to 1945. Like many vets, he was very reluctant to talk about the war, better to leave certain memories alone. This book finally provided insight into what the Canadian troops experienced in Italy. This book was an eyeopener for me. The battle for Ortona was horrific with the Canadians having to battle for every inch in order to eventually force the Germans out. The battle is often referred to as Little Stalingrad, and after reading the book I can see why. This is a book I will keep on my shelf and I look forward to reading the rest of his series regarding the Canadians in Italy.
April 28, 2012
A solid, thoroughly researched narrative of a hard fought and bloody battle between Canadians and Germans in December 1943. Zuehlke very much adopts the view of the soldier of the ground and vividly manages to project the stress and confusion of the battlefield. Probably mostly of interest for military history buffs, but might be the one military history book you choose to read to 'get a better sense of what is was like'.
September 30, 2013
Weaving stories from first hand accounts of Canadians, Germans, and Italian citizens, the author masterfully blends the stories of the participants in this captivating tale of the vicious battle for the town of Ortona, Italy, in the 2nd World War. Visit the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery and know the Canadians did not die in vain as the people of Italy and the rest of the free world live in freedom from the tyranny of Nazi days.
January 29, 2021
Just in time for Remembrance day. Another informative and eye opening read from Mark. I love how he shows all sides of the Battle. From the Canadians and Allies to the Germans and Civilians. Everyone suffered all because of one mans ambition and perverted view of the world. Lets hope we will never repeat this kind of conflict. Young Men dying for our safety and future. Pushed to the edge and beyond. Lest we Forget.
February 26, 2014
I wanted to like this book, as it is a subject dear to me. Unfortunately, I found Zueklke's style un-engaging. His knowledge of battalions and divisions and tactics is remarkable, but his desire and ability to put the human touch on it--to focus on the men as much (or more) than the tactics--is not.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews