Ortona: Canada's Epic World War II Battle (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In one furious week of fighting in December 1943, the First Canadian Infantry Division took Ortona, Italy, from elite German paratroopers ordered to hold the medieval port at all costs. When the battle was over, the Canadians emerged victorious despite heavy losses. Over 2,500 Canadians died or were wounded there. Military historian Mark Zuehlke blends reminiscences of the Canadians, Germans, and Italians who were there together with a blow-by-blow account of the fighting to create a harrowing, ultimately hopeful rendering of one of World War II's defining moments.

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Douglas & McIntyre; First Trade Paper Edition edition (May 19, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550545574
• ISBN-13: 978-1550545579
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #979,255 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Canada fought bravely too!, March 4, 2008

By	Mannie Liscum (Columbia, MO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ortona: Canada's Epic World War II Battle (Hardcover)

Mark Zuehlke is one of Canada's leading academic Second World War historians and his 1999 book, "Ortona: Canada's Epic World War II Battle", represents a fine example of the quality of his research and writing. As an American (hence by default I am likely more American-centric in my readings and studies) I knew nothing (short of having heard of the town) about Ortona's place within the larger context of WWII, or that it holds such a prominent place in the history of Canadian troops to have fought in Europe in 1944-45. Zuehlke has done his job in spades in conveying the importance of Ortona to the Canadian soldiers of WWII.

Clocking in at 382 pp. of formal prose, with an additional 44 pp. for Appendices, Notes and Bibliography, "Ortona" may be a bit long for many readers given that it is dedicated to a single battle period of relatively limited geography, in an oft considered secondary theatre (Italy), away from the more famous and main action (Monte Cassino and Liri Valley), fought by a comparatively small contingent of men from a lesser partner (in fact at that time Canada was considered part of the British Commonwealth forces) in the Grand Allied Coalition. However, Zuehlke does not waste words and his prose flows extremely well, keeping the readers interest throughout. So do not be deterred by the length of a book that may seem 'fringe' at first glance. The story deserves to be told and moreover warrants being read by an audience wider than one limited by nationalistic (Canadian) interest. Most American (and likely British) readers are enamored by stories of their own countrymen and even the Germans in the Second World War, but are much less likely to pick up a book dealing with one of the lesser partners (or even the largest partner - USSR). Here's a chance to pick up a really solid read that will expand your horizons.

Zuehlke does a bang up job researching his topic (as demonstrated by the 44 pp. of Appendices, Notes and Bibliography) and he presents his history with an 'academic' due that is not short on literary flair. There is plenty of human story here, lots of 'bang-em-up, shot-em-up' stuff, and yet he does not sacrifice the meat of history. "Ortona" is worthy of the men who fought in this portion of the war and deserves two hearty thumbs up (4.5stars).

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ortona the first real test, September 8, 2001

By	Paul Bourgault (Monteal, Quebec Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ortona: Canada's Epic World War II Battle (Hardcover)

The Canadian have been repeatedly set apart from the grand scheme of the hole war by some historian most of them from England, but in reality they have been deeply involve even if the quantity of man and woman was not as big as other countries.
Ortona gives you a sense of what it is to be a Canadian soldier. Well written, and well depicted, the story of some of the best regiment will give you a grip of the real thing, the fear and the bound that emerge from the hell of the shell and blood.

This book is a must have in any serious collection.

Paul Bougault
2Lt/Fus MR21/34thCBG/RCAC

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nothing new here, January 1, 2004

By	John R. Grodzinski (Kingston, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ortona: Canada's Epic World War II Battle (Hardcover)

Mike Dorosh's review is accurate. Writing military history is about solid research and pinning down the facts, something that is continually missed in this series of books. While they could have made a solid contribution to the literature on the Canadian Army in the Second World War and on the Italian Campaign, these books offer nothing new - which is not really a problem on its own - but given the numerous errors, it is simply not worth reading.