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Ortona: Canada's Epic World War II Battle Paperback – May 19, 2004

by Mark Zuehlke (Author)

26 customer reviews

Book 1 of 7 in the Canadian Battle Series

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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.

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Editorial Reviews

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"Mark Zuehlke's book is a heart-stopping intimate look at all the brutal excesses of war...it is a fascinating read, rich in anecdotes." (Toronto Star 2003-03-07)

"Zuehlke brings the battle for Ortona and the men who fought it back to life...This is a book which reveals what war is really like." (Esprit de Corps 2003-03-07)

About the Author

Mark Zuehlke is the winner of the 2014 Pierre Berton Award: the Governor General's History Award for Popular Media. In 2006, his Canadian Battle Series book Holding Juno won the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize. He has also written six historical works outside of the series, including For Honour’s Sake (Knopf Canada), which won the 2007 Canadian Author’s Association Lela Common Award for Canadian History. He lives in Victoria, BC.

Paperback: 464 pages
Publisher: Douglas & McIntyre; 1st US paperbk edition (May 19, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1550545574
ISBN-13: 978-1550545579
Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1.3 x 9.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 26 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,719,604 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #241 in Books > History > Americas > Canada > 20th Century
- #15531 in Books > History > Military > World War II

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Wow! Can't believe what these guys did.

ByAmazon Customeron January 2, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is an extraordinary account of heroism. I never had much knowledge of Canadian involvement in World War Two, the Canadian Battle Series by Zuehlke has changed all that. The actions of the Canadian Armies seem to have been largely overlooked - very unfortunate, as their actions through Sicily and Italy are some of the most gallant of the War. Ortona was such an action.
These books are extremely readable and leave little to the imagination. The author uses personal accounts and has researched details very well.
The sacrifice made by these men at Ortona, and their relentless pursuit of victory in capturing this small coastal Italian town is nothing short of amazing.
Excellent read!

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Excellent book.

Bypapa5on August 11, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Too few Canadians know about the battles in and around Ortona. For those who want to know, this book provides a clear and honest glimpse into the real world of the Italian campaign. Historically step by step and personally moving. Excellent book.

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Ortona: Canada's Epic World War 2 Battle

Bylabatt50on August 11, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

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.

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Canada fought bravely too!

ByMannie Liscumon March 4, 2008

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

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).

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A Meat Grinder

ByTerry Haleon December 7, 2012

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

American readers may not come across too many books on the Canadian role in WWII Europe. This book covers one of the most intensive engagements the Canadians had in Italy. Their efforts to take this ancient east coast town/city were one of the difficult campaigns to dislodge Germans from the easily defended, mountainous Italian strongholds. While such battles seldom achieved breakthroughs, this was one battle that significantly weakened the German hold. The detailed accounts of individual actions make this a good read.

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Excellent account of a forgotten campaign

ByMatthew Baumgartneron December 17, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Canada's efforts in WWII are seldom recounted in detail, Mr. Zuehlke has done a fabulous job with giving this battle the attention it deserves. Detailed, well researched, intimate, I cannot praise this book enough. I very much look forward to reading more of his books!

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Rivoting

ByBennett P. Lacyon August 15, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This book was excellent. The story was told from the perspective of the soldier on the ground. Zuehlke created the flavor of the chaos and the futility of this battle. I loved it and read it from cover to cover.