The Italian Campaign began with the Allied landings on the island of Sicily in the south of Italy. Canadian soldiers from the 1st Canadian Infantry Division and the 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade had an active and important role in this effort, codenamed "Operation Husky".
Canadians advance between Hitler and Gustov lines, Liri Valley, Italy. May 24, 1944.
Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry and 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade leave a landing ship at Reggio, Italy. Sept 3 1943.
The Canadian artillery's ability to quickly bring down intense fire on German defensive positions was a key factor in the relative ease of the advance.
German prisoners place their personal belongings on the ground prior to interrogation and processing by their Canadian captors.
A canadian soldier carring a Bren light machine gun, that was the weapon used by the allies.
Canadian soldiers inspect a captured German MG34 machine gun. With a rate of fire of up to 900 rounds per minute it was somewhat faster firing than its Canadian army counterpart, the Bren gun.
Corporal E.H. Pruner of The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, who carries both a PIAT anti-tank weapon and a Thompson sub-machine gun, Motta, Italy, 2 October 1943.
The M4 "Sherman", officially the Medium Tank, M4, was the primary battle tank used by the United States and the other Western Allies in World War II, and proved to be a reliable and highly mobile workhorse, despite being outmatched by heavier German tanks late in the war. Thousands were distributed to the Allies, including the British Commonwealth and the Soviet Union, via lend-lease. The M4 was the second most produced tank of the World War II era