Museo della Battaglia di Ortona

The Museo della Battaglia di Ortona (Battle of Ortona Museum) presents the history of the Battle of Ortona (December 20-28, 1943) between the German 1st Parachute Division and the Canadian 1st Infantry Division and 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade. Part of the Allied advance northwards, Ortona was fiercely defended and house-to-house fighting occurred. A Canadian victory after eight days of combat resulted in steep casualties: more than 800 German, and approximately 2000 Canadian. 

The museum was inaugurated on May 6, 2002 by Ambassador Marie Bernard-Meunier, the Canadian representative in Germany. Two years earlier, in November 2000, the Government of Canada had designated a plaque to recognize the town as a Canadian Historic Site owing to the contribution of Canadian soldiers and their losses. The plaque is installed in the Plaza Plebiscito, near the museum, and reads:

“In early December 1943 the 1st Canadian Infantry Division and 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade began their most savage battle of the Italian Campaign. In the mud and rain troops attacked from the Moro River to Ortona. Then, from house to house and room to room there raged a ferocious battle against resolute German defenders. With extraordinary courage the Canadians prevailed, and just after Christmas finally secured the town.”

[Parks Canada Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=1925]