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Ortona

Canada's Epic World War II Battle

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Ortona

By: Mark Zuehlke
Narrated by: William Dufris
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About this listen

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.

©2004 Mark Zuehlke (P)2011 Audible, Inc. 20th Century Europe Italy Military Modern War Canada World War Ii

Editor reviews

A nine-time finalist for the prestigious Audie Awards for audiobook performance, performer William Dufris brings his authoritative but gentle tone to a harrowing account of hand-to-hand warfare during a decisive World War II Battle.

Ortona is the story of Canada’s heartbreaking but ultimately heroic contribution to the Allied war effort in the port town of Ortona, Italy, over one week in December 1943. Master Canadian military historian and novelist Mark Zuehlke has assembled his chronicle from a wealth of sources, including interviews with soldiers from all sides of the conflict. For its studious evocations of the battle itself to the lovingly rendered details of the men involved, Ortona is sure to be of interest to any student of the "peak experience" that is warfare.
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Another very informative and interesting book by Mr Zuhilke again outlining the tragic cost of freedom.

Very good narrative

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I'd never heard of the battle of Ortona before I listened to this audiobook. The book was gripping from the first page until the last. Expertly written by Mark Zuehlkh along with brilliant narration by William Dufris. Now I'm going to try and track down more audiobooks by this pair!!

Excellent audiobook about a WW2 battle.

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Gripping account of Canada's iconic battle of the WW2 Italian campaign at Ortona. Well read znd the storey keeps moving at pace.

Gripping

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Great story following the 1st Canadian Div and describing a lesser known battle in the Italian Campaign. The story was ruines by the narrator. Sounded as if his voice would give out and was very distracting and hard to listen too. Will never listen to another book narrated by him

Great story and narrative, poor performance

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