The Consequences of the Battle of Ortona

• Known as "Bloody December"

• The Germans retreated on December 27th 1943

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• This battle alone made up about 25% of the Canadian casualties during the Italian/ Mediterranean Campaign (approximately 1, 375 dead)

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• The Canadian 1st division was badly defeated and had to regroup and rebuild

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• By the 28th of December, Canadian troops completely controlled Ortona

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• The strategy called "Mouse-holing" was used to great effect against the Germans as it did not allow the soldiers to be picked off by German troops since they are not exposed on the street

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• This battle tactic is still advantageous today as a method to avoid exposing soldiers in urban warefare environments