Ortona cover art

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 Italy Military War

Editorial 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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Very enjoyable

I have listened to all three in Zuehlke's books in this trilogy. All three were fantastic to listen to.
Dufris is an excellent narrator which made it even more enjoyable.

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Brave Canadians

Great story on Canadian war history, the selfless acts of all who took on the Germans machine and won.

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