In early 1944, Canada reinforced its commitment in Italy and organized its forces there into I Canadian Corps. In May, the Canadians broke the ‘Hitler Line’ defences south of Rome and later that summer pierced the heavily-defended ‘Gothic Line’ fortifications further north. In February 1945, I Canadian Corps transferred to Northwest Europe. More than 92,000 Canadians served in Italy at a cost of 26,000 casualties, including more than 5300 dead.
