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On leave in Rome
Broadcast Date: Jan. 19, 1945
For soldiers who have trudged through the Italian countryside for a year and a half, taking leave in Rome is a little piece of heaven. Putting death and destruction behind them for a few days, they can finally sleep in, have a bath and go sightseeing. From the Coliseum to the movie houses, from meeting the Pope to dancing with a Nursing Sister, Canadian soldiers are enjoying everything Rome has to offer. Though, as we hear in this clip, due to a lack of fuel this doesn't include heating.On leave in Rome
• On April 28, 1945, Mussolini was captured and hanged by Italian partisans.• Americans troops entered Rome on June 4, 1944. Approaches to the city were held up by some fanatical German soldiers, but the city was easily liberated to great fanfare.
• The Germans fell back to their last fortified defences behind Rome, the 16 kilometre deep Gothic line. It bristled with 2,376 machine gun nests. The Gothic line was broken in the spring of 1945.
• "Stonk," the alcoholic beverage favoured by soldiers mentioned in this clip, is named after military slang for a concentrated artillery bombardment. The drink is said to have the same effect.
On leave in Rome
Medium: Radio
Program: CBC Radio News
Broadcast Date: Jan. 19, 1945
Guest(s):
Reporter: Bill Herbert
Duration: 4:15
Photo: Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-166069
Last updated:
Nov. 30, 2004
Radio
4:55
During the Second World War, members of the Royal 22nd Regiment pause in an Italian village to decorate their living, and remember their dead.
Television
25:49
David Halton, son of Matthew Halton, and a group of Canadian veterans write the final epilogue to the Battle of Ortona.
On leave in Rome.
The CBC Digital Archives Website.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Last updated: Nov. 30, 2004.
[Page consulted on Feb. 14, 2012.]