In October 1943, the 1st Canadian Infantry Division entered Campobasso after driving out German forces. The soldiers established the city as their main center for rest and recreation. They gave the town the nickname “Maple Leaf City” to make it feel like home. Signs in English and Italian appeared on street corners to guide the thousands of troops moving through the area. The local Savoia Theater became the Beaver Club. There, soldiers ate hot meals and watched films. This center provided a rare sense of normalcy during the Italian campaign.
Winter in the Molise mountains brought freezing temperatures and heavy snow to the stone streets. The city sits on a hill with buildings crowded around the ancient Monforte Castle. Local families shared their neighborhoods with military trucks that constantly patrolled the squares. Food was scarce, so a busy barter system developed between the residents and the soldiers. People traded fresh eggs and wine for military rations, chocolate, and cigarettes. Military police stood in the centers of the plazas to manage the traffic of armored vehicles. The city remained a vital piece of the Allied supply line until the front moved further north.
