Operations In Sicily And Italy July 1943 To May 1945

On July 10, 1943, two great Allied armadas of over 2,000 ships readied to invade Sicily. This was Operation Husky, the first step toward winning a toehold in fascist-occupied Europe. Among the invaders were 20,000 Canadian troops serving in the First Canadian Infantry Division and First Canadian Tank Brigade — in their first combat experience. Over the next 28 days, the Allied troops carved a path through the rugged land, despite fierce German opposition. Drawing on firsthand accounts of veterans and official military records, Operation Husky offers a gripping, meticulous account of this seminal operation and the young men who fought, died, and survived it.

CMH Pub. 72-16. Covers the Allied invasion of Sicily from July 9 to August 17, 1943. Sicily was the first piece of the Axis homeland to fall to the Allies during World War 2. Includes a color map, black and white photographs, and suggestions for further reading. Item 344-G. Related products: The Mediterranean Theater of Operations: Sicily and the Surrender of Italy -Print Paperback format -is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-029-00483-6 United States Army in World War II, The War Against Germany and Italy: Mediterranean and Adjacent Areas -Print Hardcover/Clothbound format- is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-029-00422-4 --Print Paperback format -- is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-029-00421-6 Italy-Anzio, Historical Map (Poster) -is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-000-00944-9 A Hard Look at Hard Power: Assessing the Defense Capabilities of Key U.S. Allies and Security Partners is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-000-01158-3 World War II resources collection can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/catalog/us-military-history/battles-wars/world-war-ii

CMH Pub. 72-16. Covers the Allied invasion of Sicily from July 9 to August 17, 1943. Sicily was the first piece of the Axis homeland to fall to the Allies during World War 2. Includes a color map, black and white photographs, and suggestions for further reading. Item 344-G. Related products: The Mediterranean Theater of Operations: Sicily and the Surrender of Italy -Print Paperback format -is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-029-00483-6 United States Army in World War II, The War Against Germany and Italy: Mediterranean and Adjacent Areas -Print Hardcover/Clothbound format- is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-029-00422-4 --Print Paperback format -- is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-029-00421-6 Italy-Anzio, Historical Map (Poster) -is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-000-00944-9 A Hard Look at Hard Power: Assessing the Defense Capabilities of Key U.S. Allies and Security Partners is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-000-01158-3 World War II resources collection can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/catalog/us-military-history/battles-wars/world-war-ii

With victory in North Africa complete, the Allies had a choice. The Americans wanted an early cross channel attack from Britain on North West Europe. Churchill favored invading the soft underbelly of Italy to weaken the Axis forces and gain Italian surrender. With Eisenhowers army and battle-hardened Eighth Army in North Africa, Churchill prevailed.The ambitious Operation HUSKY required meticulous planning. Montgomery's Eighth Army and Patton's Seventh landed successfully although the air landing proved costly. While the outcome was not in doubt the mountainous terrain acted in the defenders favor. The German presence was higher than expected and the vast bulk of the enemy were Italian. In little over a month, the first Americans reached Messina.The strategic plan was successful: the Italian capitulated, Hitler had to reinforce his Southern flank relieving pressure on the Soviets and valuable lessons were learned by Allied for D-Day.