Sicilian Campaign Part of Italian Campaign of World War II The U.S. Liberty ship SS Robert Rowan explodes after being hit by a German bomber off of Gela, Sicily, 11 July 1943 Date July 9, 1943–August 17, 1943 Location Sicily Result Strategic Allied victory Belligerents  United States  United Kingdom  Canada  Australia  South Africa  Free French Germany Italy Commanders Dwight D. Eisenhower Harold Alexander Bernard Montgomery George S. Patton Albert Kesselring Alfredo Guzzoni Fridolin von Senger und Etterlin Strength 160,000 personnel 14,000 vehicles 600 tanks 1,800 guns 300,000 Italian personnel 40,000 German personnel Casualties and losses U.S.: 2,237 killed 6,544 wounded British: 2,721 killed 10,122 wounded Canada: 562 killed 1,848 wounded Australia:? South Africa:? France: ? Total: +24,034 casualties Germany: 4,300 killed ? wounded Italy: 4,700 killed ? wounded - - - Total:29,000 Casualties 140,000 POWs (mostly Italian)[1]

v • d • e Battle of the Mediterranean Espero¹² – Mers-el-Kébir – Calabria¹² – Spada – Cape Passero¹ – Taranto – Spartivento¹ – Excess¹ – Abstention – Matapan – Tarigo² – Crete – Substance¹ – Halberd¹ – Duisburg² – Bon² – 1st Sirte¹² – Alexandria raid – 2nd Sirte¹ – Harpoon¹ – Vigorous¹ – Pedestal¹ – Agreement – Torch – Stone Age¹ – Toulon – Skerki² – Cigno² – Sicily – Sinking of Roma ¹ - Involved an Allied convoy • ² - Involved an Axis convoy

v • d • e Italian Campaign Invasion of Sicily – Invasion of Italy – Armistice with Italy – Volturno Line – Barbara Line – Bari Raid – Bernhardt Line – Monte Cassino – Anzio – Trasimene Line – Gothic Line – Spring offensive 1945

The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major World War II campaign, in which the Allies took Sicily from the Axis (Italy and Nazi Germany). It was a large scale amphibious and airborne operation, followed by six weeks of land combat. It launched the Italian Campaign. Combatants  United Kingdom Indian Empire  United States Poland  Brazil  New Zealand  Canada  Free French  South Africa Italy  (after September 8th) Italian Resistance  Germany Italy  (until 8 September 1943) RSI  (until 25 April 1945) Commanders C-in-C AFHQ: Dwight D. Eisenhower (until January 1944) Henry Maitland Wilson (Jan to Dec... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 524 pixelsFull resolution‎ (978 × 640 pixels, file size: 215 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Sicily Invasion. ... The Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. They were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. ... is the 192nd day of the year (193rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sicily ( in Italian and Sicilian) is an autonomous region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 25,708 km² (9,926 sq. ... Image File history File links US_flag_48_stars. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Africa_1928-1994. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Free_France_1940-1944. ... Flag De Jure territory Capital Paris Capital-in-exile London, Algiers Government Republic Leader Charles de Gaulle Historical era World War II  - de Gaulles appeal June 18, 1940  - Liberation of Paris August, 1944 The Free French Forces (French: , FFL) were French fighters in World War II, who decided to... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany_1933. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy_(1861-1946)_crowned. ... Anthem Marcia Reale dOrdinanza (Royal March of Ordinance)¹ The Kingdom of Italy at the height of its power in 1940. ... Image File history File links US_flag_48_stars. ... Dwight David Eisenhower, born David Dwight Eisenhower (October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969), nicknamed Ike, was a five-star General in the United States Army and U.S. politician, who served as the thirty-fourth President of the United States (1953–1961). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Field Marshal Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis (December 10, 1891 - June 16, 1969) was a British military commander and Field Marshal, notably during World War II as the commander of the 15th Army Group. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC (IPA: ; 17 November 1887 â€“ 24 March 1976), often referred to as Monty, was an Anglo-Irish British Army officer. ... Image File history File links US_flag_48_stars. ... George Patton redirects here. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany_1933. ... ==Biography== Albrecht von Kesselring (August 8, 1881 - July 16, 1960) was a Generalfeldmarschall during World War II. One of the most respected and skillful generals of Nazi Germany, he was nicknamed Smiling Albert or Smiling Kesselring. At least one source claims that Kesselring was born on August 8, 1881 [2... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy_(1861-1946)_crowned. ... Alfredo Guzzoni (1877-1965) was an Italian military officer who served in both World Wars. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany_1933. ... Frido von Senger und Etterlin (1891 - 1963) was a German general during World War II. Frido von Senger und Etterlin was born in Waldshut, Germany, on September 4, 1891, into an aristocratic Roman Catholic family. ... Combatants Allied Nations Axis Powers The Naval Battle of the Mediterranean was waged during World War II, to attack and keep open the respective supply lines of Allied and Axis armies, and to destroy the opposing sides ability to wage war at sea. ... Combatants United Kingdom Australia Italy Commanders Vice-Admiral John Tovey Captain Enrico Baroni† Strength 5 cruisers 3 destroyers Casualties 1 cruiser lightly damaged 1 destroyer sunk 150-180 dead The Battle of the Espero Convoy was one of the very first naval battles between the Royal Navy and the Regia... Combatants United Kingdom France Commanders James Somerville Marcel-Bruno Gensoul Strength 1 aircraft carrier 3 battleships 2 light cruisers 11 destroyers 4 battleships 6 destroyers 1 seaplane tender Casualties 3 Blackburn Skua 3 Fairey Swordfish 2 dead 1 battleship sunk 2 battleships heavily damaged 1 destroyer damaged 1,297 dead... The Battle of Calabria, also known as the Battle of Punta Stilo, was a naval battle between ships of Italian Regia Marina on one side and the British Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy on the other. ... The battle of Cape Spada was a naval battle of World War II fought in the Mediterranean off Cape Spada, the north-western extremity of Crete on 19 July 1940. ... This article is about the 1940 battle. ... Combatants United Kingdom Italy Commanders James Somerville Inigo Campioni Strength 1 carrier 1 battleship 1 battlecruiser 1 heavy cruiser 5 light cruisers 1 anti aircraft cruiser 4 destroyers 4 corvettes 4 freighters 2 battleships 6 heavy cruisers 14 destroyers Casualties 1 heavy cruiser damaged 1 destroyer damaged The Battle of... Operation Excess was a sequence of supply convoys to Malta, Alexandria and Greece in January 1941. ... Combatants United Kingdom Australia Italy Commanders Andrew Cunningham Angelo Iachino Strength 1 aircraft carrier 3 battleships 7 light cruisers 17 destroyers 1 battleship 6 heavy cruisers 2 light cruisers 17 destroyers Casualties 4 light cruiser lightly damaged 1 torpedo bomber destroyed 3 dead 1 battleship heavily damaged 3 heavy cruisers... Combatants United Kingdom Italy Commanders Captain P J Mack Captain Pietro de Cristofaro Strength 4 destroyers 3 destroyers Casualties 1 destroyer sunk 41 killed 3 destroyers sunk 5 merchant ships sunk 1800+ men lost The Battle of the Tarigo Convoy (sometimes referred to as the Action off Sfax) was fought... Combatants Greece United Kingdom New Zealand Australia Nazi Germany Kingdom of Italy Commanders Bernard Freyberg Kurt Student Strength United Kingdom: 15,000 Greece: 11,000 Australia: 7,100 New Zealand: 6,700 Total: 40,000 (10,000 without fighting capacity[2]) Germany: 14,000 paratroopers 15,000 mountain troopers 280... Operation Substance was a British naval operation in July 1941 during the Second World War to escort a convoy from Gibraltar to Malta. ... During World War II, Operation Halberd was a British naval operation in September 1941 to escort a convoy from Gibraltar to Malta. ... Combatants United Kingdom Italy Commanders Captain W.G Agnew Captain Ugo Bisciani Strength 2 light cruisers 2 destroyers 2 heavy cruisers 10 destroyers Casualties none? 2 destroyers sunk, 5 merchant ships sunk, ?? lost The Battle of the Duisburg Convoy was fought on the night of 8-9 November 1941 between... The Battle of Cape Bon was a Second World War naval action off Cape Bon, Tunisia. ... Combatants United Kingdom Australia Netherlands Italy Commanders Andrew Cunningham Angelo Iachino Strength 6 light cruisers 10 destroyers 4 battleships 2 heavy cruisers 3 light cruisers 19 destroyers 1 torpedo boat Casualties 1 light cruiser sunk 1 destroyer sunk 2 destroyers damaged 767 killed None ? The First Battle of Sirte was... The Second Battle of Sirte was a naval battle between the Royal Navy and the Regia Marina during the World War II. It took place on 22 March 1942, in the Mediterranean, north to the Gulf of Sirte, west of Malta. ... In World War II, Operation Harpoon was one of two simultaneous Allied convoys sent to supply Malta in the Axis-dominated Mediterranean Sea in mid-June 1942. ... Operation Vigorous was a World War II operation to deliver a supply convoy (MW-11) that sailed from Haifa and Port Said on the 12th June 1942 to Malta. ... Combatants  United Kingdom  United States  Nazi Germany Fascist Italy Commanders Vice Admiral Sir Neville Syfret, Rear-Admiral H M Burrough, CB Alberto Da Zara Strength 2 Battleships, 4 Aircraft Carriers, 7 Cruisers, 16 Destroyers, 14 Merchantmen. ... During World War II, Operation Agreement consisted of ground and amphibious attacks by British, Rhodesian and New Zealand forces on German- and Italian-held Tobruk (Operation Daffodil), Benghazi (Operation Snowdrop), Jalo oasis (Operation Tulip) and Barce (Operation Hyacinth) launched on 13 September 1942. ... Combatants United States United Kingdom Free French Forces Vichy France Commanders Dwight Eisenhower Andrew Cunningham François Darlan Strength 73,500 60,000 Casualties 479+ dead 720 wounded 1,346+ dead 1,997 wounded Operation Torch (initially called Operation Gymnast) was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in... During World War II, Operation Stone Age was the merchant convoy that reached Malta from Egypt on 20 November 1942 breaking the siege of that island. ... Combatants Vichy France Germany Commanders Jean de Laborde André Marquis Johannes Blaskowitz Casualties whole fleet scuttled ; 12 killed ; 26 wounded. ... Combatants United Kingdom Italy Germany¹ Commanders C. H. J. Harcount Aldo Cocchia Strength 3 light cruisers 2 destroyers 3 destroyers 2 torpedo boats convoy of 4 ships Casualties no ships lost 1 destroyer entire convoy ¹one ship in the convoy was German The Battle of Skerki Bank was a World... Combatants United Kingdom Italy Commanders unknown unknown Strength 2 destroyers 2 torpedo boats 1 transport ship Casualties 1 destroyer sunk 10 dead 1 torpedo boat sunk 1 torpedo boat damaged 100-120 dead The Battle of the Cigno Convoy was a naval engagement between two Royal Navy destroyers and two... Roma was an Italian Vittorio Veneto class battleship that served in the Regia Marina during World War II. She was built in 1940. ... Combatants  United Kingdom Indian Empire  United States Poland  Brazil  New Zealand  Canada  Free French  South Africa Italy  (after September 8th) Italian Resistance  Germany Italy  (until 8 September 1943) RSI  (until 25 April 1945) Commanders C-in-C AFHQ: Dwight D. Eisenhower (until January 1944) Henry Maitland Wilson (Jan to Dec... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... The Armistice with Italy is an armistice that occurred on September 8, 1943, during World War II. It was signed by Italy and the Allied armed forces, who were occupying the southern half of the country at the time. ... The Volturno Line was a German defensive position in Italy during World War II. The line ran from Termoli in the east, along the Biferno River through the Apennine Mountains to the Volturno River in the west. ... During World War II, the Barbara Line was a series of German military fortifications in Italy, some ten to twenty miles south of the Gustav Line, and a similar distance north of the Volturno Line. ... The Bernhardt Line (or Reinhard Line) was a German defensive line in Italy during World War II. Unlike most of the other defensive lines it did not run all the way across Italy, but was merely a bulge in the Gustav Line in the region of Monte Cassino, enclosing the... Combatants United Kingdom United States Poland New Zealand Canada Free France India and others Germany Commanders Harold Alexander Mark Clark Oliver Leese Albert Kesselring Heinrich von Vietinghoff Frido von Senger Strength 105,000 80,000 Casualties 54,000 20,000 The Battle of Monte Cassino (also known as the Battle... Combatants United States, United Kingdom Germany Commanders Harold Alexander Mark W. Clark John P. Lucas Lucian Truscott Albert Kesselring Eberhard von Mackensen Strength 22 Jan 1944: 36,000 soldiers and 2,300 vehicles End May:150,000 soldiers and 1,500 guns 22 Jan 1944: 20,000 soldiers End May... Allied advance to and beyond the Trasimene Line, 1944 The Trasimene Line was a German defensive line during the Italian Campaign of World War II. It was also sometimes known as the Albert Line. ... German defensive positions in Northern Italy 1944 370th Infantry Regiment walking toward the mountains at north of Prato - April 1945 The Gothic Line, also known as Linea Gotica, formed Field Marshal Albert Kesselrings last major line of defence in the final stages of World War II along the summits... Combatants  United Kingdom United States Poland New Zealand India South Africa Brazil and others Germany Commanders Mark Clark Richard McCreery Lucian Truscott Heinrich von Vietinghoff Traugott Herr Joachim Lemelsen Strength U.S. 5th Army British 8th Army German 10th Army German 14th Army The Spring 1945 offensive in Italy was... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... This article is about the independent states that comprised the Allies. ... Sicily ( in Italian and Sicilian) is an autonomous region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 25,708 km² (9,926 sq. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... It has been suggested that Landing operation be merged into this article or section. ... Look up airborne in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Combatants  United Kingdom Indian Empire  United States Poland  Brazil  New Zealand  Canada  Free French  South Africa Italy  (after September 8th) Italian Resistance  Germany Italy  (until 8 September 1943) RSI  (until 25 April 1945) Commanders C-in-C AFHQ: Dwight D. Eisenhower (until January 1944) Henry Maitland Wilson (Jan to Dec...

Husky began on the night of July 9, 1943, and ended August 17. It was the largest amphibious operation of the war in terms of men landed on the beaches and of frontage. Strategically,Husky achieved the goals set out for it by Allied planners. Axis air and naval forces were driven from the island; the Mediterranean sea lanes were opened and Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was toppled from power. It opened the way to the Allied invasion of Italy. is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Blue: Axis powers, co-belligerents and controlled areas Capital Not applicable Political structure Military alliance Historical era World War II  - Tripartite Pact September 27, 1940  - Anti-Comintern Pact November 25, 1936  - Pact of Steel May 22, 1939  - Dissolved 1945 This article is about the independent countries (states) that comprised the... Mediterranean redirects here. ... A sea lane is regularly used route for ocean-going vessels. ... Mussolini redirects here. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

Background

Participants

Main article: Operation Husky Order of Battle

The Allied land forces were mainly from the American, British, and Canadian armies. Other countries also contributed to the air and naval forces for the invasion. The U.S. troops were in the Seventh United States Army. The British 8th Army was bolstered by the addition of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division, which was detached from the Canadian 1st Army based in England. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower was in overall command, with Gen. Harold Alexander as commander of the land forces, designated the 15th Army Group. Under 15th AG were the British 8th Army, under Gen. Bernard Montgomery, and the U.S. 7th Army under Gen. George S. Patton. Operation Husky Order of Battle is a listing of the significant formations that were involved in the campaign for Sicily, July 10 – August 17, 1943. ... The Seventh United States Army is the land component of United States European Command. ... The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations in World War II, fighting in the campaigns in North Africa and Italy. ... List of military divisions — List of Canadian divisions in WWII The Canadian 1st Infantry Division was formed at the outbreak of World War I in August 1914. ... The Canadian First Army was the overall command for the Canadian military forces in Europe during World War II. It was formed in early 1942 to command two corps composed of the three infantry divisions, two armoured divisions, and two armoured brigades that had assembled in England. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Dwight David Eisenhower, born David Dwight Eisenhower (October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969), nicknamed Ike, was a five-star General in the United States Army and U.S. politician, who served as the thirty-fourth President of the United States (1953–1961). ... Field Marshal Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis (December 10, 1891 - June 16, 1969) was a British military commander and Field Marshal, notably during World War II as the commander of the 15th Army Group. ... (Redirected from 15th Army Group) The British/American 15th Army Group was an important unit in World War II. It was activated in 1943 in Algiers, North Africa, to plan the invasion of Sicily. ... Bernard Law Montgomery Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (November 17, 1887 - March 24, 1976) was a British military officer during World War II often referred to as Monty. ... George Patton redirects here. ...

The island was defended by the Italian 6th Army under Gen. Alfredo Guzzoni. 6th Army included the XII and XVI Corps, made up of coastal defence units, four front line divisions and miscellaneous units under army command, and the German XIV Panzer Corps. The total Axis force was about 300,000 Italian and 40,000 German troops, with at least 147 tanks and about 220 artillery pieces. The Italians reinforced the garrison with 12,000 reinforcements and 91 tanks. Alfredo Guzzoni (1877-1965) was an Italian military officer who served in both World Wars. ...

Planning

In the early part of 1943, Allied leaders concluded that a successful invasion of France would be impossible that year. So they decided to invade the Italian island of Sicily, using troops from the North African Campaign, which the Allies would soon win. The strategic goals were to remove Axis naval and air forces from Sicily, allowing free passage to Allied ships in the Mediterranean Sea, and to put pressure on Mussolini's regime and perhaps drive Italy out of the war. Taking Sicily might also lead to the invasion of Italy, although the Allies had not decided on this at the time of the invasion. The Americans in particular resisted committing to any operation which might delay the invasion of France. During World War II, the North African Campaign, also known as the Desert War, took place in the North African desert from September 13, 1940 to May 13, 1943. ...

Allied planners considered two strategies. One proposal was to land the two armies at separate locations in the eastern and western ends of Sicily, then move to encircle the Axis forces. The Axis forces would be not just defeated but destroyed. This was considered risky because the two armies would be unable to support each other, and might be defeated in detail. Although the Italians had fought poorly in Africa, it was likely they would offer stiffer resistance defending their homeland. The "encirclement" plan would probably fail.

The other proposed strategy was to land the two armies side-by-side in southern Sicily, and advance directly across the island. This was much less risky than separate landings, but did not offer an opportunity for encirclement. The Allied planners chose this strategy rather than risk a defeat.

7th Army was assigned to land in the Gulf of Gela, in south-central Sicily, with 3rd Division and 2nd Armored Division to the west at Licata, 1st Division in the center at Gela, and 45th Division to the east at Scoglitti. The U.S. 82nd Airborne Division was assigned to drop behind the defenses at Gela and Scoglitti. 7th Army's beach-front stretched over 50 kilometers. Gela is a city in the province of Caltanissetta in the south of Sicily, Italy. ... Licata (called Phintias in ancient times) is a city located in southern Sicily, Italy, with a population over 40000. ... The 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army was formed originally as the 82nd Infantry Division on August 25, 1917, at Camp Gordon, Georgia. ...

8th Army was assigned to land in south-eastern Sicily. 30th Corps would land on either side of Cape Passero, at the very southeastern corner of Sicily, while 13th Corps would land in the Gulf of Noto, around Avola, off to the north. 8th Army's beach front also stretched 50 kilometers, and there was a gap of some 40 kilometers between the two armies. Capo Passero or Cape Passero (Greek: ; Latin: Pachynus or Pachynum) is a celebrated promontory of Sicily, forming the extreme southeastern point of the whole island, and one of the three promontories which were supposed to have given to it the name of Trinacria. ... For other uses, see Noto (disambiguation). ... Line of Lords and later Marquiss in Sicily. ...

Once ashore, the armies would link up and secure a large beachhead area. Then 8th Army would drive north, along the east coast of Sicily, to Messina. 7th Army would cover 8th Army's left flank and clear the rest of the island.

Deception

To distract the Axis, and if possible divert some of their forces to other areas, the Allies engaged in several deception operations. The most famous and successful of these was Operation Mincemeat. A corpse disguised as a British officer was allowed to drift ashore in Spain, carrying a briefcase containing fake secret documents. These documents revealed that the Allies were planning to invade Greece, and had no plans to invade Sicily. The documents were accepted as genuine by German intelligence, and as a result much German defensive effort was diverted from Sicily to Greece. The Germans had soldiers on Sicily because they had been withdrawn from North Africa and had not been reassigned to the Eastern Front. However, there was still a large number of Germans and Italians on Sicily when the invasion started. Operation Mincemeat was a highly successful British deception plan during World War II which convinced the German High Command (OKW) that the Allies would invade the Balkans and Sardinia instead of the island of Sicily, the actual objective. ...

Canadian participation

The 1st Canadian Infantry Division was included at the insistence of Canadian Military Headquarters in the UK. This request was granted by the British, displacing the veteran British 3rd Infantry Division. The change was not finalized until 27 April, when Gen. Andrew McNaughton, the 1st Canadian Army Commander, deemed Husky' to be a viable military undertaking and agreed to the detachment of both 1st Canadian Infantry Division and 1st Canadian Tank Brigade List of military divisions — List of Canadian divisions in WWII The Canadian 1st Infantry Division was formed at the outbreak of World War I in August 1914. ... The British 3rd Infantry Division was part of the ill-fated British Expeditionary Force evacuated from Dunkirk early in World War II. It was the first British division to land at Sword beach on D-Day. ... is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Andrew George Latta McNaughton, PC (February 25, 1887 - July 11, 1966) was a Canadian army officer, politician and diplomat. ... The Ontario Regiment and The Three Rivers Regiment were transferred from the incomplete 1st Canadian Armoured Division to provide the nucleus of 1st Canadian Tank Brigade in February 1941. ...

Canadians in Sicily: Troops of The Loyal Edmonton Regiment entered Modica marching in a relaxed manner, but rifles are close to hand and bayonets are fixed, ready for sudden action.

The Canadian forces were initially commanded by Maj. Gen. H. L. N. Salmon, who died in an airplane accident in the early days of planning, and was succeeded by Maj. Gen. Guy Simonds. Though the Canadian formations had served in the United Kingdom for a number of years, they had, with minor exceptions, not served under fire. Also, as the Canadians, unlike the rest of 15th Army Group, had not served in the Mediterranean, they were not acclimated to its searing temperatures. That reality, combined with a shortage of transport caused by losses at sea, resulted in 1st CID and its tank brigade being halted just days into the operation, for a much needed rest. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (813x603, 227 KB)CANADIANS IN SICILY: Troops of The Loyal Edmonton Regiment entered Modica marching in a relaxed manner, but rifles are close to hand and bayonets are fixed, ready for sudden action. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (813x603, 227 KB)CANADIANS IN SICILY: Troops of The Loyal Edmonton Regiment entered Modica marching in a relaxed manner, but rifles are close to hand and bayonets are fixed, ready for sudden action. ... Harry Leonard Nowell Salmon was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on February 9, 1894, son of John and Louise Salmon, one of three boys and three girls. ... Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds inspecting II Canadian Corps in Meppen, Germany, May 31st, 1945. ...

Map of the Allied landings in Sicily on 10 July 1943

Download high resolution version (806x580, 134 KB) Source: http://www. ... Download high resolution version (806x580, 134 KB) Source: http://www. ... is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Battle

Allied landings

The landings took place in extremely strong wind, which made the landings difficult but also ensured the element of surprise. Landings were made on the southern and eastern coasts of the island, with British forces in the east and Americans towards the west. The Canadian soldiers landed, with stiff opposition on the beaches, around the small village of Pachino.

Four parachute drops were carried out just after midnight on the night of the 9 July-10 July, as part of the invasion — two British, two American, two Canadian, and one Australian. The American paratroopers consisted largely of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne, making their first combat drop. Strong winds scattered aircraft widely off course, and half the U.S. paratroopers failed to reach their rallying points. British glider-landed troops fared little better, with only one out of 12 gliders landing on target and many crashing at sea. Nevertheless, the scattered airborne troops maximized their opportunities, attacking patrols and creating confusion wherever possible. Airborne Military parachuting form of insertion. ... is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... An American Paratrooper using a T-10C series parachute Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and formed into an airborne force. ... The 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment (505th PIR) is one of three infantry regiments of the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army. ... The 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army is an elite airborne infantry division and was constituted in the National Army as the 82nd Division on March 5, 1917, and was organized on March 25, 1917, at Camp Gordon, Georgia. ... For other uses, see Glider (disambiguation). ...

A U.S. crew checks their Sherman tank after landing at Red Beach 2, Sicily on 10 July

Despite the weather, the beach landings (three hours after the airborne drops) met only moderate opposition from Italian units stationed on the shoreline, because the defenders had been weakened by naval bombardments. However, the Italian Navy and Air Force made several attacks against the invasion fleet with airplanes, warships, and submarines, sinking and damaging several warships, transport vessels and landing craft, at the cost of few of their own vessels and aircraft.^[2] Italian SM.79 torpedo-bomber squadrons coordinated their attacks with the German Ju-87 and Ju-88 bomber units, and Rome reported as follows on July 12:^[3] Image File history File links Size of this preview: 752 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2115 × 1687 pixel, file size: 778 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 752 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2115 × 1687 pixel, file size: 778 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The M4 Sherman was the primary tank produced by the United States for its own use and the use of its Allies during World War II. Production of the M4 Medium tank exceeded 50,000 units, and its chassis served as the basis for thousands of other armored vehicles such... is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... USS Port Royal (CG-73), a Ticonderoga class cruiser. ... The Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero (Italian: sparrowhawk) was important Italian bomber of World War II. The three engine airplane was well made, and performed well both as a torpedo and medium bomber. ... Junkers Ju 87 Dive-Bombers The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was the most famous Sturzkampfflugzeug (German dive bomber) in World War II, instantly recognisable by its inverted gull-wings and fixed undercarriage. ... The Junkers Ju 88 was a WW2 Luftwaffe twin-engine multi-role aircraft. ... is the 193rd day of the year (194th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

As a result of the adverse weather, many troops landed in the wrong place, in the wrong order and as much as six hours behind schedule.^[4] The British walked almost unopposed into the port of Syracuse, but Canadian troops met increasing resistance by determined Italian troops in the hills. The Canadians were being pushed back to the beaches. However, heavy Allied reinforcements stopped the Italian counterattack, and the Canadians advanced again. Syracuse (Italian Siracusa, Sicilian Sarausa, Greek , Latin Syracusae) is an Italian city on the eastern coast of Sicily and the capital of the province of Syracuse. ...

In the American centre there was a substantial Italian division-sized counterattack at exactly the point where the airborne were supposed to have been. On Highways 115 and 117 during a July 10 Italian tank and infantry assault on the city of Gela, guns from the destroyer USS Shubrick and the cruiser USS Boise destroyed several tanks. The 3rd Battalion, 34th Regiment, "Livorno" Infantry Division, composed mainly of conscripts, is recorded by its Commanding Officer as having made a valiant counter-attack in the Gela Beachhead two days later. is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Gela is a city in the province of Caltanissetta in the south of Sicily, Italy. ... Shubrick IV (DD-639: dp. ... The Boise (CL-47) was a United States Navy Brooklyn-class light cruiser. ...

On 11 July, Patton ordered his reserve parachute regiments to drop and reinforce the center. Not every unit had been informed of the drop, and the 144 C-47 transports, which arrived shortly after an Axis air raid, were fired on by the Royal Navy; 33 were shot down and 37 damaged, resulting in 318 casualties to "friendly fire." is the 192nd day of the year (193rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. ... This article is about the navy of the United Kingdom. ... For other uses, see Friendly Fire (disambiguation). ...

Landing battle

The plans for the post-invasion battle had not been worked out; Army Group Cmdr. Harold Alexander never developed a plan. This left each Army to fight its own campaign with little coordination. Boundaries between the two armies were fixed, as was normal procedure. In the first two days progress was rapid, capturing Vizzini in the west and Augusta in the east. Field Marshal Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis, KG, OM, GCB, GCSI, GCMG, GCVO, DSO, MC, LL.D, PC (10 December 1891 - 16 June 1969) was a British military commander and field marshal, notably during the Second World War as the commander of the 15th Army... VIZZINI, Catania, Sicilia Bidis, a Roman city mentioned by Pliny and Cicero, stood here in a territory that has been inhabited since prehistoric times. ... Augusta is a town in southern Italy, located on the Eastern coast of Sicily, in the province of Syracuse. ...

Then resistance in the British sector stiffened. Gen. Bernard Montgomery persuaded Alexander to shift the inter-Army boundaries so the British could bypass resistance and retain the key role of capturing Messina, while the Americans were given the role of protecting and supporting their flank. Historian Carlo D'Este has called this the worst strategic blunder of the campaign. It necessitated having the U.S. 45th Infantry Division break contact, move back to the beaches at Gela and thence northwest, and allowed the German XIVth Panzer Corps to escape likely encirclement. This episode was the origin of what would become greater conflicts between Montgomery and the II Corps commander Omar Bradley. Patton, however, did not contest the decision. Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC (IPA: ; 17 November 1887 â€“ 24 March 1976), often referred to as Monty, was an Anglo-Irish British Army officer. ... Messina, Italy Strait of Messina, Italy. ... The 45th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War II. // Activated: In 1924 as a National Guard Division in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. ... The US II Corps was a corps of the United States Army and the first American formation of any size to see combat in Europe or Africa during World War II. It came to prominence in the Battle of Kasserine Pass when Field Marshal Erwin Rommel defeated the formation. ... Omar Nelson Bradley (February 12, 1893 – April 8, 1981) was one of the main U.S. Army field commanders in North Africa and Europe during World War II and a General of the Army of the United States Army. ...

In the western coast of Sicily the Italians managed to hold off the American advance on the Castrofilippo-Napo area; the 35th Bersaglieri Battalion, who were a recently rebuilt battalion, showed enormous courage and tenacity, but were eventually overwhelmed by sheer weight of fire. On the Naro River the 73rd Bersaglieri Battalion and the remnants of the 35th and 160th Coastal Artillery Battalions held out grimly. It was clear that not all the defending forces had lost the will to fight.^[5]

After a week's fighting, Patton sought a greater role for his army and decided to try to capture the capital, Palermo. After dispatching a reconnaissance toward the town of Agrigento which succeeded in capturing it, he formed a provisional corps and persuaded Alexander to allow him to continue to advance. Alexander changed his mind and countermanded his orders, but Patton claimed the countermand was "garbled in transmission", and by the time the position had been clarified Patton was at the gates of Palermo. Although there was little tactical value in taking the city, the rapid advance was an important demonstration of the U.S. Army's mobility when U.S. forces were still recovering from the Battle of the Kasserine Pass. Location of the city of Palermo (red dot) within Italy. ... Mixed reconnaissance patrol of the Polish Home Army and the Soviet Red Army during Operation Tempest, 1944 Reconnaissance is the military term for the active gathering of information about an enemy, or other conditions, by physical observation. ... San Lorenzo. ... The United States Army is the largest and oldest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ... Combatants Germany Italy United States United Kingdom Free France Commanders Erwin Rommel Lloyd Fredendall Strength 22,000 30,000 Casualties 2,000 10,000 (including 6,700 Americans) The Battle of Kasserine Pass took place in World War II during the Tunisia Campaign. ...

The fall of Palermo showed the Italian and German defenders that Sicily was lost. Axis commanders immediately retreated to Messina to be withdrawn to Italy. This however, didn't dampen Italian hopes of victory. Most Allied commanders were shocked because they though the loss of Sicily and the Italian colonies would drive Italy from the war.

After Patton's capture of Palermo, with the British still bogged down south of Messina, Alexander ordered a two-pronged attack on the city. On 24 July, Montgomery suggested to Patton that the Seventh U.S. Army take Messina, since they were in a better position to do so. The Axis had prepared a strong defensive line, the "Etna Line" around Messina, which would enable them to make a progressive retreat while evacuating large parts of the army to the mainland. is the 205th day of the year (206th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Patton began his assault on the line at Troina, but it was a linchpin of the defense and stubbornly held. Despite three end run amphibious landings the Germans and Italians managed to keep the bulk of their forces beyond reach of capture and maintain their evacuation plans. After all the soldiers not defending the line withdrew, the defenders raced for transport ships under the cover of night. The Allies weren't watching the Axis troops, so they escaped from Messina and reached Italy. Elements of the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division entered Messina just hours after the last Axis troops boarded ship for Italy. However, Patton had won his race to enter Messina first. Operation Baytown was planned to land troops near the tip of Calabria (the "toe" of Italy) in connection with the invasion of Italy, and to not prevent an Axis escape from Sicily was a major strategic blunder. Instead of a major Axis defeat, it started a long and bloody campaign. Country Italy Region Sicily Province Enna (EN) Mayor Elevation m Area km² Population  - Total  - Density /km² Time zone CET, UTC+1 Coordinates , Gentilic Dialing code Postal code Website: http://www. ... The 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) —nicknamed the Rock of the Marne— is a United States Army infantry division based at Fort Stewart, Georgia. ... For other uses, see Calabria (disambiguation). ...

Aftermath

U.S. soldiers looking at a dead German pilot and his wrecked aircraft near Gela, Sicily on 12 July 1943

The casualties on the Axis side totaled 29,000, with 140,000 (mostly Italians) captured. The U.S. lost 2,237 killed and 6,544 wounded and captured; the British suffered 2,721 dead, and 10,122 wounded and captured; the Canadians suffered 2,410 casualties including 562 killed and 1,848 wounded and captured. For many of the American forces and for the entire Canadian contingent, this was their first time in combat. The Axis successfully evacuated the entire garrison in Messina. Rescuing such a large number of troops from the threat of capture represented a major success for the Axis. In the face of Allied naval and air superiority, this evacuation was a major Allied failure. Image File history File links SicilyAirplane. ... Image File history File links SicilyAirplane. ... is the 193rd day of the year (194th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Allied command was forced to improve interservice coordination, particularly with regard to use of airborne forces. After several misdrops and the deadly "friendly fire" incident, increased training and some tactical changes kept the paratroopers in the war. Indeed, a few months later, Montgomery's initial assessment of the Operation Overlord plan included a request for four airborne divisions. Airborne Military parachuting form of insertion. ... Belligerents Western Allies Nazi Germany Commanders Dwight Eisenhower (Supreme Allied Commander) Arthur Tedder (Deputy Supreme Allied Commander) Bernard Montgomery (Ground Forces Commander in Chief) Trafford Leigh-Mallory (Air Commander in Chief) Bertram Ramsay (Naval Commander in Chief) Gerd von Rundstedt (OB WEST) Erwin Rommel (Heeresgruppe B) Strength 1,452,000...

American soldiers killed 74 Italian and two German prisoners of war during two separate massacres at Biscari airfield. Two soldiers were charged for this war crime; one was convicted and sentenced to life in prison (later commuted) and another was acquitted. Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... The Biscari massacre was a war crime committed by U.S. troops during World War II, where unarmed German and Italian prisoners of war were supposedly killed at Biscari in 1943. ... In the context of war, a war crime is a punishable offense under International Law, for violations of the laws of war by any person or persons, military or civilian. ...

Constituent operations

• Operation Barclay/Operation Mincemeat: Deception operations aimed at misleading Axis forces as to the actual date and location of the Allied landings.
• Operation Chestnut: Advanced air drop by 2 SAS to disrupt communications on 12 July 1943.
• Operation Corkscrew: Allied invasion of the Italian island Pantelleria on 10 June 1943.
• Operation Fustian: Airborne landing at Primasole Bridge ahead on 13 July - 14 July 1943.
• Operation Ladbroke: Glider landing at Syracuse on 9 July 1943.
• Operation Narcissus: Commando raid on a lighthouse near the main landings on 10 July 1943.

During World War II, Operation Barclay was the Allied deception plan in support of the invasion of Sicily. ... Operation Mincemeat was a highly successful British deception plan during World War II which convinced the German High Command (OKW) that the Allies would invade the Balkans and Sardinia instead of the island of Sicily, the actual objective. ... During World War II, Operation Chestnut was a failed British raid by 2 Special Air Service, conducted in support of the Allied invasion of Sicily. ... is the 193rd day of the year (194th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... During World War II, Operation Corkscrew was the Allied invasion of the Italian island of Pantelleria (between Sicily and Tunisia) on 10 June 1943. ... Pantelleria (or Pantalaria, Pantellaria, etc), the ancient Cossyra, is an island in the Strait of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, 100 km (62 mi) southwest of Sicily and just 70 km (43 mi) east of the African coast. ... is the 161st day of the year (162nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... During World War II, Operation Fustian was the British airborne assault to seize and hold Primrose Bridge over the River Simeto, south of Mount Etna on the island of Sicily, until relieved by ground forces. ... is the 194th day of the year (195th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 195th day of the year (196th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... During World War II, Operation Ladbroke was the British glider landing near Syracuse, Sicily on the night of 9 July 1943 as part of the invasion of Sicily. ... is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... During World War II, Operation Narcissus was a raid by forty members of the Special Air Service on a lighthouse on the southeast coast of Sicily. ... is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Biscari massacre

The Biscari massacre was a war crime committed by U.S. troops during World War II, where unarmed German and Italian prisoners of war were supposedly killed at Biscari in 1943. ...

Notes

References

• Atkinson, Rick (2007). Volume II: The Day of Battle, The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944, The Liberation Trilogy. New York: Henry Holt, 816 pages. ISBN 978-0805062892. 
• Birtle, Andrew J.. CMH Online bookshelves: WWII Campaigns, Sicily 1943. Washington: US Army Center of Military History. CMH Pub 72-16. 
• Carver, Field Marshal Lord (2001). The Imperial War Museum Book of the War in Italy 1943-1945. London: Sidgwick & Jackson. ISBN 0 330 48230 0. 
• Grigg, John (1982). 1943: The Victory that Never Was. Kensington Pub Corp. ISBN 0-8217-1596-8. 
• Mitcham, Samuel W.; von Stauffenberg, Friedrich [1991] (2007). The Battle of Sicily: How the Allies Lost Their Chance for Total Victory. Mechanicsberg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 081173403X. 
• Newark, Tim (2007). Mafia Allies: The True Story of America's Secret Alliance with the Mob in World War II. St. Paul: Zenith Press. ISBN 0-7603-2457-3. 

Field Marshal Richard Michael Power Carver, Baron Carver (April 24, 1915 - December 9, 2001) was a British soldier. ...

External links

• Describes Operation Mincemeat
• Italian 3rd Battalion, 34th Regiment, "Livorno" Infantry Division in the Gela Beachhead Counterattack
• Husky Operations Plan Sicily
• Excerpt from The Day Of Battle by Rick Atkinson
• March From The Beaches, Time, July 26, 1943
• Canadians in Sicily, 1943 Canadians in Sicily: Photos, battle info, video footage and newspaper archives.
• US Army account of the battle
• World War Two Online Newspaper Archives - The Sicilian and Italian Campaigns, 1943-1945
• Operation Husky: The Allied Invasion of Sicily, 1943 by Thomas E. Nutter
• Royal Engineers Museum Royal Engineers and Second World War (Sicily)
• 2nd World War Best of Sicily History of the Allied Campaign and its social context
• The 82nd Airborne during World War II
• Historical Museum of the Military Invasion of Sicily, 1943 (Museo Storico dello Sbarco in Sicilia 1943) Dedicated to the historical event which culminated in the liberation of Sicily and Italy from the German occupation.
• German Soldiers' Cemetery, Motta S. Anastasia, Sicily (in German)
• Commonwealth War Cemetery, Catania, Sicily
• Syracuse War Cemetery, Sicily
• Agira Canadian War Cemetery, Sicily
• Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial
• COHQ bulletin Y6 digest of reports on Operation 'Husky'
• COHQ bulletin Y1 notes on the planning and assault phase of the Sicilian operation
• 45th Infantry Division in the Sicilian Campaign