Allied invasion of Sicily
1943 military campaign of World War II on the island of Sicily, Italy / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major battle of World War II in which Allies captured Sicily from the Axis Powers (Italy and Nazi Germany).
Quick Facts Sicilian Campaign, Date ...
Sicilian Campaign | |||||||
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Part of the Italian Campaign of World War II | |||||||
The U.S. Liberty ship Robert Rowan explodes after being hit by a German bomber off Gela, Sicily, 11 July 1943 | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
United States Canada Free France Australia South Afica |
Axis: Italy Nazi Germany | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Dwight Eisenhower Harold Alexander Bernard Montgomery George S. Patton Arthur Tedder Andrew Cunningham |
Albert Kesselring Alfredo Guzzoni Fridolin von Senger und Etterlin Hans-Valentin Hube | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
Initial Strength: 160,000 personnel 14,000 vehicles 600 tanks 1,800 guns[1] Peak Strength: 467,000 personnel[2] |
230,000 Italian personnel 40,000 - 60,000 German personnel[2][3] 260 tanks 1,400 aircraft[4] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
24,850 casualties (5,837 killed or missing, 15,683 wounded, 3,330 captured)[5] |
Germany: ~20,000 casualties[6] Italy: 131,359[7]-147,000 killed, wounded and captured (mainly POWs)[6] |
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The large sea and air operation was followed by six weeks of land fighting and started the Italian Campaign. It was followed by the Allied invasion of Italy.
Husky began on the night of 9–10 July 1943 and ended on 17 August. It achieved the goals of the Allies. The Allies removed Axis air, land, and naval forces from the island.
As well, the Mediterranean's sea lanes were opened to the Allies, and the Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini, was briefly removed from power.