This forgotten amphibious assault was BIGGER than D-Day

In early 1943 the Battle for North Africa was raging on. But at the

same time Allied leaders were meeting in Casablanca to decide on their next

target. Their decision would change the course of the Second World War.

The Americans wanted to focus on delivering a killer blow to Nazi Germany, with a cross

channel invasion of Northern France as soon as possible. But the British believed there

was a chance to knock Italy out of the war by targeting what they called the

soft underbelly of Europe. After days of heated debate, the Americans grudgingly

agreed that attacking Sicily would help to further multiple Allied objectives.

Its size and location as well as its 30 airfields made it a huge threat to air and sea routes in the

rest of the Mediterranean. But with its capture, the island would act as an airbase and a jumping

off point for the invasion of Italy. A final objective would be to reduce pressure on the

Soviet forces on the Eastern Front by diverting Axis strength from there to protect southern

Europe. For the first time the Allies would be bringing the fight to the Axis on their home soil.

The Allies were about to embark upon one of the most contentious episodes of the Second

World War – the Italian Campaign. Although there were some initial successes, there would be no

easy victory. Instead, the fighting would be fierce and bloody, with places like Salerno,

Anzio and Monte Cassino going down in history as some of the toughest battles of the Second World

War. In this new three-part series, sponsored by Company of Heroes 3, we’ll be taking an in-depth

look at the Italian campaign. From the invasion of Sicily to the capture of Rome, we’ll explore the

key moments and decisions that shaped the fighting and try to understand – was it really worth it?

After the conference at Casablanca came to an end, planning for Operation Husky

began immediately. With a date set for June 10th, time was of the essence.

The key target of the invasion was the port of Messina, the link to the Italian mainland. But

its heavy defences and distance from North Africa meant the Allies could not attack it directly.

Their choices were to land in either the Northwest or Southeast where their other objectives in the

island’s ports and airfields were concentrated. It took a few months, but by the time Axis

forces in North Africa had surrendered in May the Allies finally settled on a plan.

4 British and Commonwealth Divisions under Bernard Montgomery would land at Syracuse,

while 3 American divisions under George S. Patton would land around Gela. In front of

them elements of two Airborne divisions would capture important bridges and crossroads.

A after the debacle at Kasserine Pass, the overall commander General Alexander had little

faith in the American soldiers. So once ashore, Montgomery’s 8th Army would do the heavy lifting,

advancing north towards Augusta, Catania and the Messina. Meanwhile,

Patton’s 7th Army were to support them on their flank. The Allies expected tough Axis resistance,

similar to what they had seen in North Africa. But the Axis forces were taken off guard.

The Allies used several deception operations to make the Axis forces think that the attack was

going to be somewhere else. This oar was used in one of the best known deception operations

- Operation Mincemeat. A dead man was dressed as a fictitious Royal Marine officer and documents were

planted on him that hinted that the Allies were going to invade Greece and Sardinia with only a