July – August 1943
Anglo-American Campaign in Sicily
The elimination of the Axis presence in North Africa cleared the way for an Allied campaign against Italy, which was considered the “soft underbelly” of the Axis. The initial landings of British and American troops took place on 10 July, and met with considerable success. While there were two veteran German divisions in Sicily, the Italian Army had by this time lost much of its enthusiasm for the war, and put up relatively little resistance. During this campaign General Patton distinguished himself by making a lightning thrust that captured Palermo, the most important harbor on the island, less than two weeks after the invasion. The British, meanwhile, advanced more slowly along the eastern coast. Sensing that their position was hopeless, the Axis forces began evacuating the island in early August, and by the middle of the month Sicily was entirely under Allied control.

The Anglo-American successes in Sicily had a profound impact in Rome. The Italian government ordered the removal and arrest of Benito Mussolini, who had ruled the country since 1921 and had engineered Italy’s alliance with Germany. A new government was formed, which quickly opened peace negotiations with the Allies.

Histories:
Sicily
Allied Landings in Sicily

Campaign Maps:
Campaign in Sicily, July 1943
Campaign in Sicily, July – August 1943

Personal Accounts:
Rutgers Oral History Archives of World War II: Interview with John T. Waters
Rutgers Oral History Archives of World War II: Interview with Walter Berger
Rutgers Oral History Archives of World War II: Interview with Benjamin B. Roth
Rutgers Oral History Archives of World War II: Interview with Clifford P. Kingston
Rutgers Oral History Archives of World War II: Interview with Franklyn Johnson

Photographs:
U.S. Army Air Forces Flying Fortresses B-17s fought off an attacking formation of enemy planes and accomplished their mission, which was to bomb shipping and harbor installations at Palermo, Sicily
"H" hour of the "D" day draws near and the first wave of men to invade Sicily prepare to debark from Allied transports lying four miles off shore
Lt. Col. Lyle Bernard, a prominent figure in the second daring amphibious landing behind enemy lines on Sicily's north coast, discusses military strategy with Lt. Gen. George S. Patton