![]() ![]() Ww2dbaseOn 11 Aug, Axis forces started to evacuate the island in a nevertheless impression fashion. ![]() "They were victims of American artillery fire," said Eisenhower if the frontline infantrymen did not appreciate artillery support, they did now. Several days after the capture of Troina, Americans were surprised to find a small valley filled with hundreds of German dead. The American Seventh Army's First Division and two Canadian regiments fought off 24 separate counterattacks during the battle while behind the line artillery shelled German positions in the rocky hillsides. Ww2dbaseThe Battle of Troina characterized the fierce, though few, inland fighting on the island of Sicily. Patton reinforced the British western column near Randazzo as ordered, but he wanted to protest the British general's move into his turf. This move actually cut off part of the American advance across the center of the island, which enraged George Patton. The westward-flanking column was conducted by surprise to both the defenders and Montgomery's American allies alike. Plagued by malaria, the British troops divided into two columns, each marching north on either side of Mount Etna. To the north of them was Mount Etna where a strong garrison stood. Ww2dbaseFrom 17 Jul on, Bernard Montgomery's British Eighth Army secured the Catania region on the eastern coastline of Sicily. "Hundreds of men were lost, entire sticks of paratroopers jumping early when their pilots in all the confusion hit the green light, and the heavily laden men came down in the ocean and disappeared." For example, when Allied C-47 transports carrying airborne troops flied across the invasion fleet, the naval gunners nervously fired their anti-aircraft weapons at the friendly planes in total panic. ![]() Stukas and ME-110s strafed the invasion fleet whenever opportunity presented itself, not causing serious damage but sparred up enough panic to serious endanger the success of subsequent operations. Ww2dbaseThe air defense on Sicily was comparatively stronger. Initial resistance was fierce from Italian XII and XVI Corps and German XIV Panzer Corps, combined at the strength of 400,000, but under the pressure of Eisenhower's troops they soon buckled Syracuse was taken on the first day of the invasion nearly uncontested, Palermo on 22 Jul, and Catania on 5 Aug. The Italian troops were augmented by two German divisions under the command of General Hans Hube, which commandeered much attention by Eisenhower's intelligence staff. It was generally thought that the best Italian units were lost in Africa, although Dwight Eisenhower was unwilling to discount the quality of Italian troops as the psychology of defending their own homeland could make a world of difference in their ferocity. Ww2dbaseThe island was defended by 230,000 Italian troops consisting of weak coastal defense units. Eventually, 180,000 soldiers would set foot on the island. Four airborne operations were also conducted. The landing forces were protected by six battleships, 10 cruisers, and two aircraft carriers. 7th Army and the British 8th Army, benefited greatly from the newly developed DUKW ("duck") landing craft. When the actual landings took place, harsh weather conditions (very strong winds) surprised the Axis defenders, while support fire from ample naval power ensured successful landing operations by the Allied 15th Army Group. A large gamble the Allies took on was that the landing took place at several locations a failure in any of the many locations could negatively affect outcome of another landing site. Ww2dbaseOn, Operation Husky called for 2,590 Allied ships to land 180,000 troops, 600 tanks, and 14,000 mechanized vehicles on the Italian island in three days at multiple sites, forming the second largest amphibious operation in the European theater. Allied occupation of Sicily would also safeguard Allied shipping in the Mediterranean, as well as relieve Malta from the constant Axis air raids. The first target chosen by the Allied commanders was Sicily after concluding an amphibious operation against Vichy France would be impossible. ![]() Ww2dbaseUpon victory in North Africa, Allied forces used ports in North Africa as staging points northwards toward the underbelly of Europe. Invasion of Sicily and Italy's Surrender. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |