Sicily and Italy

• Which year was it in?

  10 July 1943
• Why did this invasion take place?

  To remove Italy from war

  Secure central Mediterranean

  Divert German decisions from the northwest coast of France where all Allies planned to attack
• Operation Husky
• Large amphibious and airborne operation combined and 6 week land campaign -> Monty's 8th Army and General Patton's US 7th Army worked to take the island from Germany
• 25 July

  King Victor Emmanuel sacked Mussolini
• Who was Harold Alexander?

  Major General in 1937

  Commanded the First Division in France

  After Dunkirk retreat, he replaced Lord Gort as commander in chief of British Expeditionary Force and led the evacuation

  1942 summer British commander in chief in the Mediterranean theatre

  Him and Monty reorganised British forces+drove Germans back from Egypt+across North Africa until surrender: May 1943
• Praises of the invasion on Italy?

  Genius on Churchill's part

  Germans lured into conflict on terms favourable to Britain

  Germans forced to commit large numbers of vehicles due to demands of desert warfare- used against USSR to greater effect

  Prevented German seizure of Middle East oil field and German troops linking up against southern Russia
• Criticism of invasion on Italy?

  Peripheral areas of Europe with traditional British interests - Russians faced the brunt of the fighting

  Italian campaign degenerated into costly+slow campaigns - like WW1 ones- Churchill wanted to avoid