Allied invasion of Sicily

Sicilian Campaign
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
Date 9 July – 17 August 1943 Location Sicily, Italy Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Allies:  United Kingdom British India  United States  Canada Free France supported by  Australia South Afica	Axis:  Italy  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]

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).

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.

1. ↑ von Stauffenberg, Friedrich; & Mitcham Jr., Samuel W. (July 10, 2007). The Battle of Sicily: How the Allies Lost their Change for Total Victory. Stackpole Books. p. 63. ISBN 978-0811734035.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} von Stauffenberg, Friedrich; & Mitcham Jr., Samuel W. (July 10, 2007). The Battle of Sicily: How the Allies Lost their Change for Total Victory. Stackpole Books. p. 307. ISBN 978-0811734035.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
3. ↑ Murray, Stuart A.P. (March 1, 2005). ""Operation Husky" and the Italian Campaign". Atlas of American Military History. Facts on File. p. 168. ISBN 978-0816062218.
4. ↑ Dickson, Keith D. (October 15, 2001). World War II for Dummies. For Dummies. p. 201. ISBN 0-7645-5352-6.
5. ↑ von Stauffenberg, Friedrich; & Mitcham Jr., Samuel W. (July 10, 2007). The Battle of Sicily: How the Allies Lost their Change for Total Victory. Stackpole Books. pp. 305-306. ISBN 978-0811734035.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} von Stauffenberg, Friedrich; & Mitcham Jr., Samuel W. (July 10, 2007). The Battle of Sicily: How the Allies Lost their Change for Total Victory. Stackpole Books. p. 305. ISBN 978-0811734035.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
7. ↑ Santoni, Alberto (1989). Le operazioni in Sicilia e in Calabria (luglio-settembre 1943) (in Italian). Calabria Italy: Stato maggiore dell’Esercito, Ufficio storico. p. 401.