Battle of Sicily

By: Olivia Bowman

Background Information

In January 1943 British and American leaders met

to discuss operations for after Axis forces had
been driven from North Africa.

FDR first thought that advance in the

Mediterranean wouldn't be a good idea.

Both sides concluded that to conduct landings in

France would be easy. Therefore they planned the
invasion of Sicily.
Basic Information

When: July 10th, 1943 - August 17th, 1943

Code-name: Operation Husky

Who: Allies troops (U.S. & Great Britain).

Axis troops (German & Italy).
Allies: (U.S. and British)

About 160,000 troops. 3,000 ships. 4,000 aircraft. 600 tanks.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower

General Sir Harold Alexander

Lt. General George S. Patton

General Sir Bernard Montgomery

Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham

Vice Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay

Axis: (German and Italy)

About 405,000 men

General Alfredo Guzzoni

Field Marshall Albert Kesselring

What was planned to happen?

The Invasion was designed to open the

shipping landings in the Mediterranean,
eliminate the island as an Axis Base, and to
encourage the fall of Mussolinis government.
What actually happened

Communication between the Allied troops

was very hard and the coordination between
them was off.

They didnt enter the city until August 17.

What came from the battle

The fall of Palermo led to the collapse of

Mussolinis government in Rome.

Mussolini was arrested and Marshal Pietro

Badoglio who opposed Italys alliance with
the Nazis.
Impact on WWII

In the battle of Sicily, the Allies lost 23,934

people.

Axis forces Lost 29,000 people and 140,000

were captured.

Battle strategies used during this invasion

were used during D-Day.
Sources

http://
militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwarii/p
/husky.htm
http://
www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/invasio
n-of-sicily