Invasion of Italy
Operation Husky
- 1942 El Alamein won by British cutting Germans off from Middle East oil
- 1943 Germans finally defeated in North Africa
- 9 July 1943 Allies land in Sicily
- Italians deposed Mussoilini during the Sicily invasion and removed the Fascist government
- Hitler moves the Germans in to take over the country and rescued Mussolini by plane to Germany
- 9 Sept. 1943 Allies land at Salerno on the Italian mainland
- 4 June 1944 to get to Rome
- Fighting continued until 2 May 1945
- Mussolini hung with his mistress near
- Milan in April 1945
Interesting Fact
Churchill described Sicily and Italy as the soft underbelly of Europe but there were many hard fought battles before the job was done.
Quote
"By this act, all ties with the dreadful past are broken and my government will be proud to march with you on to the inevitable victory."
-Marshal Pietro Badoglio
-Marshal Pietro Badoglio
Subjunctive Question
If the allied forced had not won in North Africa, would they have invaded Italy? Would it have been more difficult if they did not have the ports in North Africa?
Summary
The invasion of Italy was known as Operation Husky. The Allies won El Alamein in 1942 by the British cutting the Germans off from Middle East oil. By 1943, the Germans were officially defeated. The Allies used the ports in North Africa to attck Sicily on July 9th 1943. The Italians removed the Fascist government, effectivally getting rid of Mussolini as well. Hitler moves in the Germans to try and take over the country, while doing so, Hitler rescued Mussolini and brought him to Germany. Two months later, on Sept. 9th, the Allies land at Salerno on the mainland. They get to Rome by June 4th, 1944 and Milan by April 1945. The fighting continues on until the 2nd of May 1945. Mussolini is then hung with his mistress near by.