Italian Campaign Sicily

It was the end of 1942, Great Britain and USA stopped Afrikakorps, a German expeditionary force from capturing Egypt and Suez Canal.

The Next step was to advance into Sicily, The plan was named Operation Husky. If the allies capture Sicily they would regain control to the Mediterranean seas. Invading Sicily would force Germany to retreat its land and air force to defend its southern side therefore the pressure on the USSR would be alleviated.

Sicily was defended by Italian army that contained  200,000 men as well as 2 German divisions. On the way to Sicily, 58 Canadians were drowned when enemy submarines sank three of their ships. 500 vehicles and a multiple thousands of guns were drowned with the ships.

On July 10th 1943 allies have approached the southern tip of Sicily.

On the night of July 10, the assault began by airborne landings. Canadian troops went near Pachino close to the southern tip of Sicily. They grouped on the left flank of the five British landings that would be 60 kilometres of the shoreline.

Three more flanks were established by the Americans over another 60 kilometres.

The allies wanted to trap the Italian and German forces and prevent them to retreat across the Strait of Messina into Italy.

From the Pachino beaches, where resistance from Italian coastal troops was light, the Canadians pushed forward through choking dust, over tortuous mine-filled roads. At first all went well, but resistance stiffened as the Canadians were engaged increasingly by determined German troops who fought tough delaying actions from the vantage points of towering villages and almost impregnable hill positions. On July 15, just outside the village of Grammichele, Canadian troops came under fire from Germans of the Hermann Goering Division. The village was taken by the men and tanks of the 1st Infantry Brigade and Three Rivers Regiment.

Piazza Armerina and Valguarnera was a successful raid for the Canadians, they were directed to the hill towns of Leonforte and Assoro. Despite the defensive advantages which the mountains gave to the Germans, after a bloody war both places fell to the Canadian assault. Canada to took down the German and Italian forces after 5 days of fighting.  The Canadians had overwhelming artillery and air support.

Meanwhile, the Americans were clearing the western part of the island and the British were pressing up the east coast toward Catania. These operations pushed the Germans into a small area around the base of Mount Etna where Catenanuova and Regalbuto were captured by the Canadians.

The final Canadian task was to break through the main enemy position and capture Adrano. Here, they continued to face not only enemy troops, but also the physical barriers of a rugged, almost trackless country. Mortars, guns, ammunition, and other supplies had to be transported by mule trains. Undaunted, the Canadians advanced steadily against the enemy positions, fighting literally from mountain rock to mountain rock.

With the approaches to Adrano cleared, the way was prepared for the closing of the Sicilian campaign. The Canadians did not take part in this final phase, however, as they were withdrawn into reserve on August 7. Eleven days later, British and American troops entered Messina. Sicily had been conquered in 38 days.

The Canadians had acquitted themselves well in their first campaign. They had fought through 240 kilometres of mountainous country - farther than any other formation in the Eighth British Army. During their final two weeks, they had borne a large share of the fighting on the Allied front. Canadian casualties throughout the fighting totalled 562 killed, 664 wounded and 84 prisoners of war.