The Invasion Of Italy
1942-1943 way war was going changed drastically
Allies begin winning battles in the Pacific, Atlantic, Russian, North Africa
Allies begin to plan invasion of Italy in 1943
Envisioned crossing the Strait of Messina, a limited invasion in the "instep" area (Taranto), advancing up the toe of Italy
Want to overthrow of Benito Mussolini and the Fascisti made a more ambitious plan feasible
Anticipating defense by both German and Italian forces
Winston Churchill called Italy "the soft underbelly of the axis" and he believed an invasion would remove Italy, and thus the influence of axis forces in the Mediterranean Sea, opening it to Allied traffic.
Sicily is won first after two weeks of fierce combat
Allies found mainland much more difficult
Hardest battle at Ortona, Canadians fighting for a month straight, losing 1,372 men
June 1944 Allies capture Rome and continue to fight and take the rest of Italy until spring of 1945
Allies begin winning battles in the Pacific, Atlantic, Russian, North Africa
Allies begin to plan invasion of Italy in 1943
Envisioned crossing the Strait of Messina, a limited invasion in the "instep" area (Taranto), advancing up the toe of Italy
Want to overthrow of Benito Mussolini and the Fascisti made a more ambitious plan feasible
Anticipating defense by both German and Italian forces
Winston Churchill called Italy "the soft underbelly of the axis" and he believed an invasion would remove Italy, and thus the influence of axis forces in the Mediterranean Sea, opening it to Allied traffic.
Sicily is won first after two weeks of fierce combat
Allies found mainland much more difficult
Hardest battle at Ortona, Canadians fighting for a month straight, losing 1,372 men
June 1944 Allies capture Rome and continue to fight and take the rest of Italy until spring of 1945
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Summary
Allies had begun to win more battles, making them more confident and experienced and when it came time to capture Italy they knew what they were doing. After being victorious in the battle for Sicily the Ortona battle was tough but they did win in the end and by 1945 Italy was completely captured.