Invasion of Italy
Italy, a longtime German ally lead by fascist Benito Mussolini, the mentor of and inspiration to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, succumbed to Allied control in what is known as the invasion of Italy. It consists of various operations, cleverly planted to deceive the enemy and allow the invasion to take place. It also brought about the demise of the fascist government operating within Italy and removed a German ally from the war, allowing Allied nations to establish a foothold in Europe, something they had failed to accomplish in the raid at Dieppe in 1942.
Before the invasion could take place, Allied leaders decided to create a deception, a document filled with false information to trick Nazi Germany into thinking that an invasion would occur in a different place. An ingenious tactic; this was also used before the attack on Normandy on D-Day.
Before the invasion could take place, Allied leaders decided to create a deception, a document filled with false information to trick Nazi Germany into thinking that an invasion would occur in a different place. An ingenious tactic; this was also used before the attack on Normandy on D-Day.
Operation Mincemeat
Operation Mincemeat was set in motion in April, 1943. A dead body was left near the coast of Spain with a briefcase chained to it. It was left strategically so that Nazi forces would find the false information and relay it back to German commanders. The falsified information claimed that an imminent attack would occur in the islands west of Italy (Sardinia and Corsica) and Greece, which caused the bulk of Nazi troops to be stationed in either location. This left Italy, for the most part, poorly defended.
(As a side-note, Ian Fleming is the person who invented this plan. He is most famous for writing the James Bond series, which has elements that are based off of various training exercises from the spy training base called ‘Camp X’ that existed in Whitby, Ontario during the Second World War.) |
Invading SicilyThe true invasion took place on July 10, 1943 in Sicily. Over 150 000 troops were transported there, including the 1st Canadian Infantry Division and the 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade. They joined the ranks with British troops during the attack on Sicily. There was little resistance during the initial landings and Allied forces quickly began their assault on the island of Sicily. After one month of fighting, the Allies managed to secure the island of Sicily. Not only that, but the Canadian division themselves had earned a title from the enemy, for their fierce fighting and unwillingness to give up. They were called the ‘Red Devils’. They were attributed this name from the red insignia on their uniform as well as their unwavering approach.
|
A map outlining the routes that American, British and Canadian forces had to take to capture Sicily. Note that American troops had to take the most land.
|
Scenes during the Allied Invasion of Italy in World War Two, as British troops pick their way through the ruins of the Italian village of Cassino, where Rifleman Savage is commemorated on a memorial.
Liberating the Mainland
After taking Sicily, Allied troops began a difficult journey to strike at and capture the mainland of Italy. While these events were occurring, the leader of Italy himself was ousted out of government and was replaced by Pietro Badoglia, who immediately ordered a cease-fire with Allied troops. This small victory was shortly lived, as German troops soon invaded Italy themselves and were stationed along key points of the mainland, making the assault more difficult. The Canadian objective during the Italian campaign was to capture the city of Ortona, which was accomplished in December 28, 1943, after months of rocky mountain terrain and urban warfare, claiming over 5 000 Canadian lives.
The occupation of Italy helped the Allies establish influence in southern Europe, while also effectively taking out a German ally from the war. As well, another front was opened, easing the pressure on Russian, allowing them to defend their own country.
The occupation of Italy helped the Allies establish influence in southern Europe, while also effectively taking out a German ally from the war. As well, another front was opened, easing the pressure on Russian, allowing them to defend their own country.