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'''Operation Husky''', the invasion of [[Sicily]] during [[World War II]], took place 9 July - 17 August 1943.  When the struggle was over thirty-eight days later, Sicily became the first piece of the Axis homeland to fall to Allied forces during World War II. More important, it served as both a base for the invasion of [[Italy]] and as a training ground for many of the officers and enlisted men who eleven months later landed on the beaches of Normandy.

'''Operation Husky''', the invasion of [[Sicily]] by the U.S. and Britain during [[World War II]], took place 9 July - 17 August 1943.  When the struggle was over thirty-eight days later, Sicily became the first piece of the Axis homeland to fall to Allied forces during World War II. More important, it served as both a base for the invasion of [[Italy]] and as a training ground for the American swoldiers who eleven months later landed on the beaches of Normandy.

==Strategic Setting==

==Strategic Setting==

In January 1943, American President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and British Prime Minister [[Winston Churchill]] met with their senior military advisers at [[Casablanca, Morocco]], to devise a military strategy for the coming year. The [[United States Army]] had begun ground operations against the European [[Axis Powers]] only two months before as part of a joint Anglo-American invasion of North Africa. With the North African campaign moving toward a successful conclusion, the leaders of the two nations debated where to launch their next blow. After several days of negotiations, they agreed to make Sicily their next target.

In January 1943, American President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and British Prime Minister [[Winston Churchill]] met with their senior military advisers at [[Casablanca, Morocco]], to devise a military strategy for the coming year. The [[United States Army]] had begun ground operations against the European [[Axis Powers]] only two months before as part of a joint Anglo-American invasion of North Africa. With the North African campaign moving toward a successful conclusion, the leaders of the two nations debated where to launch their next blow. After several days of negotiations, they agreed to make Sicily their next target.

Situated ninety miles off the north coast of [[Africa]] and a mere two and one-half miles from the "toe" of the Italian peninsula, Sicily was both a natural bridge between Africa and [[Europe]] and a barrier dividing the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. Its rugged topography made it a tough, unsinkable bastion from which Axis air and naval forces could interdict Allied sea lanes through the Mediterranean. Yet despite its strategic location, the Allies were deeply divided over the merits of invading the island, and in the end the decision to invade Sicily represented an uneasy compromise between British and American strategists.

Situated ninety miles off the north coast of Tunisia  and a mere two and one-half miles from the "toe" of the Italian peninsula, Sicily was both a natural bridge between Africa and Europe and a barrier dividing the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. Its rugged topography made it a tough, unsinkable bastion from which Axis air and naval forces could interdict Allied sea lanes through the Mediterranean. Yet despite its strategic location, the Allies were deeply divided over the merits of invading the island, and in the end the decision to invade Sicily represented an uneasy compromise between British and American strategists.

The British strongly supported the invasion because Britain had long-standing political and strategic interests in the Mediterranean. They argued that Sicily's conquest would not only reopen Allied sea lanes to the eastern Mediterranean, but also give the Allies a base from which to launch further offensives in the region. Moreover, the occupation of Italian national territory might shock the war-weary Italians into dropping out of the war altogether.

The British strongly supported the invasion because Britain had long-standing political and strategic interests in the Mediterranean. They argued that Sicily's conquest would not only reopen Allied sea lanes to the eastern Mediterranean, but also give the Allies a base from which to launch further offensives in the region. Moreover, the occupation of Italian national territory might shock the war-weary Italians into dropping out of the war altogether.