Sicily '43: The First Assault on Fortress Europe

摘要

James Holland's account of the Allies' first successful amphibious operation of the Second World War, Sicily '43: The First Assault on Fortress Europe, is a valuable addition to the military history of Operation Husky as it provides a fresh look at a number of dimensions of the 38-day campaign. His analysis of the relationship between the Allied senior leaders makes convincing reading, while his assessment of the limited value to the Axis forces of the quantity of men and equipment that escape to mainland Italy at the conclusion of the campaign is well argued. Holland's impressive use of a wide range of primary and secondary sources enables him to arrive at these conclusions. He sets the scene by helping the reader to understand the critical stage the war had reached following the Allied victory in North Africa and with the full commitment of the US. The reader is guided through the complexities of multinational planning and the critical role of the air campaign to the success of the complex landing. The Allies' caution towards the enemy's capability is clearly portrayed, as are the different intentions of the Italian and German defenders on the island.