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Operation Husky: The Untold Story of the Logistics of the Sicily Invasion

2019

Synopsis

Operation Husky, the amphibious invasion of Sicily in July 1943, was the largest and most complex logistical exercise attempted by the Allies up to that point in the war.

An assault force of 176,000 soldiers embarked on 2,590 vessels from ports across the Middle East, North Africa, the UK and the US. Both the size of the initial Allied assault force and the frontage of the campaign would be larger than the Normandy invasion in June 1944.

To further compound the monumental challenges facing the Allied logisticians, the preparatory period for Operation Husky was disjointed and chaotic. In April 1943, General Montgomery described the operational plan as a ‘dog’s breakfast’.

Drawing extensively on new research, James Garvey tells the previously untold story of the British logisticians who triumphed against immense odds to deliver the task force to the beaches of Sicily and supply it successfully in the field.

The lessons learned on the beaches of Sicily established the blueprint for Allied success at Normandy ten months later.

Garvey further argues that the contribution of logisticians to in World War II has been consistently overlooked.

What emerges is a dramatic re-evaluation of the role that they played in winning the war in Europe.

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Sicily '43: The First Assault on Fortress Europe

On July 10, 1943, the largest amphibious invasion ever mounted took place, larger even than the Normandy invasion eleven months later: 160,000 American, British, and Canadian troops came ashore or were parachuted onto Sicily, signaling the start of the campaign to defeat Nazi Germany on European soi...

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Operation Husky: The Canadian Invasion of Sicily, July 10 August 7, 1943

On July 10, 1943, two great Allied armadas of over 2,000 ships readied to invade Sicily. This was Operation Husky, the first step toward winning a toehold in fascist-occupied Europe. Among the invaders were 20,000 Canadian troops serving in the First Canadian Infantry Division and First Canadian Tan...

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