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Title details for Sicily '43 by James Holland - Available

Sicily '43

The First Assault on Fortress Europe

by James Holland
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A history of World War II's Operation Husky, the first Allied attack on European soil, by the acclaimed author of Normandy '44.
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 soil. Operation Husky, as it was known, was enormously complex, involving dramatic battles on land, in the air, and at sea. Yet, despite its paramount importance to ultimate Allied victory, and its drama, very little has been written about the thirty-eight-day Battle for Sicily.
Based on his own battlefield studies in Sicily and on much new research, James Holland's Sicily '43 offers a vital new perspective on a major turning point in World War II and a chronicle of a multi-pronged campaign in a uniquely diverse and contained geographical location. The characters involved—Generals George Patton and Bernard Montgomery among many—were as colorful as the air and naval battles and the fighting on the ground across the scorching plains and mountaintop of Sicily were brutal. But among Holland's great skills is incorporating the experience of on-the-ground participants on all sides—from American privates Tom and Dee Bowles and Tuskegee fighter pilot Charlie Dryden to British major Hedley Verity and Canadian lieutenant Farley Mowat (later a celebrated author), to German and Italian participants such as Wilhelm Schmalz, brigade commander in the Hermann Göring Division, or Luftwaffe fighter pilot major Johannes "Macky" Steinhoff and to Italian combatants, civilians and mafiosi alike—which gives readers an intimate sense of what occurred in July and August 1943.
Emphasizing the significance of Allied air superiority, Holland overturns conventional narratives that have criticized the Sicily campaign for the vacillations over the plan, the slowness of the Allied advance and that so many German and Italian soldiers escaped to the mainland; rather, he shows that clearing the island in 38 days against geographical challenges and fierce resistance was an impressive achievement. A powerful and dramatic account by a master military historian, Sicily '43 fills a major gap in the narrative history of World War II.
Praise for Sicily '43
A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice
Named a Best History Book of the Year by the Wall Street Journal
"Academic histories are all very well, but at times it is a pleasure to sit back and wallow in an old-school military tale of flinty-eyed men doing battle. That is what James Holland, a seasoned craftsman, offers in Sicily '43." —New York Times Book Review
"Crisp, detailed, and entertaining. Holland refuses to let the legends overshadow the flesh-and-blood soldiers who fought, bled, and died. Sicily '43 is an outstanding look at a stepping-stone to victory." —Wall Street Journal

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    March 30, 2022

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9780802157201

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9780802157201
      • File size: 31309 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from August 24, 2020
      Historian Holland (Normandy ’44) chronicles the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily in this expert account. In 38 days, 160,000 American, British, and Canadian troops overcame geographical challenges and fierce German resistance to reach the Straits of Messina. Holland documents how Allied commander Gen. Sir Harold Alexander arrayed his invading forces; recounts how the Tuskegee Airmen helped counter the Luftwaffe; notes cooperation between American intelligence agents and local Mafia dons; and argues that the Sicily invasion provided crucial lessons for the D-Day landings in Normandy. Holland also offers astute assessments of commanders Bernard Montgomery (“highly competent” yet seemingly unaware of his “appalling rudeness”) and George Patton (“obsessed with fears of failure and his own mortality”) and includes the perspectives of frontline combatants and eyewitnesses, including Canadian infantryman Farley Mowat and American reporter Ernie Pyle. Aspects of the Sicily campaign, Holland writes, recalled the trench warfare of WWI; one of the final battles, for the mountain fortress of Troina, was “a terrible, bloody slugging match,” where “horrendously depleted” German forces matched “every act of astonishing heroism from the Americans.” Marshalling a wealth of primary and secondary sources into an engrossing narrative, Holland fills a yawning gap in histories of WWII. This magisterial account is a must-read for military history fans.

    • Library Journal

      Starred review from October 1, 2020

      Even before the Allies secured victory in North Africa, they turned their eyes towards establishing a foothold on the European continent. Initially, the Americans argued for a cross-channel attack into France, while the British advocated for an offensive to knock Italy out of the war. Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, would be up to that point the largest amphibious task force assembled and would require an unprecedented amount of cooperation between army, navy, and air forces. Historian Holland (Normandy '44) covers the operation giving attention in equal measure to the men, tactics, and weapons used by all sides: British, American, Italian, and German, paying special attention to the role played by Allied air forces in driving the Luftwaffe from Sicily. Holland thoroughly describes events from the planning of Husky by commanders, the individual actions of troops as they fought across the island, and the Allied effort to capture the city of Messina from battle-hardened German soldiers. Based on extensive archival research, firsthand accounts, and interviews, Holland paints a detailed portrait of both Sicily and the battle. VERDICT An excellent and accessible telling of the invasion that will be enjoyed by military history and World War II enthusiasts alike.--Chad E. Statler, Westlake Porter P.L., Westlake, OH

      Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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