Operation HUSKY (1943)

45

Paratroops pour out of sky before Axis can fire guns

Cast dismay into foes as fight opens

Allied HQ, North Africa (UP) –
U.S. and British glider and parachute troops armed with long knives and Tommy guns poured out of a black sky upon surprised Axis defenders of Sicily to open the battle of Europe, it was revealed today.

So quickly did the tough troopers descend that the Italians and Germans didn’t raise their anti-aircraft guns before the first units were on the ground destroying defense installations.

It was a turn of justice for the Allies – throwing back at the Axis a weapon of its own choosing. These boys writing the epochal story of airborne action knew where they were going and liked it. They cheered when they were told their destination.

Soldier ‘rarin’ to go’

As he climbed into a lead plane, Pvt. David McKeown of Philadelphia, grinned and wisecracked:

I’m rarin’ to go – I’m all on edge and my nickname is Dandy Dan.

At 10:10 Friday night, the first glider troops came down on the island. An hour and ten minutes later, the parachutists followed, cropping down as clouds and haze obscured a half-moon.

Searchlights stabbed the air picking out planes. But the first units were down before the ack-ack fire began on the planes that were dumping their loads of black-faced troopers.

Lt. Col. John Cerny of Harrison, Idaho, a soldier who came up through the ranks to lead the American side of the show, said an entire battalion was set down in one area alone.

“The air discipline displayed by the combat teams was beyond my expectations,” was the way he described the successful action by the advance cloud of invaders who began fighting three to four hours before their buddies landed from surface craft.

Yanks on west side

The target area for the airborne troops was the southeastern tip of Sicily. The Americans took the western side; the British the eastern end. They were veterans of the North African landing, hardened by long training and looking like young halfbacks or running guards on an American football team.

Ivan H. Peterman, correspondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer who rode with the American crew of a plane towing a British glider, described how the searchlights suddenly darkened and the ack-ack positions quit firing as more and more troops went down for their work. He said the Italians fired furiously, with little aim, after they once got going.

Medical men and dentists, equipped with explosives to blast out underground operating rooms, went down with the paratroops, John Thompson of the Chicago Tribune, who accompanied one flight, said.

Flags sewn to sleeves

The Americans had their last meal at 3:30 in the afternoon before going in. American flags to identify them were sewn to their sleeves.

Cpl. Nikolaus Kastrantas of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, said:

I feel better than I have for a long time because my folks aren’t far away and this is taking me closer to home.

Pvt. Robert Lowry of Indianapolis said:

I feel damned good but I’ve felt better.

After words like those, they crammed shoulder to shoulder in the big transports. Sitting there waiting to go into action, one group was told by its commanding officers it would be among the first to land. Those boys are probably still fighting. They are Pvts. Patrick H. Dohm of Brooklyn, New York; Ed Walsh of Logansport, Indiana; Tony Ferrari of Somerville, Massachusetts; Walter P. Leginski of Chicago and Cpl. Bernard Driscoll of Gary, Indiana.

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46

Syracuse, ancient war prize, falls to Allied arms

Allied HQ, North Africa (UP) –
Ancient Syracuse, a rich prize of wars dating back through 25 centuries, has fallen again, this time to Allied forces challenging the Axis domination of Europe.

Syracuse proper is an island one mile long and half as wide, connected with the east coast of Sicily by a mole. The island is but a fragment of the site of ancient Syracuse, proud metropolis of the western Hellenic world, which at the height of its prosperity before the birth of Christ had a population of hundreds of thousands.

Founded by the Corinthians in the latter part of the 8th century BC, Syracuse reached the zenith of its greatness at the beginning of the 4th century under Dionysius the Elder. The Athenians undertook a disastrous expedition against it in 415-413 BC.

The Romans made themselves master of the city in 212 BC. Archimedes, the soldier philosopher, was killed by the Romans during a long siege. Thereafter, it began to decline. The modern city had a pre-war population of about 25,000.

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47

‘Old Blood and Guts’ leads invading Yanks

Patton at the front – Montgomery heads British into Syracuse
By the United Press

A brief dispatch from Allied headquarters in North Africa solved the mystery today of what happened to “Old Blood and Guts” – Lt. Gen. George S. Patton Jr. He is in command of U.S. forces invading Sicily.

The rip-roaring general, who often goes into battle with a pair of pearl-handled six-shooters swinging from his hips, disappeared from the fighting in Tunisia on April 16 when Maj. Gen. Omar Bradley took command of U.S. forces. It is clear now that Patton was withdrawn to start training troops for the assault on Sicily.

At the same time, it was disclosed that British Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery led his forces in the capture of Syracuse.

Military men regard Patton as among the most aggressive of Allied commanders. He is an expert in armored warfare and his general instructions to subordinates are:

Go forward! Always go forward. Go forward until the last shot is fired and the last drop of gasoline is gone and then go forward on foot.

His customary battle costume is a steel helmet bearing on the front the three stars of a lieutenant general, a brown leather jacket, a pair of ordinary General Issue pants and tank boots. The buck private is his favorite soldier.

He says:

The private out there getting shot at does the most work in this war and gets damned little credit for it. A man can be ferocious as hell back home on three hot meals a day, but it takes guts to live in a foxhole in the rain eating cold canned rations.

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48

Shoe pinches on other foot, Italians learn

Washington (UP) –
The Italians today are calling the Allied bombing of Italy “barbaric and inhuman,” but a couple of years ago, when the Germans were doing the bombing, they were writing in their papers:

Hurrah for brutality; England must be destroyed.

The Office of War Information cited one statement in particular, uttered by Mussolini’s son, Vittorio, describing a bombardment of Ethiopia:

One group of horsemen gave me the impression of a budding rose unfolding as the bomb fell in their midst and blew them up. It was exceptionally good fun.

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49

I am pretty sure this is propaganda. But… since Italy’s most competent General surrendered to the Allies, well… this may be true.

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50

Editorial: Invasion of Sicily launches critical campaigns of war

The biggest thrill that Americans have had since we entered the war is the news of the invasion of Sicily and especially the fact that the landings were carried out successfully, that airfields have been captured and the Allied troops continue to press forward to all their immediate objectives.

Although Sicily is an island, it is an important part of metropolitan Italy so the attack upon it is really the beginning of the long-discussed invasion of Hitler’s so-called fortress of Europe.

It is being described as the greatest seaborne maneuver of all time. Over 2,000 ships of all sorts are said to have participated – everything from tiny landing barges to huge battleships. Only a few vessels are said to have been lost and none of these was large or important.

Too much, however, should not be taken for granted. The difficulties in the path of our men and their Allies are tremendous. An army of over 300,000 men is said to be battling to check our progress. Some estimates say a half-million Allied troops are involved. The part played by paratroops was spectacularly successful. The way in which Axis shore positions were pulverized by the combination of airplane bombing and shelling by warships is most heartening and tends to indicate that there has been considerable exaggeration about the in vulnerability of Axis defenses along the shores of Europe. The northern coast of the continent, however, is said to be more heavily guarded.

Incidentally, it is interesting to note that the move on Sicily began on the 581st day of American participation in the war. The armistice was signed in the last war on the 584th day of our participation in that struggle. This is obviously going to be a far longer and harder war than that of a quarter of a century ago.

For Sicily is just the beginning of the series of great campaigns which must be pressed through to victory before our armies can march into Berlin. The period we are now entering will be that of the greatest losses, the period when the largest supplies of gasoline and food and munitions will be required to keep our soldiers going.

We suspect that the critics of the planning of our military leaders will not be satisfied with this move and will deny that it is a real second front. But it should be clear that this was the necessary next step and we have no doubt it will be followed up in due course by invasion on other vital sectors.

Meanwhile, those who planned the expedition and those who carried out the plans – from Gen. Eisenhower down to the lowliest private – deserve the warmest praise. For the operations have been marked by efficiency, speed and courage.

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51

Stampa Sera (July 12, 1943)

Lotta aspra e senza posa in Sicilia –
LE NOSTRE TRUPPE AL CONTRATTACCO
Unita avversarie battute in più punti e costrette in un settore a ripiegare – Decine di navi colpite o incendiate Sette piroscafi affondati – Tre altri incrociatori silurati

Un incrociatore nemico da 10 mila tonnellate esplode per il siluro di un nostro sommergibile

Il Quartiere Generale delle Forze Armate comunica:

In Sicilia la lotta è continuata aspra e senza posa nella giornata di ieri, durante la quale il nemico ha tentato invano di aumentare la modesta profondità delle zone litoranee occupate.

Le truppe italiane e germaniche, passate decisamente al contrattacco, hanno battuto in più punti le unita avversarie, obbligandole in un settore a ripiegare.

Lo spirito combattivo dei reparti italiani e tedeschi e elevatissimo: il contegno della popolazione dell’isola e quello dei fieri soldati siciliani che appartengono in gran numero alle nostre unità, superiore a ogni elogio. Per la magnifica difesa delle posizioni ad essa affidate, merita l’onore di speciale citazione la 206ª Divisione Costiera, comandata dal generale Achille D’Havet.

Aerei italiani siluravano tre incrociatori, un’unità minore e tre piroscafi, dei quali due da ottomila tonnellate colavano a picco.

Concentramenti di naviglio nemico venivano attaccati da formazioni da combattimento nostre e tedesche: risultano affondati 5 piroscafi e alcuni mezzi da sbarco, colpiti o incendiati oltre 40 tra mercantili e trasporti di vario tonnellaggio.

Cacciatori dell’Asse abbattevano 30 apparecchi, 8 altri precipitavano sotto il tiro delle artiglierie.

Dalle operazioni degli ultimi due giorni 13 nostri velivoli e 10 tedeschi non sono ritornati alle basi.

Lungo le coste orientali della Sicilia un nostro sommergibile silurava un incrociatore da 10 mila tonnellate che, colpito, esplodeva.

52

Völkischer Beobachter (July 13, 1943)

Hohe Beutezahlen aus der Schlacht im Osten –
Bisher 28.000 Gefangene, 1640 Panzer, 1400 Geschütze

Deutsch-italienische Gegenangriffe auf Sizilien im Gange

vb. Wien, 12. Juli –
Die erste Woche der Schlacht im Raume von Kursk ist vollständig zugunsten der deutschen Wehrmacht verlaufen. Obwohl der Feind in ununterbrochenem Masseneinsatz alles in die Schlacht geworfen hat, was er für seine eigene Offensive versammelt hatte, behielt die Führung das Gesetz des Handelns eisern in der Hand. 1640 Panzer, 1400 Geschütze und über 1200 Flugzeuge vernichtet oder erbeutet – diese Zahlen zeigen deutlicher als Worte es vermöchten, in welch weitem Ausmaße schon jetzt der Zweck der deutschen Initiative, die Zerschlagung der bolschewistischen Angriffsarmeen, erreicht worden ist.

Der Erfolg wurde errungen in einem Gelände, das schon von Natur aus große Schwierigkeiten bietet, vor allem für den Panzereinsatz. Der Gegner, der den Raum um Kursk als Sprungbrett für seine Sommeroffensive gegen die Mitte der europäischen Ostfront auf das stärkste ausgebaut hatte, konnte sich dabei an die vielen starken Geländewellen anlehnen, die besonders für die Gegend von Orel charakteristisch sind, und fand in den tief eingeschnittenen, durch das Schmelzwasser ausgefressenen Schluchten natürliche Panzergräben in großer Zahl vor. Er hatte hier, wie früher schon berichtet, auch seine neuesten und schwersten Waffen massiert und sie seinen sogenannten Gardedivisionen, das heißt den besten ihm zur Verfügung stehenden Truppenverbänden anvertraut. Diese Umstände illustrieren das Maß des Erfolges in der ersten Woche der deutschen „offensiven Defensive.“

Der Fuchs und die Trauben

Es ist bemerkenswert, daß die feindliche Berichterstattung emsig bemüht ist, die beiden Schlachten im Osten und im Süden als zwei Ereignisse hinzustellen, die nichts miteinander zu tun hätten. Dabei besteht nicht der geringste Zweifel daran, daß die Landung in Sizilien und der Angriff der sowjetischen Stoßarmeen gleichzeitig erfolgen und sich gegenseitig durch Bindung der europäischen Streitkräfte unterstützen sollten. Wenn die englische Nachrichtenpolitik nun heute deutlich zu verstehen gibt, daß „die Sizilieninvasion kaum Rückwirkungen auf die Lage an der Ostfront haben werde und zu diesem Zeitpunkt auch keine Entlastung für die Sowjets bringen könne,“ so haben wir hier nichts anderes vor uns als die alte Geschichte vom Fuchs und den sauren Trauben!

Wie peinlich dem Feind der unerwartete Gang der Dinge in der Ostschlacht ist, verrät er selbst durch Betrachtungen, die mit der obigen Londoner Lesart in schärfstem, Gegensatz stehen. So erklärt zum Beispiel der Moskauer Reuter-Korrespondent, in Moskau stelle jedermann die Frage, ob die anglo-amerikanische Landung im Süden wirklich zu einer alliierten Intervention großen Stiles auf dem europäischen Kontinent führen und Deutschland zwingen werde, starke Kräfte von der Ostfront abzuziehen. Schwedische Berichterstatter melden aus London, daß man dort „nicht mit einem Blitzsieg rechne und daß die Nachrichten von der Ostfront vom Standpunkt Englands und Amerikas aus durchaus nicht günstig“ lauteten. Beachtenswert ist in diesem Zusammenhang auch eine noch vor Beginn der Schlacht von Kursk erschienene Betrachtung des Economist, die sich auf Grund des bisherigen deutschen Stillhaltens noch der Illusion hingab, daß:

…das deutsche Oberkommando davon abgeschreckt worden ist, größere Operationen zu beginnen.

Das sei für die Sowjetunion sehr günstig, da der Zermürbungs- und Abnutzungskrieg ernste Folgen für deren Wirtschaftsleben gehabt habe.

Die bisherigen Sowjetverluste

Die bisherigen materiellen Verluste der Sowjets wurden von offizieller Seite auf 35.000 Geschütze, 30.000 Panzer und 23.000 Flugzeuge angegeben, und obwohl diese Lücken teilweise durch Pacht- und Leihlieferungen ausgefüllt werden könnten, sei die sowjetische Produktion durch Mangel an Arbeitern, Rohstoffen und Fabrikanlagen doch behindert – Angesichts solcher englischen Betrachtungen, die wir einem Bericht unseres Stockholmer Vertreters entnahmen, kann man sich ungefähr ausmalen, wie der neue blutige Aderlaß für die Sowjets im Lager ihrer plutokratischen Bundesgenossen beurteilt wird!

53

Feind verlor 10.000-t-Kreuzer –
Neuerlich 42.000 BRT. durch U-Boote versenkt

dnb. Aus dem Führer-Hauptquartier, 12. Juli –
Das Oberkommando der Wehrmacht gibt bekannt:

In der Schlacht zwischen Bjelgorod und Orel gelang es unseren Truppen, eine größere feindliche Kräftegruppe einzuschließen und zu vernichten. Dabei wurden mehrere tausend Gefangene eingebracht, 129 Panzer abgeschossen, zahlreiche Geschütze und sonstige Waffen erbeutet.

Insgesamt wurden gestern 220 Panzer und 70 Flugzeuge vernichtet. Entlastungsangriffe, die die Sowjets östlich und nördlich Orel unternahmen, wurden abgewiesen.

Seit dem 5. Juli verlor der Feind 28.000 Gefangene, 1640 Panzer und 1400 Geschütze.

Auf Sizilien versuchten die britisch­-nordamerikanischen Landungstruppen vergeblich, den besetzten Küstenstreifen zu verbreitern. Deutsche und italienische Truppen traten gestern an bestimmten Stellen planmäßig zum Gegenangriff an und warfen den Feind in der ersten Gefechtsberührung zurück. Deutsche und Italienische Luftstreitkräfte griffen die feindlichen Schiffsansammlungen an, versenkten mehrere größere Transporter und Landungsboote. Außerdem wurden drei Kreuzer und 42 Transportschiffe beschädigt und von einem italienischen Unterseeboot ein Kreuzer von 10.000 Tonnen versenkt. Der Feind verlor gestern über Sizilien und im Seegebiet über der Insel 38 Flugzeuge. Zehn deutsche Flugzeuge werden vermißt.

Bei bewaffneter Aufklärung über dem Atlantik warfen deutsche Flugzeuge zwei feindliche Schiffe, darunter ein Fahrgastschiff von über 20.000 BRT. Größe, in Brand.

Deutsche Unterseeboote versenkten in zähem Kampf aus stark gesicherten feindlichen Geleitzügen sechs Schiffe mit 42.000 BRT.

54

Erfolge der italienischen Luftwaffe –
Torpedoflugzeuge immer wieder am Feind

Screenshot 2022-07-13 063059
(Aufn.: Weltbild-Gliese)

tc. Rom, 12. Juli –
Der erste Einsatz der italienischen Luftwaffe bei den Kämpfen um Sizilien erfolgte in der Nacht zum 10. Juli, wie von zuständiger italienischer Seite mitgeteilt wird.

In aufeinanderfolgenden Wellen griffen schwere Kampfflugzeuge zwischen Malta und der Küste Siziliens befindliche feindliche Schiffe an. Zahlreiche Schiffe erhielten dabei Treffer und wurden schwer beschädigt. Weitere italienische Kampfflugzeuge griffen den Hafen von La Valetta auf Malta an, wo Explosionen an Bord von Frachtdampfern und Landungsfahrzeugen hervorgerufen wurden, die im Begriff standen, aus dem Hafen auszulaufen. Trotz sehr starken Abwehrfeuers griffen italienische Luftwaffenverbände im Laufe des 10. Juli im Tiefflug Schiffe, Angriffsfahrzeuge und zahlreiche Boote vor der Küste Siziliens mit Bomben und Bordwaffen an, wobei den feindlichen Streitkräften empfindliche Verluste beigebracht wurden.

Die Landungsflottillen, die sich auf die Küste zu bewegten, wurden außerdem immer von neuem von italienischen Jagdflugzeugverbänden erfolgreich angegriffen. Auf einem großen Dampfer wurden durch zwei Bomben Volltreffer erzielt und auch zwei kleinere Dampfer wurden getroffen. Im Verlauf von Luftkämpfen zwischen italienischen und britisch-nordamerikanischen Jägern wurden zwei Mitchell-Flugzeuge und mehrere „Spitfires“ abgeschossen und zehn weitere Flugzeuge schwer beschädigt.

Die Angriffe der italienischen Luftwaffe in den Gewässern Siziliens wurden auch in der Nacht zum 11. Juli mit guter Wirkung fortgesetzt. Vor allem konnten zu verschiedenen Malen auf den feindlichen Kriegsschiffen, Frachtdampfern und Landungsfahrzeugen Treffer erzielt werden. Besonders erfolgreich waren die auch im deutschen und italienischen Wehrmachtbericht erwähnten Einsätze italienischer Torpedoflugzeuge, die trotz schwerer Kämpfe mit den britisch-nordamerikanischen Nachtjägern zwei Kreuzer und einige große Dampfer schwer beschädigen konnten. Weiterhin richteten sich die Angriffe der italienischen Luftwaffe gegen die feindliche Schiffahrt in den Küstengewässern von Französisch-Nordafrika, um den Nachschub der Achsengegner zu stören. Am Sonntagabend gelang es einem italienischen Torpedoflugzeug fünf Seemeilen östlich von Kap Blanco, einen 8000-BRT.-Dampfer, der im Geleit von zehn Schiffen fuhr, durch Torpedotreffer zum Sinken zu bringen. Ein weiterer von zwei Zerstörern geleiteter 5000-BRT.-Dampfer wurde von einem zweiten Torpedoflugzeug östlich von Kap Rose versenkt.

Die Gegenangriffe im Süden

dnb. Berlin, 12. Juli –
Inzwischen sind nun, wie der heutige OKW.-Bericht meldet, die britisch-nordamerikanischen Landungstruppen in erste Gefechtsberührung mit den italienisch-deutschen Verbündeten gekommen, die am Sonntag an bestimmten Stellen planmäßig zum Gegenangriff angesetzt worden sind. Bisher hatten die Eindringlinge lediglich örtliche Küstenwachen gegenüber. Die Engländer, Nordamerikaner und Kanadier sehen sich nun vor der Aufgabe, aus der Küstenebene herauf gegen das Bergland anzutreten – eine erheblich schwerere Aufgabe als die Landung selbst, die niemand an einer so riesig langen Küste wie der Italiens und seiner Inseln genau voraussehen und sofort abwehren könnte. Die Angriffe der deutschen und italienischen Luftstreitkräfte und der Unterseeboote haben bereits schweren Zoll von der feindlichen Transportflotte und deren Kriegsschiffsschutz gefordert, wie überhaupt der Feind nun zum erstenmal mit dem Rücken gegen das Meer kämpfen muß, eine Erfahrung, die bisher im Mittelmeerraum nur den deutschen und italienischen Streitkräften Vorbehalten geblieben ist.

55

London und Sizilien –
Zweckoptimismus in sanftem Ton

Von unserer Stockholmer Schriftleitung

dr. th. b. Stockholm, 12. Juli –

Die Operationen auf Sizilien verlaufen nach den sparsamen offiziellen Mitteilungen zufriedenstellend. London weist jedoch jeden vorzeitigen Optimismus hinsichtlich ihres Ausganges zurück. Unterrichtete Kreise betonen, daß das Ergebnis der entschlossenen Gegenangriffe, die der Verteidiger mit Sicherheit durchführen wird, sobald er seine beweglichen Reserven gesammelt hat, jetzt das gefährlichste Fragezeichen des Invasionsversuches ist.

Mit diesen Worten glaubt der Londoner Berichterstatter von Dagens Nyheter die Auffassung maßgebender britischer Kreise zu der Landung auf Sizilien wiedergeben zu können. Es kann natürlich sein, daß man in London Zweckpessimismus betreibt, da sich der Ausgang der Kämpfe hoch gar nicht übersehen läßt und man keine übertriebenen Hoffnungen erwecken möchte. Denn im Gegensatz zu den Verteidigern, so heißt es in den Londoner Berichten weiter, verfügten die britischen, amerikanischen und kanadischen Truppen über keine gesicherten Verbindungen. Geglückt sei bisher nur die erste Stufe des Unternehmens. Die zweite Stufe, das Halten der Brückenköpfe, und die dritte Stufe, die Eroberung der gesamten Insel, ständen noch bevor und enthielten viele Gefahren.

Die Londoner Sonntagszeitungen sind deshalb bemüht, einen verhältnismäßig sachlichen Ton anzuschlagen. Sie stellen fest, daß ein neuer Kriegsabschnitt eingeleitet sei, betonen aber auch:

…daß der jetzt eingeleitete Versuch unabhängig von dem Ergebnis der ersten Runde alle Aussichten hat, der blutigste zu werden, den England in diesem Krieg unternommen hat.

56

La Stampa (July 13, 1943)

L’imponente sforzo anglo-americano e l’inizio della nostra decisa reazione

La preparazione dell’impresa a Gibilterra in Tunisia a Malta non era sfuggita alla nostra osservazione – La vastità dei mezzi impiegati – Le condizioni tattiche per la controffensiva

Nel nostro articolo del 27 giugno avevamo prospettato come l’attacco nemico – che per tanti segni si palesava ormai imminente – sarebbe stato sferrato contro la Sicilia. Facile profezia perché le nostre argomentazioni, pur svolte allora solo in base ad clementi logici e strategici, erano in realtà suffragate da validi dati di fatto.

L’attuale ciclo operativo ha origini assai lontane. Come concezione e impostazione di piani di guerra, si deve risalire almeno all’estate 1942 quando il nemico – sotto l’imperativo di continui rovesci militari e ben conscio che in Mediterraneo era e sarà sempre la chiave del conflitto – decise di puntare tutto il peso delle sue possibilità belliche sulla carta mediterranea, pur con l’inevitabile conseguenza di dover battere il passo e di sacrificare ogni apprezzabile iniziativa su tutti gli altri scacchieri di guerra.

La posta in giuoco

Concentrando in Mediterraneo non soltanto la massima parte, ma anche il fior fiore delle sue forze aeree, navali e terrestri, il nemico è riuscito, in tempi successivi, a realizzare quella prevalenza potenziale nei vari settori, necessaria per la graduale conquista del Mediterraneo, premessa indispensabile affinché le sorti della guerra potessero prendere una piega a lui favorevole. Ma come già accennammo in altra occasione, chiave di volta al dominio del Mediterraneo è il canale di Sicilia, per cui gli anglo-americani dovevano inevitabilmente affrontare, per realizzare i loro piani, il problema della conquista integrale di questo passaggio tentando la occupazione della Sicilia.

I preparativi nemici per tali operazioni sono pure stati di lunga durata, vista la complessità dell’operazione, la imponenza dei mezzi da impegnare e la quasi cronometrica successione e compenetrazione con cui in simili azioni devono agire i singoli elementi delle tre forze armate, pena le più gravi conseguenze in campo tattico; senza contare che il tentativo doveva rappresentare, nelle intenzioni avversarie, la prima stabile presa di terra nel continente europeo dopo il disastro di Dunkerque e il principio dell’apertura di quel «secondo fronte» sul quale sono corsi fiumi di inchiostro e di speranze.

Ma la mole stessa dei mezzi e delle forze da impegnare non poteva passare inosservata e infatti, prima ancora che finisse la campagna tunisina, la ricognizione aerea forni elementi sufficienti a dare la certezza che il nemico si stava preparando ad una futura grande operazione anfibia.

Successivamente si ebbero ripetute conferme della preparazione nemica che, sfruttando la favorevole situazione strategica, poteva essere agevolmente completata e disposta fuori del limite pratico delle nostre possibilità offensive nei lontani settori e porti dell’Algeria occidentale e del Marocco.

Il concentramento di forze

Negli ultimi mesi lo schieramento nemico si fece sempre più consistente finché nello scorso giugno raggiunse un livello tale de dare già da solo la certezza che l’operazione fosse ormai imminente. Non è ancora il caso né il momento di fare una valutazione delle forze che il nemico ha destinato all’azione, ma si può averne un’idea complessiva considerando che soltanto in fatto di forze navali sono concentrate in Mediterraneo e impiegate contro la Sicilia, sei corazzate (quattro delle quali da 35 mila tonnellate), quattro portaerei di squadra di recente costruzione, una trentina di incrociatori, qualche centinato di unità minori dei vari tipi e un imponente numero di mezzi da sbarco di ogni categoria; il tutto appoggiato da alcune migliaia di aerei.

Naturalmente quasi tutte le forze nemiche sono rimaste dislocate fino agli ultimi giorni nei settori più lontani della zona di impiego, principalmente all’estremo occidentale del Mediterraneo, anche per lasciarci, fin quando possibile, in dubbio se l’attacco sarebbe stato sferrato contro la Sardegna o contro la Sicilia. Ma i movimenti preliminari di una massa di mezzi tanto cospicua, non si possono compiere in ventiquattro ore, cosicché già a meta giugno, con lo spostamento delle forze nelle sedi operative, il nemico fu costretto a svelare – attraverso le nostre ricognizioni aeree – quale fosse il suo reale obbiettivo.

La gran massa delle forze infatti si trovava ormai dislocate nel settore tunisino orientale e a Malta, cioè in funzione di minaccia esclusiva contro la Sicilia. Negli ultimi giorni di giugno lo schieramento e i preparativi del nemico furono compiuti nei finali dettagli, per cui l’attacco si annuncio imminente. E’ nostra personale sensazione anzi, che l’attacco dovesse essere sferrato proprio a fine giugno, ma che qualcosa di imprecisabile non abbia funzionato bene negli ingranaggi anglo-americani cosi da costringere il nemico a ritardare l’azione di alcuni giorni.

Circostanze inevitabili

Poteva lo sbarco essere impedito? Solo circostanze particolarmente fortunate – che non si sono verificate – avrebbero forze potuto consentirlo. Occorre richiamarsi alla precisa definizione data dal Duce di «sbarco-penetrazione-invasione». Lo sbarco rappresenta sempre un’iniziativa del nemico, per cui pur atteso, pur essendo consentito prevedere in quali «zone» sarebbe probabilmente stato tentato, non era possibile, almeno nel caso della Sicilia, prevedere in quale «punto» il nemico avrebbe attaccato. Ne consegue che su un territorio cosi vasto come la Sicilia, con tante ampie zone costiere in cui lo sbarco avrebbe potuto verificarsi, con cosi particolare configurazione del terreno, in funzione della manovrabilità di masse di armati, era materialmente impossibile né rispondente ai canoni dell’arte militare concentrare in ogni «punto» tante forze da stroncare qualsiasi tentativo nemico. Il grosso delle forze difensive doveva necessariamente tenera in posizione più arretrate, pronto ad accorrere dopo che la manovra nemica si fosse delineata, per impegnarsi a fondo solo quando il piani nemico rivelatosi in pieno, desse un sufficiente margine di sicurezza di non aver più sorprese in altri settori. E’ ben compressibile dunque che il nemico sbarcando invece all’improvviso in qualche «punto» non precisabile, fino al momento stesso dell’azione in quel «punti» dovesse avere una tale prevalenza di forze rispetto al cordone di protezione costiera da rendere to sbarco inevitabile anche se strenuamente contrastato.

La seconda fase

Nemmeno sarebbe stato possibile intercettare i convogli nemici sui mare prima che giungessero alla metà, perché – come pure già accennammo – la situazione strategica navale era (ed è ancora) decisamente a favore del nemico: i convogli di sbarco infatti, come era prevedibile hanno attaccato la Sicilia partendo praticamente da Malta, perciò compiendo solo poche ore di navigazione notturna per traversare il breve tratto di mare fino alla costa siciliana, tempo assolutamente insufficiente a consentire l’intervento di nostre forze navali dalle basi in cui esse si trovano necessariamente dislocate. Era inevitabile quindi dover attendere il nemico a piè fermo sul nostro stesso suolo.

Tutto ciò è quanto in sostanza è accaduto nella giornata del 10 in cui il nemico, partito da Malta nella notte, all’alba è riuscito a prendere terra, sia pure a fronte di una violenta reazione (sono parole del bollettino anglosassone) in vari punti della fascia costiera. Ma già poche ore dopo il suo disegno era chiaramente individuato nel tentativo di «penetrare» (eccoci nella seconda fase) nelle zone racchiudenti i porti della costa orientale. Cosi già nel pomeriggio del 10 tutta la massa delle nostre forze difensive era in moto per arrestare il tentativo e già nella notte sull’11 pienamente impegnata.

Gli aventi debbono dunque essere guardati con serena fermezza e fiduciosa aspettazione perché se il nemico – come era stato previsto – ha potuto sbarcare, caso è già stato arrestato all’inizia stesso del tentativo di penetrazione. La lotta è certamente aspra, data l’imponenza delle forze impiegate dal nemico e l’importanza della posta in giuoco. Ma oggi si difende il suolo stesso della Patria e il nemico farà la dura esperienza di ciò che questo significhi per tutti gli italiani.

Marc’ Antonio Bragadin

57

Allied HQ, North Africa (July 13, 1943)

Communiqué

During the past 24 hours, great activity has continued odd and on all the beaches as reinforcements, vehicles and supplies were being landed by the Navy and sent forward. The surf has made this work difficult in some of the more exposed positions.

The port of Syracuse is now in our hands, with its port and harbor facilities apparently undamaged. There has been some bombing of shipping by aircraft.

Augusta was bombarded early in the afternoon of July 12 by a strong force of cruisers and a monitor. Minesweepers have swept the bridgehead to this port.

The naval operations, in which more than 3,000 shipping vessels and crafts of all types., warships and merchantmen, are taking part are proceeding satisfactorily.

Good progress has again been made today, and the bridgehead has now been increased in some places to 20 miles. In the eastern sector pour troops encountered some resistance in their advance along the coast. Inland, very good progress has been made.

Palazzolo has been occupied and our patrols have reached the outskirts of Ragusa.

In the western sector, the advance continues and an early counterattack has been successfully beaten off and a large number of prisoners were taken and some tanks destroyed.

Air Communiqué

Fighter-bombers throughout yesterday continued their heavy attacks on enemy troop columns and lines of communications and destroyed or damaged large numbers of enemy motor transports.

During the night of July 11-12, our bombers attacked Sicilian ports and the Montecorvino airfields in Italy. Heavy and concentrated attacks were made by heavy bombers against focal points at Messina, Reggio Calabria and San Giovanni. Medium, light and fighter-bombers attacked airfields and focal points of communications in Sicily.

Throughout the day, our fighters carried out sweeps over our shipping, the beaches and our advancing troops. Intermittent enemy attempts to interfere with our landings and shipping were intercepted and enemy aircraft of various types were destroyed or damaged.

During the course of attacks on enemy shipping in the Tyrrhenian Sea, two merchant vessels were sunk and two destroyers were left blazing.

22 enemy aircraft were destroyed during these operations and 11 of ours are missing.

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58

Brooklyn Eagle (July 13, 1943)

Allies take Augusta, land near Catania

Sicilian naval base, 3 rail towns seized

The road to Rome

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In a series of lightning moves, Allied forces captured the Italian naval base of Augusta and seized the railroad towns of Ragusa, Palazzolo and Floridia. Further north at Catania, British troops landed on the beach.

Allied HQ, North Africa (UP) –
Allied armed forces sweeping across southeastern Sicily have captured the vital Italian naval base of Augusta, pushed 25 miles inland to seize the railroad towns of Floridia, Palazzolo and Ragusa and landed British assault troops on the beaches near Catania.

The swift offensive blows of U.S., British and Canadian troops, backed by a spreading aerial assault and a naval bombardment of Augusta, extended the Allied base for drives northward toward Messina and north westward toward Caltanissetta despite renewed Axis counterattacks.

The expected major enemy counterblows had still failed to develop although resistance was stiffening and the Americans were engaged in hard fighting on the south coast.

Augusta was captured with slight losses, according to a headquarters announcement.

U.S. and British-Canadian forces made a junction at Ragusa following the capture of Floridia and Palazzolo, which lies 25 miles inland from the east coast bridgehead.

The capture of Augusta gave the Allies one of the finest naval bases in the Mediterranean, dominating the sea and land approaches to Catania and Messina, while the old walled town of Ragusa commands important roads and railroads in the southeast.

Radio Algiers estimated the Allies had occupied 310 square miles of territory in Ragusa and Augusta.

The harbor installations at Augusta were reported intact, indicating the Italians had not had time or inclination to Sicily prior to the capture of carry out a scorched earth policy.

The thrust to Palazzolo and Ragusa completed an Allied line across the southeastern tip of Sicily, probably trapping large number of Axis soldiers. The strategy indicated was to cut off the entire sector for use as a base from which land and air forces would strike northward toward Catania and northwestward toward Caltanissetta. It would also give the Allies elbow room for maneuvering against any major Axis counteroffensive, which may be delayed because of fear of new Allied landings at other points in Sicily.

General among captives

Gen. Achille d’Havet, commander of the Italian 206th Coastal Division, was captured along with many prisoners, in addition to around 6,000 previously reported taken by the Allies.

Many counterattacks were repulsed, especially by the Americans in hard fighting near Gela, and enemy tanks (all of French origin) were destroyed.

The Italian Navy, except for submarines, had not yet been encountered in any strength and the Germans, for the moment, showed no definite signs of deciding where to throw the bulk of their armor in Sicily.

Montgomery does it again

The most sensational advance inland was made by the British and Canadians from the Syracuse bridgehead on the east coast. It was directed by Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery.

The Canadians charged along the road to Ragusa with great speed to make a junction with the Americans who had broken through stiff opposition on the south coast.

The Canadians had covered about 45 miles by road from the east coast area in order to reach Ragusa, while the Americans had advanced at least 20 miles although their starting point was not immediately known.

Ragusa is in the mountains at an elevation of 1,680 feet. Little opposition was offered along the winding roads leading to the town, according to preliminary indications. The communiqué said:

The naval operations, in which more than 3,000 shipping vessels and craft of all types, warships and merchantmen are taking part, are proceeding satisfactorily.

Swedish dispatches quoted German reports that the Allies had landed seven infantry divisions – normally 105,000 men – and two tank divisions in the first two days of the invasion. One tank division was identified as American and the other as British.

A Stockholm dispatch said the Italian press has begun to prepare the nation for the eventual loss of Sicily and Radio Morocco asserted that serious anti-war demonstrations have broken out in northern Italy.

Four Italian generals have been killed in the Sicilian fighting, Radio Algiers said, quoting reports from Rome.

The broadcast came soon after Radio Rome announced the first death of an Italian general in action on the island. He was identified as Lt. Gen. Enrico Francisci, commander of the 13th Zone of Blackshirts and general liaison officer of the Sicilian command.

Radio Algiers did not identify any of the generals by name.

Axis prisoners ragged, belongings lost in fight

Advanced base, North Africa (UP) – (July 12, delayed)
The first batch of Axis prisoners captured in Sicily – 1,000 ragged, poorly dressed and weary Italians and four Germans – arrived today under guard of U.S. soldiers.

The Italians, principally from coastal defense divisions which are apparently far from the cream of Mussolini’s army, had little to say and mostly gazed vacantly at the North African landscape.

These Axis soldiers were seized so quickly they didn’t have time to get together any personal belongings. A few had musical instruments.

Montgomery prefers walking to elevator ride

London, England (UP) –
Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery made history throughout his recent stay at the Claridge Hotel by refusing to use the elevator because:

It’s better exercise to walk.

Gen. Montgomery flew to London in May. His trip was kept officially secret to keep the Axis sweating over the whereabouts of the famous British 8th Army and its commander. Despite the attempted secrecy, the man in battle garb and black beret was recognized by thousands of persons.

By remote control

By the United Press

Premier Mussolini, according to Radio Rome, has sent the following message to his forces in Sicily:

I am with you in spirit.

It was recalled today that in August 1937, Premier Mussolini said in a speech in Sicily:

Not one enemy soldier will ever land in Sicily.

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59

Yank bombers severe Messina’s mainland link

Fortresses halt all traffic and batter industrial sections

Allied HQ, North Africa (UP) –
Allied air forces supported the land campaign in Sicily today with systematic, devastating attacks on the supply link from the Italian mainland, Sicilian airdromes, troops and trains.

U.S. Flying Fortresses bombed traffic to a standstill between the eastern Sicilian port of Messina and the nearby mainland ports of Reggio Calabria and San Giovanni.

An earlier communiqué said Allied air fleets sank or damaged five transports and two destroyers carrying Axis reinforcements to Sicily.

Two Axis supply ships were sunk, a third was damaged badly and two destroyers were left aflame from bow to stern by torpedo aircraft under the command of Air Vice Marshal Sir Hugh Pugh Lloyd.

The planes caught the ships in the Tyrrhenian Sea between Sardinia and Sicily. The destroyers were damaged so badly that they probably sank.

Two other Axis troop ships were reported hit in Sicilian waters.

Two important railway bridges were destroyed at Messina and explosions were caused in large industrial sections.

Axis airports blasted

Medium bombers covered many Axis airports in Sicily with bomb craters. Other Allied planes continued attacks on trains and troops.

Possibly because of damage to airfields, enemy fighter plane opposition was sporadic during the last 24 hours. Some Allied air units had things their own way. Of the enemy planes that ventured out, 28 were shot down, against loss of 11 Allied aircraft.

Set fire to vehicles

One formation of Lockheed Lightnings located four enemy land convoys, setting fire to 35 out of 115 vehicles and damaging others. Another Lightning formation surprised a column of gun-carrying trucks and destroyed 15. Still another flight scored two direct hits on a convoy of 40 vehicles.

Mitchell medium bombers made a daylight raid on Marsala at the western end of the island after British Wellingtons had carried out a night attack on that port.

Wellingtons also bombed Trapani in western Sicily and Mazara del Valla, 15 miles southeast of Marsala.

Dusk-to-dawn raids were carried out by the new type (A-36) Mustang diving fighter-bomber which has just been put in action in this theater. They attacked trains and motor convoys in central Sicily.

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60

Allies fighting as one, Eisenhower asserts

Finds coordination perfect – Canadians advance so fast he can’t reach them

Allied HQ, North Africa (UP) –
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower returned today from a frontline inspection in Sicily and said that:

Allied coordination could not have been better if all the land, sea and air forces had been from a single nation.

Eisenhower visited the headquarters in Sicily of Lt. Gen. George S. Patton Jr., commanding the new U.S. 7th Army, and of other commanders.

He attempted to confer with the Canadian advance commanders but they were advancing so rapidly that he was unable to make contact, being forced to send word to them through the Canadian rear units.

‘Ike’ introduces self

By John Gunther

Somewhere in Sicily, Italy (UP) – (July 12, delayed)
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower stepped ashore in Sicily on his personal inspection of the Allied drive, sought out an officer and said:

How do you do? I’m Gen. Eisenhower.

With those words, the Allied commander-in-chief made his presence known to the astonished troops busy consolidating newly-won beach positions.

Our first sight of Sicily came near Gela just before dawn after a quick, secret voyage across the Mediterranean. It was a scene of great activity. Cruisers were firing on the invisible enemy behind the hills. Their guns cracked, echoed and boomed across the beaches and yellow smoke lifted slowly.

Eisenhower watched the action closely and then, assisted by his naval aide, Cdr. Harry Butcher, held a breakfast conference with Gen. George S. Patton Jr., American commander, and VAdm. Harry K. Hewitt, American naval commander, and other high-ranking officers.

Wishes all good luck

Before we landed near the extreme southeastern end of Sicily, we passed various naval units and to all of them Eisenhower signaled the message:

Congratulations and good luck.

For the most part, the coastal villages looked peaceful and deserted.

Near a tomato patch I saw my first “enemy Sicilian,” a boy about 14 on a bicycle, who waved and grinned.

But it mustn’t be deduced from this that all Sicilians are friendly. Last night three British soldiers on watch had their throats cut.

Gen. Patton, Adm. Hewitt and other officers gave Eisenhower an up-to-the-minute picture of the operations, including a description of how the guns of one U.S. cruiser broke up an Axis tank attack, destroying several tanks, although miles away.

They also told him how one village was literally captured by two destroyers.

Eisenhower was pleased to receive personal confirmation from men who took part that our forces “hit almost every beach on the button.”

He learned how, in the initial stages of the operation in one sector, four Italian lieutenant colonels walked up and surrendered, explaining that the reason they were “caught” was that they were making a “personal first-line reconnaissance.”

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61

Völkischer Beobachter (July 14, 1943)

Auseinandersetzungen wegen Siziliens –
Zweite Front ja – zweite Front nein

Von unserer Stockholmer Schriftleitung

Screenshot 2022-07-14 065831
(Aufn.: Weltbild-Gliese)

dr. th. b. Stockholm, 13. Juli –
In Londoner militärischen Kreisen wird, schwedischen Meldungen zufolge, die Auffassung vertreten, daß sich die Operationen auf Sizilien jetzt ihrer „kritischen Phase“ näherten. Bei Beginn des Angriffs, so erklärte man, sei man sich nicht klar darüber gewesen, wo sich die strategischen Reserven des Gegners befänden. Nun aber müsse man damit rechnen, daß es bald zu schweren Zusammenstößen mit der Hauptmasse der deutschen und italienischen Truppen kommen werde.

Es liegt eine bisher nicht bestätigte englische Reuter-Meldung vor, wonach der General Eisenhower in Sizilien eingetroffen sei. Dies könnte darauf deuten, daß man auf englischer und amerikanischer Seite mit dem Ausbruch härtester Kämpfe rechnet. Unter Eisenhower ist die Leitung der Operationen folgenden britischen und amerikanischen Generalen und Admiralen anvertraut: den englischen Generalen Montgomery und Alexander, dem amerikanischen General Patton, den englischen Luftmarschallen Tedder, Cunningham und Lloyd, den amerikanischen Fliegergeneralen Spaatz und Doolittle, den englischen Admiralen Sir Andrew Cunningham und Ramsay und dem amerikanischen Vizeadmiral Hewitt. Der englische Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay ist insofern ein Spezialist für „amphibische“ Operationen, als er den Rücktransport der britischen Truppen von Dünkirchen zu leiten hatte.

Keine Einigkeit besteht zwischen den Briten und Amerikanern darüber, ob die Landung auf Sizilien als die Errichtung der „zweiten Front“ anzusehen sei oder nicht. Während die amerikanische Presse erklärt, daß „die Schlacht um Europa begonnen hat und die zweite Front nicht mehr ein Traum, sondern eine Realität ist,“ schreibt der diplomatische Mitarbeiter Reuters:

Die Invasion auf Sizilien wird in London als ein Zeichen der Befreiung des Kontinents angesehen und nicht als eine zweite Front… Der Feldzug auf Sizilien, der länger und schwer sein kann, als man auf den ersten Anschein hin vermutete, bedeute keine direkte Erleichterung für die Sowjets in der Bedeutung und in dem Umfang, die die Sowjets meinten, als sie die zweite Front forderten.

Aus dieser Feststellung kann man wohl schließen, daß die Sowjets ihren britischen Bundesgenossen höchst energisch darauf aufmerksam gemacht haben, daß sie sich mit dem Sizilienunternehmen, das sie wahrscheinlich recht zweifelhaft beurteilen, nicht abspeisen lassen. Auf jeden Fall müssen zur Zeit recht lebhafte Auseinandersetzungen und Verhandlungen zwischen England, Amerika und den Sowjets im Gange sein.

62

Zwei feindliche Schiffe mit 30.000 BRT. im Atlantik vernichtet –
Weiterer Raumgewinn nördlich Bjelgorod

dnb. Aus dem Führer-Hauptquartier, 13. Juli –
Das Oberkommando der Wehrmacht gibt bekannt:

Nördlich Bjelgorod gewann der deutsche Angriff, von der Luftwaffe unterstützt, nach Zerschlagen von zwei feindlichen Panzergruppen weiter Raum. Gegenangriffe starker Infanterie- und Panzerverbände, die die Sowjets von anderen Frontabschnitten und aus der Tiefe herangeführt hatten, gegen die Spitzen und Flanken der deutschen Angriffskeile und heftige Entlastungsangriffe im Raum östlich und nördlich Orel brachen unter schwersten feindlichen Verlusten zusammen.

Am gestrigen Tage vernichteten Verbände des Heeres, der Waffen-SS und der Luftwaffe erneut über 400 Panzer. 103 feindliche Flugzeuge wurden in Luftkämpfen und durch Flakartillerie der Luftwaffe abgeschossen.

Auf Sizilien gehen die harten Kämpfe gegen den gelandeten Feind in erbitterten Gefechten weiter.

Deutsche und italienische Fliegerverbände griffen laufend in die Erdkämpfe ein und bombardierten unaufhörlich die Landungsflotte vor der Küste der Insel und fügten dieser sehr schwere Verluste zu. 25 feindliche Flugzeuge wurden über Sizilien und Sardinien abgeschossen.

Im Westen bekämpfte ein Verband schwerer deutscher Kampfflugzeuge in der vergangenen Nacht mit gutem Erfolg Hafen- und Dockanlagen der Stadt Grimsby. Weitere Luftangriffe richteten sich gegen Einzelziele im Raum von London und an der Südostküste Englands. Ein deutsches Flugzeug kehrte von diesen Einsätzen nicht zurück.

Fernkampfflugzeuge wurden erneut gegen die am 11. Juli im Atlantik in Brand geworfenen großen feindlichen Schiffe zum Angriff angesetzt. Einer der beiden Transporter war bereits gesunken, der zweite wurde durch Bombenwurf versenkt. Damit verlor der Feind wiederum zwei Schiffe mit zusammen 30.000 BRT.

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La Stampa (July 14, 1943)

Nella regione meridionale della Sicilia la battaglia prosegue con immutata violenza

Il nemico tenta di ampliare le teste di sbarco – Aerosiluranti e bombardieri attaccano ripetutamente unità da guerra e mercantili nemici – Un piroscafo affondato, due incrociatori e numerosi trasporti danneggiati – 25 aerei avversari abbattuti

Screenshot 2022-07-14 072851

Il Quartier Generale delle Forze Armate communico:

La battaglia prosegue con immutata violenza nella regione meridionale della Sicilia, dove il nemico cerca di ampliare le teste di sbarco che ha potuto costituire a Licata, Gela, Pachino, Siracusa e Augusta.

Nelle acque dell’isola, aerosiluranti italiani e bombardieri dell’Asse attaccavano ripetutamente unità mercantili e da guerra, affondando un piroscafo di medio tonnellaggio e incendiarono o danneggiando due incrociatori, numerosi trasporti e parecchi mezzi navali minori.

Nel cielo della Sicilia, 14 apparecchi sono stati abbattuti dalla caccia italo-germanica, nove dalle artiglierie contraeree; nostri cacciatori distruggevano sulla Sardegna due altri velivoli.

Formazioni nemiche hanno bombardato centri della Sicilia e della Calabria, tra cui Catania, Messina e Reggio.

Questa notte una incursione è state compiuta su Torino dove la popolazione ha subito perdite e il centro urbano danni considerevoli.

Non hanno fatto ritorno alle basi sei nostri aerei.

Le incursioni citate dal bollettino odierno hanno causato le seguenti vittime finora accertare: a Catania 25 morti e 63 feriti; a Leon Forte 8 morti e 2 feriti; a Reggio Calabria 3 morti e 2 feriti; in provincia di Catanzaro, 30 morti e 43 feriti; a Torino 101 morti e 203 feriti.

64

Allied HQ, North Africa (July 14, 1943)

Communiqué:

The Navy’s main task of supporting the Army as commanding the sea and disembarking troops and their supplies continues.

Throughout the operations, U.S. warships have rendered valuable support to the troops on shore by engaging surrounding formations of tank columns behind Gela and, among other targets, the airfield at Ponte Olivo and enemy divisions at Porto Empedocle.

A British and a Greek destroyer entered the port of Augusta at 1600 (4 p.m.) July 12. These ships, with the cruisers and monitors outside, assisted materially in the capture. The naval bombardment was described by the Army as both accurate and timely.

Catania Airfield was bombarded from the sea in the early hours of July 13.

It was reported that the swell on some of the beaches has subsided. There were some bombing attacks on certain of the beaches and the vessels lying offshore, which did not interrupt the work in progress. Disembarkations proceeded smoothly.

There were signs of increased U-boat activity throughout the area, but countermeasures have been highly successful and disheartening to the enemy. Activity on the part of minesweepers and light coastal forces continues and efforts of all have been crowned with success.

On the night of July 12-13, one of our flotillas of motor torpedo boats operating is the Strait of Messina engaged two E-boats, which were set ablaze and driven ashore. A third E-boat was damaged during a later engagement, but managed to escape.

During the operations yesterday, contact was made between U.S. and Canadian forces.

A further general advance was made in all sectors, including the capture of Augusta early this morning with its port facilities undamaged, and the capture of important towns, including Ragusa and Naro. Some thousands of prisoners have now been taken.

Gen. D’Havet, commanding the 206th Division, has been captured with his entire headquarters, and this division has now been almost entirely eliminated.

The work of administrative units is of particular importance in operations of this nature, as a ceaseless flow of vehicles, ammunition and stores is being maintained through the ports and over beaches.

Air Communiqué:

From dawn to dusk, our fighters carried out sweeps and patrols over the invasion area, the beaches and the shipping, successfully intercepting enemy aircraft attempting to interfere with our operations.

Fighter-bombers, in another day of intensive activity, carried out many attacks on enemy communications and troop columns throughout Sicily, destroying many enemy vehicles.

The airfield at Milo and Catania were attacked by heavy bombers, while medium bombers attacked Enna, a communication center. Night bombers attacked enemy airfields and communications.

During the night of July 12-13, our Intruders operated against enemy communications in Sicily and southern Italy. Two enemy merchant vessels were sunk and two destroyers were damaged in attacks by our torpedo aircraft north of Sicily.

During the course of those operations, 42 aircraft were destroyed, 11 of which were shot down by our night bombers. Seven of our aircraft are missing.