Operation HUSKY (1943)

[NormanStewart]

Erfolge der italienischen Luftwaffe –
Torpedoflugzeuge immer wieder am Feind

(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.

[NormanStewart]

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.

[NormanStewart]

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

[NormanStewart]

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.

[NormanStewart]

Brooklyn Eagle (July 13, 1943)

Allies take Augusta, land near Catania

Sicilian naval base, 3 rail towns seized

The road to Rome

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.

[NormanStewart]

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.

[NormanStewart]

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.”

[NormanStewart]

Völkischer Beobachter (July 14, 1943)

Auseinandersetzungen wegen Siziliens –
Zweite Front ja – zweite Front nein

Von unserer Stockholmer Schriftleitung

(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.

[NormanStewart]

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.

[NormanStewart]

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

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.

[NormanStewart]

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.

[NormanStewart]

The Pittsburgh Press (July 14, 1943)

YANKS CAPTURE AXIS BASE
British drive nearer to Catania; warships aid Americans in South Sicily; fliers pound enemy

Yanks smash 10 Nazi tanks

By Virgil Pinkley, United Press staff writer

Yanks advance of 6-10 miles in South Sicily was announced today as British forces pushed up the east coast toward Catania. Catania was shelled and successful landings, presumably near Catania, were reported. U.S. forces are striking up to the east and west from the Licata-Gela area. They captured the important Axis base at Comiso.

Allied HQ, North Africa –
U.S. forces, supported by U.S. warship bombardments, smashed forward 6-10 miles in South Sicily and captured the important Axis base at Comiso today while British assault troops pressed up the eastern coast toward shell-pitted Catania.

Axis resistance appeared to be stiffening but the Americans under Lt. Gen. George S. Patton Jr. hammered their way into Naro, Palma and Ponte Olivo following a junction with the Canadians at captured Ragusa, and were reported about 30 miles inland at some points.

12 miles from Agrigento

The U.S. advance from Licata through Palma and to Naro put the Allies within 10 or 12 miles of the important Axis base at Agrigento. This gain, which was at the western end of the Allied front, have the Americans command of roads running northward to Canicattì.

The Americans knocked out 10 Nazi tanks in repulsing counterattacks by Italians and by the Hermann Göring Division northwest and northeast of Gela.

The capture of Naro and Comiso was believed to have greatly improved the American position in the south, where the hardest fighting so far had centered around Gela. The Americans were thrown back there, but rallied to advance against Italian and German counterattacks.

Hold mountain roads

Their latest gains consolidated their grip on the mountain toads and provided bases for thrusts northward from the Comiso-Ragusa area.

The Americans who took Ponte Olivo pushed some six miles inland from Gela, while other units drove 10 miles inland to a point two miles south of Buscemi, on the road to Caltagirone, an important inland road junction. The situation around Vittoria, which is just west of Comiso, was obscure but Allied units had reached the outskirts.

On the east coast, where Allied warships and air squadrons battered Catania Airport, the British had not yet reported big-scale enemy counterattacks. It was said there was no fighting as yet in or immediately around Catania, which has not been captured by the Allies. The town of Melilli was also reported still in Axis hands, although it was bypassed by the British coastal forces that captured the big naval base at Augusta today.

Catania Airport shelled

Catania Airport was shelled from the sea and smothered by many tons of aerial bombs, according to today’s communiqué, which said that disembarkation operations – which had previously been unofficially reported near Catania – “proceeded smoothly.” The points of disembarkation were not given in the communiqué.

While U.S. warships smashed Axis tank columns and airfields on the south coast of Sicily, the British and Canadian drive toward Catania smashed an entire Italian division and boosted the estimated number of prisoners to around 8,000, mostly Italians.

Axis broadcasts reported that big battles were developing in the mountains south of Catania, indicating that the Germans and Italians were making their most important stand so far.

Augusta shelled, taken

The communiqué said that Greek and British destroyers shelled the port of Augusta, main Italian naval base on the east coast, at 4 p.m. Monday and that Allied forces occupied that port early this morning.

The Augusta harbor facilities were almost intact and the Italian 206th Coastal Division was virtually destroyed in the operations on the east coast.

The Allies seized at least 2,000 more prisoners, mostly Italians, while a flotilla of MTBs (motor torpedo boats) operating in the Strait of Messina, engaged two Axis torpedo boats which were set ablaze and driven ashore. A third enemy boat was damaged but escaped.

U.S. warships supported U.S. troops under Gen. Patton, who were engaging enemy tank formations behind Gela and also bombarded the airfield at Ponte Olivo. U.S. warships then shelled enemy positions at Porto Empedocle, on the south coast of Sicily west of Agrigento.

Further general advances

The communiqué said there were further general advances in all sectors, following capture of Augusta, Ragusa and Naro, in southeast Sicily. U.S. and Canadian forces had made a junction yesterday at Ragusa, cutting off the whole southwestern tip of the island and seizing important communications centers.

U.S. forces in the Gela-Licata sector appeared to be encountering the strongest opposition and it appeared that the U.S. warship bombardments in the sector were an effort to aid in securing and extending the bridgehead as swiftly as possible.

On the east coast, the British 8th Army and Canadian units appeared to be making the greatest progress in their northward drive to the Catania plains.

Allied air fleets, including Flying Fortresses, provided a strong cover for the British advance up the east coast.

Curtain of firepower

“A swiftly moving curtain of firepower and bombs” hit the enemy in Sicily all day as the round-the-clock aerial attack was pressed, it was stated at headquarters.

The communiqué from headquarters of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower said:

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 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.

Disembarking smoothly

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.

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.

Axis broadcasts acknowledged the fall of Augusta and told of raids on Allied shipping in Augusta Harbor. From Stockholm came a report attributed to Axis sources that Gen. Montgomery’s main forces were within seven miles of Catania with advance guards even nearer.

A German broadcast quoted a Spanish dispatch as saying that 60 landing barges with an escort of destroyers steamed into the Mediterranean from Gibraltar yesterday and a convoy of nine vessels entered Gibraltar Harbor shortly afterward.

The message of Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, commander of the British 8th Army, to his troops on the eve of the invasion was revealed belatedly to have proclaimed that the time had now come to “carry the war into Italy and into the continent of Europe.”

Gen. Montgomery said:

The Italian overseas empire has been exterminated. We will now deal with the home country… We will set about the Italians in their own country in no uncertain way. They came into this war to suit themselves and they must take the consequences. They asked for it and now they’ll get it.

I have complete confidence in the successful outcome of this operation. Therefore, with faith in God and enthusiasm for our cause and for the day of battle, let us enter into this contest with stout hearts and a determination to conquer.

---

Planes blast 4 enemy ships

By Reynolds Packard, United Press staff writer

Allied HQ, North Africa –
Allied planes, supporting invasion armies with the greatest non-stop air offensive of the war, wrecked and damaged two supply ships, two destroyers, 320 trucks, six locomotives and 45 freight cars in 24 hours of attacks designed to paralyze the Axis defense of Sicily, it was announced today.

Supplementing new naval bombardments of Augusta and Catania, Sicilian east coast ports, Flying Fortresses from the Northwest African Air Forces literally rained bombs on the Catania Air Base, which an RAF statement described as “the most important Axis coastal air base.”

The Fortresses struck “directly ahead” of Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery’s northward-driving 8th Army, the RAF said, and direct hits were scored on at least two large hangars. Dispersed aircraft were also wrecked.

Hit southern Italy

While the Northwest African Air Forces concentrated on Sicily, U.S. Liberators from the Middle East swept across the Mediterranean and dropped nearly 425,000 pounds of bombs on the Crotone and Vibo Valentia Airdromes in southern Italy. Three hangars were wrecked at Vibo Valentia.

Significantly, the Liberators met no fighter opposition over Crotone, supposedly a fighter base.

Utilizing virtually every unit in their command, the Northwest African Air Forces sank two more enemy merchant ships, heavily damaged two destroyers, wrecked 160 trucks, damaged an equal number and “reduced to scrap” six locomotives and 45 freight cars.

Forty-two Axis aircraft were shot of the skies, while Allied losses totaled only seven, a ratio of 6–1. Uncounted other enemy planes were wrecked on their airdromes.

Hit by torpedoes

The two heavily-laden merchant ships were sunk north of Sicily by torpedo-carrying Beaufighters.

U.S. A-36 Mustangs damaged two destroyers, also near Sicily.

Mitchells and Martin Marauders joined Fortresses in attacks on airfields, where hangars and administration buildings were set afire, and night intruder planes hammered Messina and Palermo and other communications centers throughout Sicily.

Twin-tailed Lightnings ranged the Sicilian skies at will, concentrating their firepower and the bombs tucked underneath their wings on trains, road transport and troops.

Even light and medium bombers joined in the many missions which wrought havoc among Axis concentrations, making it hard for the Germans and Italians to get set or start throwing punches.

Destroy 20 cars

One pack of Lightnings spotted 20 railroad cars, many believed to contain fuel, which were destroyed with bombs. Twenty more cars on a siding were reduced to rubble. At another point, three railroad cars and a warehouse were left aflame.

Diving out of the sun, one formation of Lightnings raked a barracks and left it burning. Two staff cars and four trucks parked in front of the barracks were set on fire. The formations gunned eight men in black uniform, probably Fascist officials or militiamen.

The attacks on shipping boosted the number of merchantmen sunk or damaged in 48 hours to seven and the number of Italian destroyers hit to four. A Royal Air Force statement asserted that the concentrated attacks on enemy shipping were frustrating desperate Axis attempts to reinforce its Sicilian garrisons.

Repel Axis planes

Fighters carried out dawn-to-dusk sweeps over the invasion area beaches and shipping and drove off enemy aircraft attempting to interfere with the steady progress of ground forces.

Fighter-bombers swept low over the enemy rear, shelling and machine-gunning troop columns, transport and communications, wrecks of tanks and armored vehicles littered the winding Sicilian roads.

Hit enemy fields

Heavy bombers smashed at the Milo and Catania Airdromes and medium bombers dropped their cargoes of explosives on Enna, a communications center.

Torpedo planes caught the two merchant vessels and two destroyers off the north coast of Sicily in the same area where seven enemy vessels were sunk or damaged only 24 hours earlier.

Axis airfields and communications were also attacked by bombers Monday night and intruder planes struck at targets in both Sicily and southern Italy.

Night fighters accounted for 11 of the 42 enemy planes shot down during the 24-hour period.

[NormanStewart]

Gen. Alexander visits Allied force in Sicily

By Edward Gilling, representing combined British press

Allied Field Command post, North Africa (UP) –
Gen. Harold R. L. G. Alexander, Allied Deputy Commander-in-Chief, went ashore from a cruiser in Sicily Tuesday and spent several hours visiting the troops.

[NormanStewart]

Nazi officials preparing for loss of Italy

Leaflets printed telling people how to resist occupying army
By J. Edward Murray, United Press staff writer

London, England –
German authorities are already preparing for Allied invasion and occupation of Italy, The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic expert said today.

The Daily Telegraph dispatch said news had reached London that pamphlets were being printed at The Hague, Holland, to be scattered over Italy to instruct civilians in resisting an army of occupation.

Madrid dispatches said German units sent into the Sicilian frontlines fought only a delaying action, falling back whenever pressed.

Quoting reports from Italy, Madrid said the Fascists had complained the Nazi Luftwaffe was not fighting and that German tanks had been held out.

Appeals for planes

Madrid said Gen. Alfredo Guzzoni, commanding Italian forces, had appealed urgently to Benito Mussolini for more planes.

A Stockholm dispatch said Axis reports of the Sicilian fighting were “surprising favorable” for the Allies. Besides trying to temper the Nazi people for receiving news of Sicily’s fall, the propaganda may represent groundwork for an all-out counteroffensive which could be hailed as a major victory even if only partly successful, Stockholm said.

A Berlin dispatch to the Stockholm newspaper Dagens Nyheter said the Nazi press used an increasingly serious tone in discussing Sicily and that one expert, Heinz Bongartz, acknowledged the outcome of the struggle for the island would be “an important advance toward final victory.”

Orders scorched earth

Madrid said it was understood the Italian General Staff ordered Sicilian garrison commanders to destroy all facilities as they retired or face court-martial. The threat, it was said, was made because the British 8th Army captured Syracuse practically intact.

Mussolini reportedly ordered three new Blackshirt divisions dispatched from Rome and Perugia for Sicily if they can cross the narrow straits. They would replace three divisions badly battered by the Allies, Madrid said.

Demonstrations in several Italian cities reported yesterday were said by Madrid to have been outbreaks by workers demanding peace. They were stopped only by police threats to shoot into crowds.

[NormanStewart]

Stampa Sera (July 14, 1943)

La battaglia nella Sicilia meridionale –
Il nemico impegnato su tutto il fronte in duri combattimenti

Aerei e sommergibili infliggono gravi perdite all’avversario – 5 cacciatorpediniere e 3 grossi piroscafi colati a picco – 6 incrociatori, dei quali 1 pesante, 2 caccia e un trasporto danneggiati

34 aerei anglo-americani abbattuti

Il Quartiere Generale delle Forze Armate comunica:

Il nemico, che alimenta continuamente la sua offensiva con nuovi contingenti, è riuscito a superare la fascia litoranea da Licata ad Augusta, spingendosi verso la zona montana sud-orientale della Sicilia e affacciandosi alla piana di Catania. Su tutto il fronte le truppe italiane e germaniche sono impegnate in duri combattimenti.

Nostri reparti aerosiluranti in azioni notturne lungo le coste della Sicilia orientale hanno affondato due piroscafi di grosso tonnellaggio e un cacciatorpediniere e danneggiato 6 incrociatori, di cui uno pesante, due cacciatorpediniere, un grande mercantile e altro naviglio minore.

In duelli aerei nel cielo dell’isola i cacciatori dell’Asse abbattevano undici apparecchi; dodici altri velivoli erano distrutti dalle artiglierie della Sicilia, 4 da quelle della Sardegna, 7 aerosiluranti da nostre unità in navigazione.

14 nostri aerei non hanno fatto ritorno dalle operazioni della giornata.

Nel Mediterraneo centrale un sommergibile, al commando del tenente di vascello Alberto Donato da La Spezia, colava a picco un piroscafo da 15 mila tonnellate. Un’altra unità subacquea, comandata dal tenente di vascello Pasquale Beltrame da Savona, lanciava una salva di siluri contro una formazione di cacciatorpediniere, dei quali due venivano colpiti. Un terzo sommergibile, al comando del tenente di vascello Renato Scandale da Castelfranco Emilia, silurava un cacciatorpediniere della classe JERVIS ed uno della classes FEARLESS. I quattro caccia predetti sono da ritenersi affondati.

[NormanStewart]

Völkischer Beobachter (July 15, 1943)

Landungstruppen im Bombenhagel der Achsenluftwaffe –
Unvermindert heftige Kämpfe in Südsizilien

dnb. Berlin, 14. Juli –
In Südsizilien nimmt der Kampf gegen die gelandeten Briten und Nordamerikaner mit unverminderter Heftigkeit seinen Fortgang. Der Gegner versucht seine Brückenköpfe mit allen ihm zu Gebote stehenden Mitteln zu erweitern. Nordamerikanische Kräfte, die an der Südküste Fuß gefaßt und sichernde Vorhuten nach Norden ins Gebirge vorgetrieben hatten, griffen am Montag die deutsch-italienischen Sperrstellungen fortgesetzt mit Infanterie und Panzern an. Nach vergeblichen Vorstößen am Vormittag verstärkte der Feind in den Nachmittagsstunden seinen Druck durch frische Kräfte. Die Angriffe wurden aber unter hohen Verlusten für die Nordamerikaner abgewiesen.

Luftwaffenverbände der Achse griffen wirkungsvoll in den Erdkampf ein. Durch Bombentreffer hatten die feindlichen Panzer erhebliche Ausfälle.

Weitere harte Kämpfe entwickelten sich im Gebirge gegen die einige Stunden vor der Landung abgesetzten Fallschirmabspringer und Luftlandetruppen. Von der Küste her versuchte der Feind, mit diesen vorgeschobenen Kräften Fühlung aufzunehmen. Einige der Stoßabteilungen kamen ins Gefecht mit unseren Sicherungsverbänden. Während des Kampfes steckten die angegriffenen Briten einen Olivenhain in Brand, in der Hoffnung, hinter den deckenden Rauchschwaden gegen die deutsch-italienischen Linien Vorgehen und günstige Stellungen für die weitere Verteidigung finden zu können. Italienische Pioniere drangen jedoch in den brennenden Hain ein, rissen die ausgetrockneten, gerade von den Flammen erfaßten Bäume aus, zogen Schutzgräben und dämmten so den Brand ein. Dadurch machten sie den Weg für die Abwehr frei. Die Achsentruppen rieben einige der britischen Stoßtrupps auf und drängten die übrigen zurück.

Im Laufe des Montags verstärkte sich der Feind weiter und brachte neue Truppen an Land. Er versuchte erneut, an solchen Stellen festen Fuß zu fassen, an denen die ersten Ausbootungen am 10. Juli mißlangen. Teile der Landungstruppen waren zum Beispiel an einer der Buchten an der Südostküste abgewiesen worden, obwohl schweres Artilleriefeuer aus Schiffsgeschützen und fortgesetzte Bombenangriffe das Unternehmen unterstützten. Der Platz war dem Feind günstig erschienen, da die Küstenabwehr das Feuer nicht erwiderte. Die Küstenverteidigung hatte jedoch wohlbedacht den deckungslosen Küstenstreifen freigemacht, um bei dem zu erwartenden schweren Bombardement unnötige Verluste zu vermeiden. Aus etwas landeinwärts liegenden Stellungen beobachtete sie die Maßnahmen des Gegners. Als der Feind dicht an Land gekommen war, schlugen alle Waffen zu. Rasendes Feuer zerschmetterte die Landungsboote.

Nachdem der Gegner die Stärke der Küstenverteidigung zu spüren bekommen hatte, nahm er die Stellungen nochmals unter schweres Feuer seiner Schiffsgeschütze. Gleichzeitig griffen starke Bomberverbände den Küstenstreifen an und sicherten damit die Landung. An anderer Stelle hatte der Gegner Panzer gelandet. Durch den geringen Widerstand an der Küste ermutigt, versuchten diese, eine Straße nahe am Meer zu erreichen. Durch die unerwartete Ruhe unsicher geworden, tasteten sich die Panzer vorsichtig vorwärts. Plötzlich traf sie jedoch aus unmittelbarer Nähe ein Feuerschlag aus gutgetarnten Stellungen. Zwei der Panzer blieben nach Treffern unbeweglich liegen. Ihre Besatzungen flüchteten an den Strand zurück. Die übrigen Panzer nahmen den Kampf auf. Ihr heftiges Feuer blieb wirkungslos, da die Panzerkanoniere die Stellungen der Achsentruppen nicht erkannten. Als dann noch eine 8,8-cm-Flak von der Flanke her in das Gefecht eingriff, war auch das Schicksal der restlichen Panzer an dieser Stelle besiegelt. Zerschossen oder brennend blieben sie vor der Straße liegen.

Den ganzen Tag über griffen schnelle deutsche Kampfflugzeuge, Jäger und Schlachtflieger die an Land gegangenen Truppenverbände des Feindes, die sich in den von steilen Böschungen eingefaßten Straßenschluchten zum weiteren Vorstoß formierten, mit Bomben und Bordwaffen an. Durch Bombentreffer setzten sie Kraftfahrzeugkolonnen in Brand und vernichteten zahlreiche Panzer.

[NormanStewart]

Härteste Kämpfe stehen auf Sizilien bevor –
Italiener fürchten die Feuerprobe nicht

Eigener Bericht des „Völkischen Beobachters“

al. Rom, 14. Juli –
Gefangene, die in Sizilien von den deutsch-italienischen Truppen gemacht wurden, haben ihr Erstaunen darüber zum Ausdruck gebracht, daß sie von der Bevölkerung nicht mit ebenso offenen Armen empfangen wurden, wie sie es in gewissen, vorwiegend von Juden bewohnten Gebieten Französisch-Nordafrikas gewohnt waren.

Noch am Samstagvormittag hatte der amerikanische Rundfunk die Stirn, Aufrufe in italienischer Sprache an die Sizilianer zu richten, in denen diese aufgefordert wurden, einem Vormarsch der feindlichen Streitkräfte keinen Widerstand in den Weg zu legen, sondern vielmehr die italienischen Behörden in ihren Abwehrbemühungen durch aktiven Widerstand zu behindern. Die Gefangenenaussagen beweisen, daß es in England und Amerika Leute gibt, die tatsächlich glauben, was ihre Agitatoren in Rundfunk und Presse ihnen vorlügen. Das ist das Interessanteste an ihnen.

Über die Härte der in Sizilien zu erwartenden Kämpfe gibt sich hier übrigens niemand einer Täuschung hin. Gayda im Journale d’Italia schreibt:

Härteste Kämpfe und wechselndes Kriegsglück erwartet die Italiener, die Achsenstreitkräfte und mit ihnen auch den Feind in dieser Schlacht um Sizilien, die das imperialistische Machtstreben Englands im Mittelmeer deutlicher beweist, als sie einen wirklichen Dienst zur Entlastung der Ostfront darstellt. Die Sizilianer und mit ihnen alle Italiener fürchten die Feuerprobe nicht. Sie sind zum entscheidenden Widerstand entschlossen und werden ihr Gebiet Zoll für Zoll verteidigen in der Gewißheit, durch ihr Opfer einen Beitrag zur Erhebung ihres Volkes zu leisten und von ihren Verbündeten verstanden und unterstützt zu werden.

Die Enna-Stellung

Popolo di Roma enthält folgende Angaben über den Verlauf des feindlichen Unternehmens:

Die Landung ist in zwei Abschnitten erfolgt: im Süden zwischen Licata und Gela, wo die amerikanischen Kräfte zu stehen scheinen, im Südosten zwischen Pachino, Syrakus und Augusta, wo englisch-kanadische Streitkräfte gelandet zu sein scheinen. Es ist unwahrscheinlich, daß, falls es den gelandeten Truppen gelingen sollte, sich auf dem Küstenstreifen zu behaupten, noch eine andere Landung im westlichen Teil Siziliens erfolgen würde, die von Tunis oder von Pantelleria zu starten wäre.

Über die Verteidigungsmöglichkeit Siziliens äußert sich das römische Blatt folgendermaßen:

Der strategische Mittelpunkt Siziliens ist seit den Kämpfen der Araber immer Enna gewesen, da man von dieser zentral gelegenen starken Stellung aus leicht sowohl nach Osten in Richtung auf Catania als auch nach Süden Licata und Agrigent sowie gegen Norden auf Termini operieren kann. Als man in den ersten Jahrzehnten der Bildung des Königreiches Italien einen Krieg mit Frankreich und eine französische Invasion befürchtete, war in der Tat die Enna-Stellung sorgfältig studiert worden, um aus ihr den Mittelpunkt der Verteidigung zu machen. Statt der französischen Invasion ist heute die englisch-amerikanische gekommen. Aber das Gelände der Insel ist immer das gleiche geblieben.

[NormanStewart]

Allied HQ, North Africa (July 15, 1943)

Communiqué:

During the last 24 hours, our ground forces have made considerable gains under the command of the 15th Army Group.

In the eastern sector, the newly-constituted British 8th Army has advanced some miles beyond Augusta, which has been firmly secured.

In the western sector, the U.S. 7th Army has captured another important airdrome and several dominating hill features.

Both British and U.S. airborne and parachute troops have carried out successful operations.

Since this campaign started, a total of at least 12,000 prisoners have been taken during the past five days.

Air Communiqué:

Port and railway communications at Messina were attacked yesterday by a strong force of heavy and medium bombers.

On the previous night, the bombers had attacked the same target. Very get damage was caused and fires were started.

Yesterday and during the previous night, medium and light bombers attacked the communications center of Enna. Road and railway communications throughout Sicily were also attacked.

Fighter-bombers again carried out many attacks on enemy communications and motor transport, destroying a large number of vehicles.

Our fighters operating from North Africa, Pantelleria, Malta and from Sicily maintained their patrols over Allied shipping, beaches and the battle areas, and shot down three of the small number of enemy aircraft encountered.

Intruder aircraft operated over southern Italy during the night. Night fighters destroyed five enemy aircraft.

Following attacks by our torpedo aircraft in the Tyrrhenian Sea, an enemy tanker was blown up, a merchant vessel as left in a sinking condition and a small tanker left in flames. One Ju 52 was destroyed in the course of the action.

From all these operations, three of our aircraft are missing.

[NormanStewart]

The Pittsburgh Press (July 15, 1943)

AXIS DRIVE IN SICILY REPULSED
Messina almost destroyed by bombs; Americans take 6th airfield

Allied forces advance steadily in Sicily after repulsing a strong Axis counterattack on Augusta. About one-eighth of the island, shown by the shaded section of the map, is already occupied. The planes show location of five of the six airdromes captured by U.S. forces. Messina was almost completely wrecked by Allied bombers.

Yanks drive on Agrigento

By Virgil Pinkley, United Press staff writer

Allied HQ, North Africa –
Allied forces fought off a powerful Axis counterattack led by crack German units in the Augusta sector of Sicily and struck back today in increasingly heavy battles toward Catania on the east coast and Agrigento on the south coast.

U.S. forces on the south coast captured another Axis airdrome, the sixth seized by the Yanks since the start of the invasion five days ago. They also took several important hills, a communiqué announced.

U.S. troops in Sicily have pushed 10 miles north of Ragusa in heavy fighting and captured “the seventh airfield” to fall into Allied hands, the CBS reported today from Allied headquarters in North Africa.

What appeared to be the first major enemy counterblow was struck by strong forces in a drive that penetrated British lines to the Augusta Harbor before being repelled.

For several hours after dawn yesterday, while heavy fighting raged on the Augusta sector, the British were cut off, but they rallied and restored the situation and hammered their way back beyond the town of Brucello, about four miles north of Augusta on the road to Catania, where Allied warships and airplanes continued to pound the enemy rear.

The Axis used heavy tanks in their counterattack and a number were destroyed. Canadian tanks participated in the battle.

U.S. and British parachute and airborne troops carried out successful operations, but Axis resistance was stiffening on most sectors and was especially strong on the edge of the Catania Plain north of Augusta. A major battle for Catania was expected.

The NBC correspondent on a British cruiser off Sicily said that the British had captured Lentini and Carlentini, which close together about 10 miles west of Augusta, and had isolated an Axis division there. The capture was made by paratroopers and Commandos who landed in the enemy rear.

The Axis said that two Allied paratroop operations had been launched in this sector.

Axis artillery was in action against the British north of Augusta, but Italian prisoners said that the enemy was suffering heavy casualties, including many due to moving back through their own minefields.

NBC reported that a British cruiser squadron heavily shelled Catania late yesterday for 35 minutes and broke up enemy efforts to move a big gun train south of Catania.

The British occupied Melilli, which had been bypassed near Augusta.

Observers in London placed the British 8th Army only about 15 miles south of Catania.

The commanding general of the famed Italian Napoli 54th Division and his entire staff were captured by the British.

Yanks advance four miles

U.S. forces on the south coast extended the western flank of the Allied invasion front about four miles in hard fighting. The Americans were now near Agrigento and menaced the main Axis communication lines to the western

The western advance appeared to be a within few miles of Agrigento.

Agrigento is a communications center of 26,000, founded before Christ. Port Empedocle, which is nearby, had been shelled by U.S. warships. The Americans captured several dominating hills on the approaches to Agrigento.

The Sicilian population was reported friendly in most occupied areas, often waving, cheering and giving the V-for-Victory sign to the Allied troops.

In many instances, the Italians surrendered without a serious fight, but German troops fought hard and were disconsolate when captured. Many prisoners were being moved quickly to North Africa because of the food shortage in Sicily, where the Allies have been feeding the population as rapidly as possible.

12,000 prisoners captured

At least 12,000 prisoners have been captured, 8,000 of them by the Americans, the communiqué said, and Allied control of the Mediterranean is so secure that 8,000 of them have already been transferred to Africa.

The airdromes captured by the Americans were those at Comiso, Pachino, Biscari, Licata and two in the Gela area. In addition, the British captured the seaplane base at Syracuse.

Field dispatches indicated that the Allied forces were advancing toward the great central plains of Sicily on a 75-mile point.

Some forces may have already entered the flatlands, especially below the big east coast port of Catania, which was under relentless sea and air bombardment.

Eighth of Sicily seized

More than one-eighth of Sicily was now in Allied hands.

The Germans and Italians were still pushing reinforcements by sea despite heavy raids by Allied bombers and torpedo planes, dispatches said.

Allied planes, along with a British “mosquito fleet” of motor torpedo boats, were peppering the Strait of Messina, shortest route of reinforcement, without respite. Some torpedo boats have penetrated the straits to a point where it is only three miles to hunt out enemy torpedo boats that might harass Allied landings farther south.

An Algiers broadcast recorded by the Exchange Telegraph Agency in London said that Anglo-American-Canadian troops had breached Catania’s defenses and a Madrid report asserted that Allied spearheads had reached the outskirts of the city.

Another Algiers broadcast reported that U.S. troops had advanced nearly 19 miles north from Comiso, airport town seven miles west of Ragusa.

Catania

The approach of the 8th Army under Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery to Catania was indicated by an RAF announcement that the city, second largest in Sicily, was under aerial and naval bombardment “immediately ahead” of British ground forces.

U.S. troops under Lt. Gen. George S. Patton Jr. were pushing a four-pronged advance into the interior and westward along the south coast, the coastal force was believed 13 miles beyond Licata and only 12 miles from Agrigento and Porto Empedocle, where large enemy concentrations have been reported.

North of Licata, another U.S. force was only 15 miles from Caltanissetta, a large enemy base in the central plains.

2 columns drive north

Two other columns were driving north from Gela, some 20 miles east of Licata. One was only 10 miles from Caltagirone, a gateway town to the central plains.

Gen. Sir Harold R. L. G. Alexander, commander of Allied ground forces, in an interview with Mr. Gunther on his return from a visit to Sicily indicated that the invasion was going to schedule and up to program.

Gen. Alexander seemed particularly delighted at the way U.S. and Canadian forces conducted themselves, Mr. Gunther said.

Big air fleet blasts harbor

By Reynolds Packard, United Press staff writer

Allied HQ, North Africa –
Allied air fleets, including 270 bombers from the Northwest African and Middle East Commands, struck pulverizing blows at Messina yesterday, all but completing the destruction of the key Sicilian port, communiqués revealed today.

Two hundred bombers of Lt. Gen. Carl A. Spaatz’s force were joined in the assault on Messina by 70 Liberators from the Middle East. The Liberators dropped more than 400,000 pounds of explosives on the gateway to and from Italy.

The massive raids on Messina, across a two-mile strait from the Italian mainland, topped another 24 hours of non-stop attacks by Allied bombers and fighters blasting out a path of destruction across Sicily in advance of Allied troops smashing northward and westward.

An Italian communiqué reported that Allied planes raided Naples, one of the main reinforcement ports for Sicily, and the Sicilian northwest coast port of Palermo in addition to Messina last night.

Sever route

The around-the-clock attacks on Messina, plus other raids on the mainland ferry terminals of San Giovanni and Reggio Calabria, opposite Messina, and British torpedo boat attacks on channel shipping, were believed virtually to have severed that route of reinforcement and supply for Sicily.

The Allied air forces were also ranging over waters north of Sicily to stem reinforcement from that source. British Beaufighters yesterday torpedoed and blew up a tanker, set fire to a small tanker and probably sank a freighter, bosting the number of enemy vessels sunk in that area in the past three days to 14.

The Allied control of the air is so complete that U.S. and British fighters are operating from newly-captured airdromes in Sicily. Only a few enemy fighters were encountered yesterday, and of these, three were shot down. Three Allied planes were lost.

Set large fires

The 200-plane Northwest African Air Force that hit Messina in relays was spearheaded by Flying Fortresses and also included Mitchells, Marauders and Canadian Wellingtons and P-38 Lightnings running interference.

Large fires sprang up in the wake of the raiders and heavy damage was inflicted on railway yards, ferry ships and oil storage areas, where two heavy explosions occurred. A smoke pall covered the city as the last of the raiders left for the base.

Sandwiched between the Northwest African Command raids was the one by the Liberators of the U.S. 9th Air Force in the Middle East on railway yards. Many direct hits and explosions were observed.

Raid San Giovanni

Another formation of Liberators bombed San Giovanni, on the toe if the Italian boot opposite Messina, scoring hits on oil tanks, customs warehouses, the ferry terminals, a fire station, railway tracks and engine sheds. Two explosions were also observed among harbor installations.

Still another attack on Messina was made Tuesday night by Northwest African night bombers.

Day-and-night raids were made on Enna in central Sicily, where enemy troops have been reported massing for major counterattacks.

South African Baltimores and Bostons teamed with U.S. medium and light bombers in attacking road and military targets. troop concentrations and transport columns in the enemy rear Tuesday night. Some Baltimores attacked Axis positions as the U.S. 7th Army illuminated the entire countryside with flares and incendiaries.

Attack merchant ship

A communiqué said:

Our fighters, operating from North Africa, Pantelleria, Malta and Sicily, maintained their patrols over Allied shipping, the beaches and the battle area and show down three of the small number of enemy aircraft encountered.

A Ju 52 was shot down during attacks on shipping north of Sicily.

British Wellingtons from the Middle East Command attacked a merchant vessel in the Lefkas Channel off the west coast of Greece, but results were not observed.

One plane was lost from all Middle East Command operations.

Escort bombers

Lightning fighters escorting the bombers on the Messina raids encountered only a few Axis fighters, indicating that the pounding of airdromes in Sicily and southern Italy was bearing fruit.

Mitchell medium bombers escorted by Lightnings scored direct bomb hits on both ends of a railway tunnel in the region of Enna, and were believed to have sealed it against use for some time.

Patrols ranged Sicily all day, shooting up trains and trucks. Three locomotives were destroyed, along with 30 railroad cars and dozens of trucks.

[NormanStewart]

Patterson: Conquest of Sicily sure

Washington (UP) –
Acting Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson said today that successful conquest of Sicily is assured beyond a doubt.

He said at a press conference:

There is no doubt about the outcome of the Sicilian operation.

Mr. Patterson revealed that the invasion has proceeded far more rapidly than Allied leaders expected and that casualties are far fewer than anticipated. However, he warned that hard fighting is expected.

The decision to undertake the offensive was reached at the Casablanca Conference between President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill in January. The exact date was decided by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower before the end of the Tunisian operations, Mr. Patterson said.