The Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943 helped trigger the collapse of Benito Mussolini’s government and, within weeks, Italy’s surrender to the Allies. But the surrender of Italy did not mean the end of the war there. German forces quickly moved to occupy key areas of the country and began a determined defense that would turn the Italian Campaign into one of the longest and hardest-fought campaigns in Western Europe.
Military historian Colin Heaton joins Veterans Breakfast Club to examine German military strategy in Sicily and Italy in 1943–1944. What did German leaders hope to accomplish as the Allies pushed onto the Italian mainland? How did their strategy change after Italy left the Axis? And how did disagreements among senior German commanders shape the defense of the peninsula?
We’ll look at the men who developed and carried out that strategy—from senior commanders such as Albert Kesselring to the army, corps, and division commanders fighting on the ground—and explore how German tactical decisions affected major battles including Salerno, Monte Cassino, and Anzio.
We’ll also ask why German forces, despite repeatedly slowing and frustrating the Allied advance, ultimately could not hold Italy.
Join us for a close look at command, strategy, and battlefield decision-making in the German defense of Italy during World War II.
