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Sicily, 1943

The Allied Invasion of Sicily, Summer 1943.Created by: PICRYLDated: 1943
An Italian seaplane on a Sicilian beach guarded by a British soldier
The Allied invasion of Sicily, code-named Operation Husky, began before dawn on July 10, 1943, with combined air and sea landings involving 150,000 troops, 3,000 ships and 4,000 aircraft and 600 tanks.

Allied troops encountered little resistance. The Axis defense of Sicily was weakened by losses the German and Italian armies had suffered in North Africa, in casualties as well as the several hundred thousand troops captured at the end of the campaign.

On July 25, the day after Mussolini’s arrest, Italian troops began withdrawing from Sicily. As July turned to August, Patton, and Montgomery and their armies battled mostly against German troops pushing the Axis forces until most were trapped in a northeast corner of the island.

After 38 days of fighting, the U.S. and Great Britain successfully drove German and Italian troops from the island. On August 17, 1943, Patton, expecting to fight one final battle, was surprised to learn that the enemy forces had disappeared. The battle for Sicily was complete, but German losses had not been severe, and the Allies’ failure to capture the fleeing Axis armies undermined their victory.
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1944
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1944
299 Media in collection ∙ page 1 of 3
Inferno. Sicilian invasion. An enemy bomber scored a direct hit on this LST setting her aflame when she was about fifty yards from shore and had just jockeyed into position to discharge her cargo. The deck above is loaded with trucks, other vehicles and men who clamber down ropes to escape the flames. Troops stranded in the belly of the craft wait to be taken off the ramp by amphibious "ducks," the seagoing invasion trucks

Inferno. Sicilian invasion. An enemy bomber scored a direct hit on thi...

Digging in. Sicilian invasion. A shore party digs in on the beach and its radio operator sets up this portable equipment to make and maintain contact with ships off shore. In the distance an LCI lands troops under fire from hidden enemy pillboxes

Digging in. Sicilian invasion. A shore party digs in on the beach and ...

The first wave. Sicilian invasion. "H" hour of the "D" day draws near and the first wave of men to invade Sicily prepare to debark from Allied transports lying four miles off shore. Landing boats, swung to deck level, are loaded with men and equipment. After they are lowered into the sea, cables are unhooked, the boats are cast off, and engines are started. They circle slowly in formation until the signal to head in is given. A control boat, between the transports and the beach, directs the men to shore. Fires, resulting from Allied naval and air bombardment, burn brightly along the coast and spasmodic enemy anti-aircraft fire meets fierce retaliation frm Allied destroyers

The first wave. Sicilian invasion. "H" hour of the "D" day draws near ...

Invasion craft. Sicilian invasion. In an Allied invasion craft bound for the beach at Sicily, steel helmeted men huddle together. Ahead lies the enemy and, for some, death

Invasion craft. Sicilian invasion. In an Allied invasion craft bound f...

Prelude (Sicilian invasion). Troops of the 45th Infantry Division, aboard an LST during the closing days of the Sicilian campaign, get some sleep an hour before they are to make scheduled landings behind enemy lines

Prelude (Sicilian invasion). Troops of the 45th Infantry Division, abo...

Palermo (vicinity), Sicily. Fishing boats in the harbor

Palermo (vicinity), Sicily. Fishing boats in the harbor

Palmero (vicinity), Sicily. A family repairing nets

Palmero (vicinity), Sicily. A family repairing nets

Repairing Sicilian roads. The Germans in retreat demolished most of the main highways. Allied military is working around the clock in an effort to repair them

Repairing Sicilian roads. The Germans in retreat demolished most of th...

Syracuse (vicinity), Sicily. A girl standing in the doorway of her makeshift home in the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre

Syracuse (vicinity), Sicily. A girl standing in the doorway of her mak...

Sicilian girl who tends the gates at the railroad crossing

Sicilian girl who tends the gates at the railroad crossing

Sicilian workmen breaking stone to be used in repairing the roads demolished by the Germans in retreat

Sicilian workmen breaking stone to be used in repairing the roads demo...

A Sicilian farmer

A Sicilian farmer

During the first few days after the Germans had been driven from Sicily, the people were obliged to live in makeshift homes, such as this ancient Roman amphitheatre. Now they are returning to their own homes, rebuilding, refurbishing, and starting life anew

During the first few days after the Germans had been driven from Sicil...

British equipment and troops repairing Sicilian roads demolished by the Germans

British equipment and troops repairing Sicilian roads demolished by th...

Sicilians drawing water from the town fountain

Sicilians drawing water from the town fountain

The court, composed of two American majors and one British Royal Air Force squadron leader, which tried Sicilian civilians for starting a riot resulting in the death of several townsfolk

The court, composed of two American majors and one British Royal Air F...

Syracuse (vicinity), Sicily. Roman ruins

Syracuse (vicinity), Sicily. Roman ruins

Castel Mola (vicinity), Sicily. A mountain and sea view to be seen from the castle. One of the peacetime attractions visited by the British Eighth Army on their day off

Castel Mola (vicinity), Sicily. A mountain and sea view to be seen fro...

An art handed down from father to son is weaving fish nets. Once again this Sicilian sets up his business (a chair and a net stand) in the warm sun. British soldiers are interested onlookers

An art handed down from father to son is weaving fish nets. Once again...

A Sicilian reading the new labor law established by the Allied military government for his country

A Sicilian reading the new labor law established by the Allied militar...

Every day after the Germans were driven out of Sicily country folk reappeared from their hill hideouts and returned to their homes

Every day after the Germans were driven out of Sicily country folk rea...

Palermo (vicinity), Sicily. Holding a net with the toes while sewing it

Palermo (vicinity), Sicily. Holding a net with the toes while sewing i...

French-Canadian troops in Sicily, with French speaking Italians. The Italian soldier (center) is a veteran of many Italian engagements and is now a member of a local fire fighting outfit in a small village

French-Canadian troops in Sicily, with French speaking Italians. The I...

Sicilian girl who tends the gates at the railroad crossing

Sicilian girl who tends the gates at the railroad crossing

Sicilian farmers working in a field

Sicilian farmers working in a field

Palermo (vicinity), Sicily. Holding a net with the toes while sewing it

Palermo (vicinity), Sicily. Holding a net with the toes while sewing i...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Notice of labor regulations established by the Allied military government for Sicilians

Notice of labor regulations established by the Allied military governm...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

An Italian seaplane on the Sicilian beach guarded by a British soldier

An Italian seaplane on the Sicilian beach guarded by a British soldier

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Palermo, Sicily. Orchestra broadcasting a program for the local people

Palermo, Sicily. Orchestra broadcasting a program for the local people

Lieutenant Robert "Rocky" Byrnes, twenty-six, Saint Louis, Missouri, flying with the 64th Squadron of the 57th Fighter Group, returning after destroying three German Messerschmitt-109s in aerial victory over the Sicilian straits on April 18, in which the 57th United States Fighter Group of the 9th Air Force destroyed seventy-four enemy planes

Lieutenant Robert "Rocky" Byrnes, twenty-six, Saint Louis, Missouri, f...

Getting out the newspaper published by and for Sicilians

Getting out the newspaper published by and for Sicilians

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Messina (vicinity), Sicily. People returning to their homes after the departure of the Germans

Messina (vicinity), Sicily. People returning to their homes after the ...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Syracuse (vicinity), Sicily. Ruins of a Roman amphitheatre with U.S. Army jeeps in the background

Syracuse (vicinity), Sicily. Ruins of a Roman amphitheatre with U.S. A...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Palermo, Sicily. Monreale Cathedral

Palermo, Sicily. Monreale Cathedral

Reading a newspaper published by and for Sicilians

Reading a newspaper published by and for Sicilians

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Castel Mola (vicinity), Sicily. A mountain and sea view to be seen from the castle. One of the peacetime attractions visited by the British Eighth Army on their day off

Castel Mola (vicinity), Sicily. A mountain and sea view to be seen fro...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Agrigento, Sicily. Ruins of Greek temples

Agrigento, Sicily. Ruins of Greek temples

Syracuse (vicinity), Sicily. A girl standing in the doorway of her makeshift home in the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre

Syracuse (vicinity), Sicily. A girl standing in the doorway of her mak...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Castel Mola (vicinity), Sicily. British Eighth Army officers and men visiting some of Sicily's peacetime attractions

Castel Mola (vicinity), Sicily. British Eighth Army officers and men v...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Messina, Sicily. Workers outside the labor office where both skilled and unskilled are given assignments for the day

Messina, Sicily. Workers outside the labor office where both skilled a...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Notice to Sicilians of the labor regulations established by the Allied military government

Notice to Sicilians of the labor regulations established by the Allied...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

The court, composed of two American majors and one British Royal Air Force squadron leader, which tried Sicilian civilians for starting a riot resulting in the death of several townsfolk

The court, composed of two American majors and one British Royal Air F...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Repairing Sicilian roads demolished by the Germans in retreat

Repairing Sicilian roads demolished by the Germans in retreat

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Palermo (vicinity), Sicily. Fishing boats in the harbor

Palermo (vicinity), Sicily. Fishing boats in the harbor

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Palermo, Sicily. Allied soldiers listening to concert given for them by Palermo symphony orchestra and local vocal artists

Palermo, Sicily. Allied soldiers listening to concert given for them b...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Members of the 64th Squadron of the 57th Fighter Group, which took part in the aerial victory over the Sicilian straits on April 18, in which seventy-four enemy planes were destroyed

Members of the 64th Squadron of the 57th Fighter Group, which took par...

Palermo (vicinity), Sicily. Fishermen preparing for run

Palermo (vicinity), Sicily. Fishermen preparing for run

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

The court, composed of two American majors and one Royal Air Force squadron leader, which tried Sicilian civilians for starting a riot resulting in the death of several townsfolk

The court, composed of two American majors and one Royal Air Force squ...

Annotation on original negative jacket. This image in a jacket marked "Killed" Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washi... more

A young couple on the beach in Sicily. The people are gradually returning to normal recreations

A young couple on the beach in Sicily. The people are gradually return...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Sicilian girl who tends the gates at the railroad crossing

Sicilian girl who tends the gates at the railroad crossing

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Palermo, Sicily. Some of the artists and guests at the concert given by the Palermo symphony orchestra for the allied soldiers

Palermo, Sicily. Some of the artists and guests at the concert given b...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Palermo, Sicily. Soldiers listening to concert given for them by Palermo symphony orchestra and local vocal artists

Palermo, Sicily. Soldiers listening to concert given for them by Paler...

Catania, Sicily. The Allied military government supplies flour for the towns hardest hit by war after all local sources have been exhausted

Catania, Sicily. The Allied military government supplies flour for the...

Flying through an intense barrage of anti-aircraft fire, U.S. Army Air Forces Flying Fortresses B-17s fought off an attacking formation of enemy planes and accomplished their mission, which was to bomb shipping and harbor installations at Palermo, Sicily. A bomb can be seen on its way, while bursts from preceding bombs have wreaked destruction below

Flying through an intense barrage of anti-aircraft fire, U.S. Army Air...

Messina, Sicily. Workmen clearing the streets

Messina, Sicily. Workmen clearing the streets

Palermo, Sicily. Some of the musicians who helped furnish the entertainment at the concert given by the Palermo symphony orchestra for the Allied soldiers

Palermo, Sicily. Some of the musicians who helped furnish the entertai...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Sicilian farmers working in a field

Sicilian farmers working in a field

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

During the first few days after the Germans had been driven from Sicily, the people were obliged to live in makeshift homes, such as this ancient Roman amphitheatre. Now they are returning to their own homes, rebuilding, refurbishing, and starting life anew

During the first few days after the Germans had been driven from Sicil...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Catania, Sicily. Looking at photos and reading the news of life in Allied countries. This is of particular interest to Sicilians because it had been denied them during the Fascist years

Catania, Sicily. Looking at photos and reading the news of life in All...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Messina, Sicily. Workmen clearing the streets

Messina, Sicily. Workmen clearing the streets

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Repairing Sicilian roads. The Germans in retreat demolished most of the main highways. Allied military is working around the clock in an effort to repair them

Repairing Sicilian roads. The Germans in retreat demolished most of th...

Annotation on original negative jacket. This image in a jacket marked "Killed" Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washi... more

A Sicilian farmer riding in a farm cart

A Sicilian farmer riding in a farm cart

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Palermo (vicinity), Sicily. A harbor scene

Palermo (vicinity), Sicily. A harbor scene

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Castel Mola (vicinity). Castle on mountain peak over-looking Taormina and the sea. One of the peacetime tourist attractions visited by the British Eighth Army on a day off. Sicily

Castel Mola (vicinity). Castle on mountain peak over-looking Taormina ...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Syracuse (vicinity), Sicily. The arena with the day's washing spread out to dry

Syracuse (vicinity), Sicily. The arena with the day's washing spread o...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

The 2,000-year-old Sicilian state library, parts of which was badly bombed

The 2,000-year-old Sicilian state library, parts of which was badly bo...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Palermo, Sicily. One American soldier who found his relatives in Sicily was Vincent J. Orivello of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, eating ice-cream at a sidewalk cafe in Palermo with three of his cousins

Palermo, Sicily. One American soldier who found his relatives in Sicil...

Global Conference - Sicily

Global Conference - Sicily

Global Conference - Sicily - FDR Presidential Library 1943 - Video 331 - 8 min s. (791 ft), silent, b & w, 35mm FDR reviews troops with Gen. Eisenhower, later with Generals Patton and Clark. FDR eats lunch in c... more

Sicilian civilians being tried in a court composed of two American majors and one Royal Air Force squadron leader. They were charged with starting a riot which resulted in the death of several townsfolk

Sicilian civilians being tried in a court composed of two American maj...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Repairing Sicilian roads demolished by the Germans in retreat

Repairing Sicilian roads demolished by the Germans in retreat

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Italian civilians working along with the Allied military men, repairing the roads. Sicily

Italian civilians working along with the Allied military men, repairin...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Palermo, Sicily. Monreale Cathedral

Palermo, Sicily. Monreale Cathedral

Small Sicilian girl, sister of the girl who tends the gates at the railroad crossing

Small Sicilian girl, sister of the girl who tends the gates at the rai...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

The 2,000-year-old Sicilian state library, parts of which was badly bombed. The Allied military government is working to keep all possible records intact

The 2,000-year-old Sicilian state library, parts of which was badly bo...

Title and other information from caption card. Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is availabl... more

Small Sicilian girl, sister of the girl who tends the gates at the railroad crossing

Small Sicilian girl, sister of the girl who tends the gates at the rai...

Notice of labor regulations established by the Allied military government for Sicilians

Notice of labor regulations established by the Allied military governm...

The 2,000 year-old Sicilian state library suffered some damage when the Germans were driven from Sicily but a special section of the Allied military government is working to preserve and renovate precious old volumes. This is one section which is still intact and well preserved

The 2,000 year-old Sicilian state library suffered some damage when th...

A band concert for Sicilians and Allied troops

A band concert for Sicilians and Allied troops

Notice to Sicilians of the labor regulations established by the Allied military government

Notice to Sicilians of the labor regulations established by the Allied...

A Sicilian boy carrying water from the town fountain

A Sicilian boy carrying water from the town fountain

Sicilians waiting in line outside a re-opened bank

Sicilians waiting in line outside a re-opened bank

Repairing Sicilian roads demolished by the Germans in retreat

Repairing Sicilian roads demolished by the Germans in retreat

One of the ruins visited by the British Eighth Army officers and men on their day off for sightseeing, in the usual peacetime manner, in Sicily

One of the ruins visited by the British Eighth Army officers and men o...

Messina (vicinity), Sicily. People returning to their homes after the departure of the Germans

Messina (vicinity), Sicily. People returning to their homes after the ...

Messina (vicinity), Sicily. A sign on the road to Messina

Messina (vicinity), Sicily. A sign on the road to Messina

Soldiers leaving cathedral where they attended Mass

Soldiers leaving cathedral where they attended Mass

Palermo (vicinity), Sicily. Fishing boats in harbor preparing for run

Palermo (vicinity), Sicily. Fishing boats in harbor preparing for run

[Tired and foot-weary from his march to Brolo, Sicily, during the invasion of Sicily, Sgt. Norwood Dorman, Benson, North Carolina, falls into the pose of the statue in this memorial to the Italian soldier of World War I] / photo by U.S. Army Signal Corps.

[Tired and foot-weary from his march to Brolo, Sicily, during the inva...

Catania (vicinity), Sicily. A General Sherman tank and a German 88 mm. gun

Catania (vicinity), Sicily. A General Sherman tank and a German 88 mm....

The court, composed of two American majors and one Royal Air Force squadron leader, which tried Sicilian civilians for starting a riot resulting in the death of several townsfolk

The court, composed of two American majors and one Royal Air Force squ...

Notice of labor regulations established by the Allied military government for Sicilians

Notice of labor regulations established by the Allied military governm...

Boys with their sailboat in Sicily. The people are now seeking normal outlets for enjoyment

Boys with their sailboat in Sicily. The people are now seeking normal ...

A temporary U.S. cemetery on Sicily's north coast

A temporary U.S. cemetery on Sicily's north coast

Title from item.

Messina (vicinity), Sicily. People returning to their homes when the German troops had gone

Messina (vicinity), Sicily. People returning to their homes when the G...

After United Nation troops drove out the Germans and the Allied military government set up a new code of human liberty, Sicilians once again enjoyed their holidays without fear of Nazi reprisals

After United Nation troops drove out the Germans and the Allied milita...

Messina (vicinity), Sicily. People returning to their homes after the Germans left

Messina (vicinity), Sicily. People returning to their homes after the ...

Sicilian prisoners of war enroute to their homes

Sicilian prisoners of war enroute to their homes

Palermo (vicinity), Sicily. A harbor scene

Palermo (vicinity), Sicily. A harbor scene

French-Canadian soldiers in Sicily with French speaking Italians

French-Canadian soldiers in Sicily with French speaking Italians

Allied soldiers and Sicilian civilians listening to a band concert

Allied soldiers and Sicilian civilians listening to a band concert