What Operational Level of War Lesson can be Learned from the Allied Invasion of Sicily
Abstract
This paper discusses the background heading to the decision to plan and execute operation .. Husky, the allied invasion of Sicily during World War II. Although chosen as the next step following North Africa by the Allies, the decision agreed to at the Casablanca Conference in January 1943, was not at the time to be in line with American military opinion for what action was now appropriate for the Allies. American military leadership strongly favored a cross-channel invasion of Northwest Europe as soon as possible in order to defeat Germany and devote attention to the Pacific. However, the British position of an indirect, peripheral approach to wear down Germany prevailed and Operation Husky was born. Husky was a massive undertaking, whose planning was packed with controversy, indecision and a lack of aggressiveness by the allied leadership. Upon execution, these problems manifested themselves further in poor coordination, lack of guidance, service jealousy and ineffective employment of an overwhelming force. The result was a brilliant holding action and withdrawal by the Axis forces on the island and a less decisive victory by the Allies that took 38 days to achieve. Study of the problems experienced in carrying out Operation Husky are particularly relevant today to our United States military forces as we continue to foster and develop jointness as well as plan for multi- lateral operations involving combined employment of our resources with those of Allied nations Operational lessons to be learned from the allied invasion of Sicily
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 17, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA283480
Entities
People
- James E. Prescott
Organizations
- Naval War College