Victory in Europe Day: 7 important Allied victories against the Nazis

2. The Invasion of Sicily – July 10, 1943

A few months after the Battle of Stalingrad concluded, the Axis forces were dealt another major blow when Allied forces launched an invasion of Sicily known as Operation Husky.

Having already secured control of North Africa, British and American forces launched an amphibious assault on the island, then controlled by Fascist Italy and supported by Germans.

“For the next three days it involved more than 3,000 ships landing over 150,000 ground troops, covered by more than 4,000 aircraft. They were opposed on the island by only two German divisions, as Nazi leadership continued to believe the main assault would come at Sardinia and Corsica,” noted The National WWII Museum.

“In 38 days, the Allies had taken the first major step along that continental road with the liberation of Sicily. The effort cost approximately 24,850 American, British, and Canadian casualties. Although there would be further twists and turns in the liberation of the Italian nation, through Sicily the Allies had successfully delivered a devastating blow against the first fascist government in world history when they toppled Mussolini’s regime.”