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The Bloody Road to Catania - A History of XIII Corps in Sicily, 1943 (Paperback)
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The Bloody Road to Catania - A History of XIII Corps in Sicily, 1943 (Paperback)
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List price R594
Loot Price R494
Discovery Miles 4 940
You Save R100 (17%)
Expected to ship within 9 - 15 working days
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The Bloody Road to Catania commences with the landings by XIII
Corps on 10 July 1943 (Operation Husky) between Avola and
Cassibile. The inland advance occurred along the eastern coastal
road on the invasion's right flank. The countryside consisted of
winding narrow roads flanked by high hills. this terrain favoured
the defence and skilful German forces took full advantage of it.
Road bridges were held to the last man. These focal points were
essential to Montgomery's plan of attack. To reinforce the
hard-pressed Herman Goering Division, troops of 1st
Fallschirmjaeger Division were air dropped into Sicily on 13th
July. These were tough paratroopers who had served in Russia and
their inclusion into the German order of battle was a great boost
to the defenders. The same night the Fallschirmjaegers were dropped
into Sicily, the British 1st Parachute Brigade was dropped on to
the same landing zone as that of their enemy equivalents.
Paratroopers of both sides fought it out near a bridge called
Primosole, which eventually fell to the British in the face of
furious counter-attacks by the Herman Goering Division. The 50th
Northumbrian Division had great difficulty in fighting its way
forward and, despite earlier gains, the beleaguered British paras
abandoned the key bridge after sustaining enormous casualties. The
50th Division's supporting armour arrived at Primosole and, at the
sight of the approaching tanks, the Germans withdrew to the
northern bank. The advancing XIII Corps, having fought their way
forward in terrific heat and dust, were in no fit state to mount an
attack, but Montgomery would not let them rest as the vital
Primosole junction was holding up the Eighth Army advance. The
151st (Durham) Brigade attacked the next day and were cut down like
corn before the scythe by German paras. For three days the south
bank vineyards echoed to the sounds of battle as Durhams and
Germans engaged in fierce close quarter fighting. Once over the
Bridge Montgomery wanted XIII Corps to press on to Catania
airfield. Numerous attacks were launched, but all ended in disaster
and stalemate on the Catania Plain. Montgomery then launched XXX
Corps in a left hook around Mount Etna This resulted in numerous
other costly actions until they too came to a halt. By now the
Germans were preparing to withdraw towards Messina. As they did so,
weary British units pressed forward. Withdrawing in stages, the
Germans fought delaying actions wherever possible. By early August,
the Germans began 'Operation Lehrgang', a plan to evacuate all
German forces across the Strait of Messina to the Italian mainland.
The retirement was conducted with cool efficiency and precision,
Allied naval and air forces offering no effective response.
Justifiably termed 'A glorious retreat' by the Germans, for the
Allies the invasion of Sicily was a bitter victory that would
return to haunt them. Thus, thousands of battle-hardened German
troops and war material would be redeployed to face the Allies at
Cassino, Anzio and Salerno.
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