Figure 1.--The photo was taken during the American Sicilian campaigny. It was taken in Sciacca, a town on the southwestern coast. The Americans moving west entered in the town on July 20, 1943. The Italian Regia Aeronautica (Royal Air Force) had a base near Sciacca. Seizing Italian air bases meant that The Allies could very rapidly bring in their air units. Sciacca is a town and comune in the province of Agrigento which was the gateway to Palermo. Tw days later, Patton entered Palermo.

The British western flank was to be protected by the Americns. Patton from the start did not appreciate the supporting role he was given. The Americans were assigned to seize and secure airfields and protect the British flank as they drove north. The Americans took Niscemi. Then the campaign planned by Montgomery began to change. The British drive north bogged down along the coastyal road. Montgimery demanded Higway 124 and Alexander gave it to him. Patton was furious as this meant hr had no way of moving north to engage the Germans. Some reports suggest that Alexander ordered Patton to take Palermo at the northwestern tip of the island. Others say that Patton exceeded his orders in driving toward Palermo. There is no doubt that Patton immediately began to assess how his army could play a more real role in the Sicly campaign. And what caught his attention was Palermo. This was not only Sicily's capital, but a storied city in history. And Patton had a sence both for publicity and history. He immediated realized that taking Palermo would not only be a publicity bonanza for him and the the American Seventh Army, but it give his army a major port to supply his army and a fromt go attack the Germans along the northern coastal road. He appararently got Alexander to sanction a 'reconnaissance' probe toward the town of Agrigento, several miles west of the 3rd Division's front line. General Truscott entered the city (July 15). With Agrigento, Patton had an open road into lightly defended northwestern Sicily. Patton conferred to with Alexander at (July 17). He argued for just that. Patton had two objectives in mind. First he wanted to cut loose from Monthomery and the Eighth Army and launch an independent American drive with I Corps on Palermo. Second he wanted to order Bradley's II Corps north to the coast cutting Sicly in half. Alexander had reservations, by reluctantly agreed. He then had had second thoughts and sent Patton revised orders, instructing Patton not to divide his army and to proceed due north in force and not to lose contct with 8th Army's flank. There was not to be any move west. Meanwhile Patton organized the 2d Armored, 82d Airborne, and 3rd Infantry Divisions into a provisional corps under Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Keyes. What followed was a 100-mile dash to the historic Sicilian capital. Palermo was in American hands after only 72 hours. Patton ignored Alexander's message claiming that it had been 'garbled' in transmission. And by the time Alexander's instructions could be 'clarified' Patton was on the outskirts of Palermo. Patton is said to have asked Alexander if he wanted him to give Palermo back? That is perhaps apocryphal, but conveys th drama involved. Patton entered Palrmo (July 22). Patton's Seventh Army had met little opposition from Italian units during its sweep through western Sicily. Guzzoni had moved the powerful German 15th Panzer Grenadier Division to central Sicily soon after the invasion. As a result, the only forces left in western Sicily were dispirited and poorly armed Italians who had no desire to fight, especially fight Americans who they liked. Ironically for the Axis, the Italian troops felt more friendship toward the Americans than their German allies. Gen. Bradley's II Corps rapidly pushed north to cut the island in two east of Palermo. The result was Seventh Army controlled all of western Sicily (July 24). They captured 53,000 Italian soldiers mostof whom were more than happy to be out of the war. The cost was the loss of 272 men. And he now possessed access to the northern coastal route and the ability to open a new front against the Germans and Messina. This forced the Germans to divide their already limited forces. Patton to avoid the German strong points set up along the narrow coastal road. Pattom countered with a series of limited amphibious operations as he drove east.

Created: 9:31 PM 6/8/2017
Last up dated: 9:31 PM 6/8/2017