Posts Tagged ‘Sicily 1943’
Stars in the Sicilian campaign: Alan Whicker
Holding his camera over his head, Alan Whicker waded ashore near Pachino from a tank landing craft soon after dawn on 10 July 1943. “I took my first sodden steps on the long march towards the Alps,” Whicker wrote in his 2005 book Whicker at War. “So far, so surprisingly good…Standing tense on that soft…
Read MoreStars in the Sicilian campaign: Christopher Lee
At six foot five inches, it was almost impossible for Christopher Lee to go unnoticed and that helped make him a star best known for playing the part of Count Dracula 10 times. But in the Second World War, he played a less obtrusive role as an RAF intelligence officer which brought him to Sicily…
Read MorePhoto portrait initiative to mark the 80th anniversary of Operation Husky
Canadian Agira CWGC War Cemetery with photo markers Photographic portraits of Americans, Britons and Canadians who died in Sicily in 1943 are to be placed in the island’s war cemeteries this July as part of the 80th anniversary commemorations to mark Operation Husky. The project was initiated in 2019 by Jimmy Hilgen, a police sergeant…
Read MoreCatania to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Sicily landings
A series of events are planned in Catania in July to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings in Sicily, the city’s Museo Storico dello Sbarco in Sicilia 1943 has announced. They include the Sicily 1943: Peace, Security &Prosperity conference on 7-8 July which will tell the story of the landings and how peace in Sicily was…
Read MoreHow Operation Husky in July 1943 made Overlord possible in June 1944
Allied commanders of Operation Husky in Tunisia in 1943. Commander-in-chief General Dwight Eisenhower (left), Air Commander-in-chief Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder (second left) and General Montgomery (not in the picture) were commanders in Operation Overlord. General Harold Alexander, land forces commander in Husky (second right), remained in Italy. (© IWM CNA 1075) AT a…
Read MoreThe USAAF bombing raids on Palermo in January 1943
Palermo, capital of Sicily, has been shaped by events that changed the course of Europe’s history. But an impact of an unprecedented kind followed Italy’s declaration of war against Britain and France on 10 June 1940. Palermo was one of the first targets of French bombing raids at the end of that month. Starting in…
Read MoreNational Italian memorials planned
Work has started on a plan to develop Second World War national parks and sites across Italy to commemorate the sacrifices made during the conflict. The first phase of the plan involves research in Sicily and creating a supporting network on the island. That will begin at the Sicily 1943: Peace, Security & Prosperity conference…
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