OPERATION HUSKY
Operation HUSKY was the code name for the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943. After the Allies gained control of North Africa, Sicily was targeted first in what would become the Italian Campaign. From Sicily, the Allies could launch a campaign to destroy Mussolini's Fascist Italy (supported by the Nazis) which was one-third of the Axis Powers. Southern Europe was considered to be the "soft underbelly" of the European Axis powers, so the decision was made to strike there first rather than mount an attack through France and contending with the defenses of Hitler's "Atlantic Wall". Led by U.S. Gen. George Patton and British Gen. Bernard Montgomery, the Allies cleared Sicily of the Axis powers in 38 days. Operation Husky led to the Allied invasion of Italy.