Sicily 1943 Book Review
By Rachel E. Veres
| Date of Review | March 2013 | Title | Sicily 1943 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Steven J. Zaloga | Publisher | Osprey Publishing |
| Published | 2012 | ISBN | 9781780961262 |
| Format | 96 pages, softbound | MSRP (USD) | $21.95 |
Review
Subtitled "The debut of Allied joint operations", Osprey's Sicily 1943 recounts joint Allied Operation Husky – the July campaign ultimately forcing Italy out of WWII that September.
After a short introduction and convenient chronology, author Steven J. Zaloga highlights the opposing sides. Sections on key commanders, force dispositions and critical plans – including Britain's deception campaign Operation Mincemeat – dominate the first half.
Operation Husky itself consumes the book's second half. Here the author deftly chronicles increasing US and British capabilities to conduct complex combined-arms attacks, such as coupling airborne assaults with amphibious landings. Zaloga details how Sicily not only represented a "watershed in tactical development of combined-arms attacks", but also proved an important test for all future joint Allied operations.
A brief conclusion offers insightful, objective commentary on each side's accomplishments and mistakes.
Photos, maps and charts supplement this fine introduction. Howard Gerrard's illustrations dramatically capture the conflict's intensity. And a bibliography and index complete this informative effort.
Highly recommended.
My sincere thanks to Osprey Publishing for this review sample!