1. Dusty Boot: Africa & Italy

2. Why Africa? To create a second front for the Russians A mass invasion of Europe would take too long and did not have the supplies or numbers Britain did not want to lose the Suez Canal

3. Operation of Torch (North African Invasion)

4. Torch is burning Nov. 1942 General George Patton Jr. - Landing at Casablanca to capture airport “PLAY BALL” “Unconditional surrender” Allies capture Tripoli Tunis capture Axis surrender in North Africa, May 1943

5. Allies land in Italy (Sicily) Bad news: –Germany evacuates most of their troops to the mainland Good news: –Gained experience in Opposed amphibious operations Coalition warfare Mass airborne drops

6. Losing a toe results in a loss of balance U.S. & British forces enter through the toe Little resistance as they moved north Terrain made things more of a challenge (rivers) Field Marshal Kesselring (Germany) –Winter line south of Rome Anzio & Monte Cassino –Rome fell in June

7. Italy considered secondary theatre Last defensive line was not broken until April 1945 Turned more into a civil war