The government's response is probably the same as yours: "What the hell is Operation Husky?"
Before answering that question let me make a comment on the strategy of warfare. Any competent analyst will tell you that one of the the worst strategies in war is to fight on more than one front. To understand that, let's look at pro-wrestling, which is essentially staged war. A one-on-one fight is essentially fair, but what happens when two teamed wrestlers get in the ring against one opponent? The opponent is held by one guy while his partner grabs a chair to brain the opponent. Fairness goes out the window. What would happen if you had three guys on one?
During the second world war, the Germans made the mistake of trying to defend against the invasion of Europe, through France, by the allies while at the same time fighting the Russians three thousand miles away. Two on one. But what if the Germans had to fight on a third front? Enter Operation Husky.
You will be able to read more on Operation Husky on Mysteriesofcanada.com pretty soon but suffice to say that the allies, including the largest contingent of Canadians, came ashore in Sicily and fought the Italians and Germans all the way north into Italy and on to Rome. The Italians were the first Axis country to fall and when they did the Germans had to move a large number of their forces out of France and into Italy to stop the Allies. Three on one!The Italian campaign was a crucial part of the war. It helped draw German troops away from France and enabled a successful Normandy campaign. So why is it ignored by our government, our historians and in our literature.
My father always said that he landed in Sicily in 1943 and walked all the way to Holland before coming home in 1945. He did not talk much about the Italian campaign. It was not a cake walk as described by many historians and I guaranty that I will do everything in my power to make sure that it is not just forgotten at least in Canada.
