GERMAN SURRENDER IN TUNISIA

 

On May 13 of 1943, the Germans in Tunisia had surrendered, and nearly a quarter of a million prisoners were taken. This did not spell the end of our duty in Tlemcen; there were still patients arriving, including prisoners of war. The Northwest African Air Force, with little opposition, had begun bombing raids on Sicily, destroying air and naval bases in advance of the landings that were to come. Italy’s air force had been decimated in the North African Campaign, and Hitler needed his planes in Russia.

          ALLIED LANDINGS BEGIN ON SICILY

On July 10, the landings began on Sicily. Within a week, we were receiving casualties. By July 21 the Italian units on the coast, and the naval forces guarding the ports had crumbled. General Patton’s Headquarters were set up in the palace of the old Norman kings, and from there he oversaw the campaign in the north. On July 24, western Sicily fell, and soon bombing attacks began on Rome. The first raid was the beginning of the end for Fascism. King Victor Emmanuel III replaced Mussolini with Marshal Bagdolio. It was rumored that Bagdolio favored making an offer of peace. Hitler considered withdrawing troops from the Russian front to bolster the Italian army, but was under too much pressure from the Russians. Troops were rushed from Germany and France instead, and fierce fighting ensued.

The Allies assumed that they were driving the Axis forces back, when in reality the Germans,  deciding that Sicily was all but lost, attempted an orderly retreat from Sicily. The first troops to go were the Italians, whose General, Guzzoni, took the initiative to begin the evacuation. The German command vacillated until Kesselring gave the local commander permission to use his own judgment. Hitler could not bring himself to make the decision. The majority of the German forces- three divisions- crossed the Straits of Messina with all of their weapons and most of their supplies.

The Allied efforts to halt the evacuation were unsuccessful for many reasons: chief among them the reluctance to commit destroyers to the narrow straits where heavy artillery was evident on both sides. It was known that Italy was about to surrender, and the ships would be needed to invade the mainland. This was the first loss of Axis territory in the war. The Allied strategy now was decided upon. An invasion of the Italian mainland would hasten the surrender of Italy, force the Germans to replace Italian troops in other areas, and hinder the buildup of German troops in France. Churchill was determined to follow this course to prepare for "Operation Overlord"--- D Day. Landings in Italy began on September 3, when the British came ashore in Reggio. The Italian armistice was signed on September 3, but news was withheld until September 8, nine hours before the Allied landing at Salerno.

WE LEAVE TLEMCEN

This picture was taken in the Staging Area in North Africa just before we left for Italy.  Never saw anything like it--- rain, mud and very cold. Everything we owned was wet. It was just about the most miserable spot we were ever in, but looking back on it, it seems like it was just a lot of fun and more memorable experiences with friends.  Standing, left to right: S/Sgt. Williamson, M/Sgt. Tupala, T/Sgt. Plzak.  Front: Sgt. Christiano, Sgt. Havemeier and S/Sgt. Metcalf.  We all stayed in this tent..

 

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