‘It must be remembered when considering the frame of mind in which we set out on this expedition that this was the first large-scale amphibious operation in the war against a defended coastline… No care was too great to ensure our first landing in Europe should be successful beyond doubt.’
So wrote General Sir Harold Alexander when reflecting on planning the invasion of Sicily in 1943, and it is this theme that underlies James Holland’s brilliant new book, Sicily ’43.
Holland has written a series of nine excellent campaign histories over the last few years, looking at fighting World War II in a new light. In each, he plays up British and American martial successes against Axis failings in Europe. And each book represents the type of military history written, as it were, from the bottom up.
