Written by zachor_foundation on May 7, 2014
German forces launched a massive offensive at Kursk, in what would be their last attempt to breach the central front. Three German armies attempted to press from the Urals to Belgorod, but were halted by the strength and depth of the Soviet defense, which had achieved superiority in numbers and equipment. On July 10, the German forces were blocked north of Kursk after advancing only five miles and losing 25,000 men, 200 tanks, and 200 aircraft. Russian forces began a
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Written by zachor_foundation on May 7, 2014
The invasion of Sicily began at 2:45 a.m. on July 10, as American and British forces landed on the southeastern shore of the island. The Allies considered the capture of Sicily a prerequisite for an assault on Italy. The German and Italian forces on the island (350,000 men in all) were taken by surprise and actually put up little resistance. Palermo fell to General Patton on July 22. The last stage in the offensive was found unnecessary, because the invasion
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Written by zachor_foundation on May 7, 2014
The landing of Allied forces in Sicily in July 1943 prompted the downfall of the Fascist Italian leader and Hitler´s ally, Benito Mussolini. On July 24, 1943, the Fascist High Council, which had not met since the war began, summoned Mussolini to a meeting at which King Victor Emmanuel was appointed in his stead as commander-in-chief of the Italian armed forces. The next day, the king dismissed Mussolini from all of his functions, had him arrested, and sent him to
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