Eisenhower by Carlo D'Este

Author:Carlo D'Este
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Published: 2015-10-15T16:00:00+00:00

Indeed, Patton was clearly still stunned over the airborne disaster and Eisenhower’s stinging criticism, and Bradley’s conclusion that he felt “certain that Patton believed that if he caused a ruckus on this day Ike would fire him,” was undoubtedly correct.20

Once the orders were issued, Canadian units encountered stiff resistance while the 45th Division stood helplessly by, unable to come to their aid even though their artillery was within one mile of the highway. What the better-positioned American infantry, with the advantage of close artillery support, could have accomplished with relative ease became a costly ordeal for the Canadians.

Alexander’s unfortunate decision left a bitter legacy. It also granted the German commanders precious time to impart their defensive genius and dictate the timetable for the campaign. “Thereafter, Bradley and Patton assumed what Montgomery always practiced, that under weak leadership senior commanders should interpret their orders to suit themselves. In North West Europe it led to tacit conspiracy to ignore Eisenhower.”21

On July 17 Patton, determined that there be no repeat of Tunisia, arrived unannounced at Alexander’s headquarters in North Africa, seeking a more important role for his army. With the British advance stalled and in serious trouble on the Plain of Catania, and unable to crack the Etna Line (the principal German defenses), Alexander agreed to Patton’s plan to employ II Corps to thrust to Sicily’s northern coast, while the remainder of Seventh Army cleared western Sicily. In reality this was merely a clever ploy by Patton to maneuver Seventh Army into a position to capture Messina. Patton was correct in his belief that any further demeaning of the American fighting role in Sicily would be intolerable, and the only means of preventing it was by means of a great American victory, which in Sicily meant the capture of Messina.

Alexander could have struck a killing blow with Seventh Army where the Etna Line defenses were weakest and incomplete, thus tightening a noose from which the only escape was retreat or surrender. Instead the opportunity was squandered by the capture of Palermo and a secondary sweep into western Sicily, neither of which were of any strategic importance. Greeted by thousands of flag-waving, cheering Sicilians, Patton’s army liberated Palermo on July 21. While the publicity focused on Palermo, Patton began a new offensive along the north coast and across north central Sicily with two infantry divisions. Their destination: Messina.

When the three Allied ground commanders finally met on July 25, Montgomery proposed that Seventh Army rather than his Eighth Army capture Messina. Patton now had the full backing of both Alexander and Montgomery to seize Messina and end the troublesome Sicily campaign. By early August the Germans, skillfully utilizing the mountainous terrain to maximum advantage, had carried out a succession of delaying actions. Although the German formations in Sicily had performed brilliantly, they now faced entrapment in the northeastern corner of the island and had to either evacuate Sicily or surrender. While the Germans’ tactics made American progress a painful and costly experience, plans were implemented

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