Allies invade Corsica and Sardinia rather than Sicily
- Thread starter tehShifty
- Start date
true, I think Sicily was a necessary goal... maybe a better POD would be "Invading Corsica and Sardinia after Sicily". I can remember reading about this idea somewhere, and the author was promoting it as an option that would have been better than invading Italy. The problem with the latter was that once the Allies made it clear they were going to Italy, the Germans could easily concentrate against them, since the factors of air cover and suitable beaches meant there were few places that the Allies could invade. Thus, the near debacle at Anzio. According to this author, if the Allies had invaded Corsica and Sardinia, it would have forced the Germans to spread out more, since the possible invasion sites would be all along Italy and southern France. No idea if all this is true or not, but the author made a pretty good case for it...
Alex Richards
Donor
In this scenario, I could easily see muiltiple landings to secure Rome, Naples, Florence and Marseilles at the same time.
I agree that the Sardinia option is a valid one - after Sicilly. Before, though some did at the time advocate in - e.g. Mountbatten, but Sicilly has the space for airfields.
The trouble was, it wasn't agreed early enough what to do next. And when it was agreed - when the battle for Sicilly was over, it was too obvious to the Germans where the Allies would land.
Topographically, the western side of Italy was the worst. So 'fix' the German attention on Sicilly, with a slightly lower scale invasion (Montgomery) - secure space for airfields, a right-hook to take the heel of Italy (Patton). Who crosses to the west to block evacuation from and reinforcement to Sicilly, while a follow on landing at Brindisi (?) a small Italian Naval Base north of Tarranto - ultimater objective air bases at Foggia. But with the Allies on the East coast, a greater success at Sicilly, now an opportune time to go for Sardinia - French troops, to be followed by Corsica.
Now, the Germans won't have a clue where the Allies are going next! To South of France, for Rome (by-passing the worst terrain), further along the eastern side of Italy, or across the sea to Yugoslavia!!
The trouble was, it wasn't agreed early enough what to do next. And when it was agreed - when the battle for Sicilly was over, it was too obvious to the Germans where the Allies would land.
Topographically, the western side of Italy was the worst. So 'fix' the German attention on Sicilly, with a slightly lower scale invasion (Montgomery) - secure space for airfields, a right-hook to take the heel of Italy (Patton). Who crosses to the west to block evacuation from and reinforcement to Sicilly, while a follow on landing at Brindisi (?) a small Italian Naval Base north of Tarranto - ultimater objective air bases at Foggia. But with the Allies on the East coast, a greater success at Sicilly, now an opportune time to go for Sardinia - French troops, to be followed by Corsica.
Now, the Germans won't have a clue where the Allies are going next! To South of France, for Rome (by-passing the worst terrain), further along the eastern side of Italy, or across the sea to Yugoslavia!!