Sicily '43

The First Assault on Fortress Europe

By: James Holland

Narrated by: Al Murray

Length: 19 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

From the best-selling author of Normandy ‘44 comes a major new history of one of World War II’s most crucial campaigns.

Code-named Operation HUSKY, the Allied assault on Sicily on 10 July 1943 remains the largest amphibious invasion ever mounted in world history, landing more men in a single day than at any other time. That day, more than 160,000 British, American and Canadian troops were dropped from the sky or came ashore, more than on D-Day just under a year later. It was also preceded by an air campaign that marked a new direction and dominance of the skies by Allies.

The subsequent 38-day Battle for Sicily was one of the most dramatic of the entire Second World War, involving daring raids by special forces, deals with the Mafia, attacks across mosquito-infested plains and perilous assaults up almost sheer faces of rock and scree.

It was a brutal campaign - the violence was extreme, the heat unbearable, the stench of rotting corpses intense and all-pervasive, the problems of malaria, dysentery and other diseases a constant plague. And all while trying to fight a way across an island of limited infrastructure and unforgiving landscape and against a German foe who would not give up.

It also signalled the beginning of the end of the War in the West. From here on, Italy ceased to participate in the war, the noose began to close around the neck of Nazi Germany and the coalition between the United States and Britain came of age. Most crucially, it would be a critical learning exercise before Operation OVERLORD, the Allied invasion of Normandy, in June 1944.

Based on his own battlefield studies in Sicily and on much new research over the past 30 years, James Holland’s Sicily ’43 offers a vital new perspective on a major turning point in World War II. It is a timely, powerful and dramatic account by a master military historian and will fill a major gap in the narrative history of the Second World War.

©2020 James Holland (P)2020 Penguin Audio

BigBadBurt

A fantastic audio book & read brilliantly by Al Murray.
One of the many things I really like about James Holland books is the attention to detail & the unbiased views he puts into every book he writes about WW2

Put up with Al Murray he does come good

As ever James Holland at his best, the earlier part of the book for the background and operational level I found the narrator not up to relaying the emphasis needed, Al is at his best at telling the soldiers' stories which will live with me for a long time

Brilliant

I really enjoyed this book and Al Murray’s narration. So many interesting stories and facts. A much underrated battle.

Fascinating

Really well researched and written, one of Holland's best books - I'd recommend it to anyone with an interest in the Second World War

A Fresh look at the Sicilian Campaign

James & Al bring the Sicilian Campaign vividly to life. A fascinating story well worth hearing.

James Holland once again broadens our understanding of the Second World War, and raise the importance of the Mediterranean theatre.

awesome story of the struggle of war

A brilliant true account well researched and well narrated highly recommended 👍 a must read

And endless list of place names and units

I couldn't finish this. It was just an endless list of place names and units and without a map, it was pretty boring. It might have been boring with a map even, because although the narrator did quite well, he has a thin, reedy voice and he tended to be fairly monotone. There was no excitement.

Another Fascinating History

An excellently researched and executed book, highlighting a part of ww2 that seems little spoken of.

I found it to be a truly fascinating account of the lives of men of all the combatant nations envolved in operations on Sicily.

Once again performed superbly by Al Murray, who you can tell is as enthralled by the history he is narrating as we are.

Great Deatil!

Another great book from James holland, well researched and as always loads of fascinating details. well read by Al

Brilliantly written and researched

As usual James Holland has researched his subject with detail looking for insights that other historians fail to grasp as well. His more sympathetic assessments of events, personalities and perspectives is brilliant. He also makes it all hang together as an entertaining story to keep the listener engaged as well as informed. Brilliantly narrated by Al Murray. A must read for anyone interested in this period of history.