| With Palermo and Catania in Allied hands, the final race to Messina was on. The Americans attempted to cut off the German retreat with several amphibious assaults while the British marched north. On August 17, 1943, the US 3rd Infantry Division gave the "all clear" from Messina. From July 10-August 17, the Allies had routed the Germans and Italians in Sicily, watched as Benito Mussolini fell from power, and captured numerous POWs. Over 100,000 Axis soldiers escaped across to Italy, where the next stage of the campaign would be fought. |
