The amphibious assaults were to be supported by naval gunfire, as well as tactical bombing, interdiction and close air support by the combined air forces. The plan for Operation Husky called for the amphibious assault of Sicily by two Allied armies, one landing on the south-eastern and one on the central southern coast. Main article: Operation Husky order of battle The collapse of Italy necessitated German troops replacing the Italians in Italy and to a lesser extent the Balkans, resulting in one fifth of the entire German army being diverted from the east to southern Europe, a proportion that would remain until near the end of the war. The German leader, Adolf Hitler, 'canceled a major offensive at Kursk after only a week, in part to divert forces to Italy,' resulting in a reduction of German strength on the Eastern Front. These events led to the Italian leader, Benito Mussolini, being toppled from power in Italy on 25 July, and to the Allied invasion of Italy on 3 September. Strategically, Husky achieved the goals set out for it by Allied planners the Allies drove Axis air, land and naval forces from the island and the Mediterranean sea lanes were opened for Allied merchant ships for the first time since 1941. Husky began on the night of 9–10 July 1943, and ended on 17 August. To divert some of the Axis forces to other areas, the Allies engaged in several deception operations, the most famous and successful of which was Operation Mincemeat. It began with a large amphibious and airborne operation, followed by a six-week land campaign, and initiated the Italian Campaign. Operation Husky was a major campaign of World War II in which the Allies invaded the island of Sicily and took it from the Axis powers ( Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany).

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