<P> The first stepping stone for the Allied liberation of Europe was , in Prime Minister Winston Churchill 's words , the `` soft underbelly '' of Europe on the Italian island of Sicily . Launched on 9 July 1943 , Operation Husky was , at the time , the largest amphibious operation ever undertaken . The American seaborne assault by the U.S. 7th Army landed on the southern coast of Sicily between the town of Licata in the west , and Scoglitti in the east and units of the 82nd airborne division parachuted ahead of landings . Despite the elements , the operation was a success and the Allies immediately began exploiting their gains . On 11 August , seeing that the battle was lost , the German and Italian commanders began evacuating their forces from Sicily to Italy . On 17 August , the Allies were in control of the island , U.S. 7th Army lost 8,781 men ( 2,237 killed or missing , 5,946 wounded , and 598 captured ) . </P>
<P> The first stepping stone for the Allied liberation of Europe was , in Prime Minister Winston Churchill 's words , the `` soft underbelly '' of Europe on the Italian island of Sicily . Launched on 9 July 1943 , Operation Husky was , at the time , the largest amphibious operation ever undertaken . The American seaborne assault by the U.S. 7th Army landed on the southern coast of Sicily between the town of Licata in the west , and Scoglitti in the east and units of the 82nd airborne division parachuted ahead of landings . Despite the elements , the operation was a success and the Allies immediately began exploiting their gains . On 11 August , seeing that the battle was lost , the German and Italian commanders began evacuating their forces from Sicily to Italy . On 17 August , the Allies were in control of the island , U.S. 7th Army lost 8,781 men ( 2,237 killed or missing , 5,946 wounded , and 598 captured ) . </P>
when did the us invaded europe in ww2
when did the us invaded europe in ww2
9 July 1943
9 July 1943