Victorious in North Africa, the Allies turned toward Sicily, launching history's then largest ever amphibious invasion, to begin the assault on Nazi-fortress Europe. The invasion was a success, a great morale-booster for the Allies, a battle that brought fame to General Patton and furthered the reputation of Field Marshal Montgomery, and an important dress rehearsal for the invasion of Normandy to come a year later. But the Allied lost a significant opportunity in Sicily when a one-armed German general, Hans Valentin Hube, the commander of the XIV Panzer Corps, stepped in to mount a brilliant strategic defense. With only four divisions, he successfully tied down two Allied armies, holding off the invaders for thirty-eight crucial days and then escaping with nearly his entire command. Meanwhile, the Nazis were able to occupy Italy - whose government had only recently capitulated - thereby dooming the Allies to a prolonged and fierce battle of attrition up the Italian peninsula.

The great blunder -- Uneasy allies -- The deteriorating axis -- The defenders -- Pantelleria, the plan and the air battles -- The allies approach -- D-Day -- Counterattack and retreat -- Primosole Bridge -- Enter General Hube -- Patton breaks loose -- The battles of the Hauptkampflinie -- The allies close in -- Operation Lehrgang : a Panzer corps escapes.