1943 Allied Force Headquarters Road Map of Sicily

Manuscript notations follow the 3rd Infantry Division across Sicily from Licata to Messina.

An exceptional World War II battlefield artifact, this is a 1943 Allied Force Headquarters road map of Sicily, issued in preparation for Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of the island. Manuscript annotations trace the advance of the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division from its July 10 landing at Licata through the capture of Palermo and the final drive toward Messina, transforming a restricted military planning map into a firsthand record of the Sicilian Campaign.

A Closer Look

Coverage is restricted to Sicily, with cities and towns identified throughout the island. Additional symbols mark seaplane bases, major and minor airfields, and emergency landing grounds. Mount Etna, Sicily's celebrated active volcano, is prominently depicted between Messina and Catania.

Insets in the lower-left corner and along the right border provide detailed plans of Agrigento, Palermo, Catania, Messina, and Syracuse. Important roads through each city are highlighted in red. A notice along the upper border reads, 'For Use of War Air and Navy Depts Only. Not for Distribution.'

Manuscript Notations: The 3rd Infantry Division and Operation Husky

Manuscript annotations in pen strongly suggest that this example was carried or retained by a member of the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division, possibly a soldier who participated in Operation Husky. The first notation, July 10, 1943 Licata, records the date and location of the division's landing on Sicily's southern coast.

According to the division's official history, its initial objectives were the port of Licata and the nearby airfield. A manuscript line proceeds from Licata to Naro, occupied by elements of the 3rd Infantry Division on July 12, and then continues toward Agrigento, captured on July 17. After securing Agrigento, the division was ordered north toward Palermo. The annotated route passes through Casteltermini and Misilmeri before reaching Palermo, which the division liberated on July 22. The divisional advance occurred along two principal axes, although only one is represented here.

Following several days of rest in Palermo, the 3rd Infantry Division was ordered east to relieve the 45th Infantry Division during the advance toward Messina. This transfer is recorded by the notation Relieved 45th Div. July 30. From there, the manuscript line follows the division's progress along Sicily's northern coast. Axis forces completed their evacuation across the Strait of Messina on August 16, and the 3rd Infantry Division occupied positions near Messina when the city fell to the Allies on August 17.

Operation Husky and the Battle of Sicily

Operation Husky began on the night of July 9-10, 1943, with coordinated airborne and amphibious landings by British, American, and Canadian forces. The Allies secured Sicily after a six-week campaign, reopening Mediterranean shipping routes and establishing a base for the invasion of mainland Italy.

The campaign also produced far-reaching political and strategic consequences. On July 25, with Allied forces advancing across Sicily, Benito Mussolini was removed from power by King Victor Emmanuel III following a vote of no confidence by the Fascist Grand Council. Germany subsequently strengthened its military presence in Italy and the Balkans, diverting men and resources from other theaters and compelling Adolf Hitler to defend an increasingly broad southern European front.

Publication History and Census

This map was compiled by the U.S. Army's 649th Engineer Battalion under the supervision of the Survey Directorate of Allied Force Headquarters, drawing upon a Geographical Section, General Staff map. We are aware of only a handful of surviving examples; the manuscript annotations tracing the 3rd Infantry Division's advance make the present example unique.

Condition

Good. Wear along original fold lines. Slight loss at some fold intersections. Verso repairs to fold separations.

References

Taggart, D. G., History of the Third Infantry Division in World War II (Washington: Infantry Journal Press) 1947.