In 1943 Great Britain begins Operation Corkscrew.
Mussolini had lost many battles in its attempts to conquer lands which made Italy look weak while its allies had conquered so much. Their cowardly entrance, as Hitler saw it, into World War II on the 10th of June 1940 was bad enough but Hitler was rapidly loosing patients with his old hero. This was known to the Allies who decided to end the Italian contingent of the Axis powers. They knew one massive defeat would anger the Italian people enough to topple their dictator. The target they proposed was Sicily which they planned to attack on 9th of July 1943.
In the area was the smaller Island of Pantelleria, which had great military significance if the invasion of Sicily would be a success. The radar system and airfields on the island were used by the Luftwaffe giving the Axis great areal superiority in the region and making naval attacks more difficult. Great Britain began an areal bombing campaign of the island from the 8th of May until the 11th of June 1943 and on this day they prepared the landing of their ground troops on the island. The previous night the commander of the Italian garrison on the island had already sought permission to surrender. Mussolini himself gave the order to surrender but denied this when questioned by a much angered Hitler. When the Royal Marines stepped foot on the island the Italian troops surrendered immediately. The island was won and the only British casualty was a man bitten by a mule.
The planned invasion of Sicily went ahead on the 9th of July and by the 17th of August the Allied had captured the island. On the 25th of July 1943 the fascist government met and voted to oust Mussolini, King Victor Emmanuel III had him removed from office and imprisoned. Hitler however still felt loyalty towards his old friend and had him rescued and placed in the safety of German controlled North Italy.
The success of operation corkscrew had more implications than just aiding the removal of Mussolini. Pantelleria was the first successful conquest of the Axis powers. Also without the airfield the sea lanes were open once more to the royal navy allowing for the siege of Malta and access to Asia through the Suez Canal once more.
