Chapter 26
Operation "Tag Bolden"
The 1st of January 1943 Denmark plans to launch a risky Naval Invasion of Sicily, Starting from the Western part of the Island southwest of Palermo and will push all the way to the east, while Another Force will invade Messina. Taking Sicily will weaken the Italians and give a springboard to southern Italy, potentially opening a new front in Europe. But the Plan will take 3 weeks to plan and Denmark needs convoys too, they will request the British and Americans for convoys.
The Plan is to secure 2 ports and then start taking other ports, to cut the Italians from Sicily.
The Request for convoys have been declined by both the Brittish and Americans.
The 8th of January 1943 The Invasion of Messina have begun, 2 danish Divisions are expected to arrive in 4 days and 5 hours.
The 10th of January 1943 The Italians are defending Messina too well for the Danes to take the port, a order to Retreat have been given
Thankfully, no Danish soldiers died, as the attack was aborted before the Battle even begun
The Danish invasion force, have safely arrived at Malta, preparations to invade Sicily from the west are now been executed, they are expected to arrive in 2 days and 20 hours (from 21:00)
The 17th of January 1943 Danish Forces have landed in Sicily, Inteligence suggest, that the Italians have left Western Sicily, for unknown reasons, the Danish Forces are immediately moving into Plaermo. More Danish Divisions are underway, but Denmark do not have enough manpower to make a costly offensive.
You can't say the Italians are bad at defending ports, if they don't guard them.
Italian Cavalry tried to defend Palermo from advancing danish divisions, they where too disorganised to fight and took some casualties before retreating. They did not manage to even wound a danish Soldier.
Well the Danes are some of the soldiers fears the most, due to the stories from Norway and recently Ehtiopia, even though the Danish army can't reinforce its army.
The 19th of January 1943 Danish forces have entered Palermo and is moving into the mountains, before the Italians can entrench themselves and also to secure a defensive position, in the mountains of Sicily. With Danish Control of Palermo Denmark now controls most industry in Sicily and the Danish army have ordered a gentle occupation, as the Danish army can't afford fighting partisans.
The Army is pushing and is reciving reinforcements, but it is likely a matter of time, before the Italians send their army, to oppose the Danish invasion.
The Front in Sicily have now stagnated and both sides are now digging in and are planing offensives, Denmark lost a lot of men, But did take about half of Sicily, the Italians sadly controls the mountains, making any further advances difficult for the Allies.
Will this Naval invasion fail like all the others or will the Allies be able to hold out, against the might of the Italian army?
American forces, managed to secure a port south of Messina, if the Italians lose Messina, Sicily will be secured for the Allies.
The Stakes in Sicily are getting really big. Both sides have commited reletively large forces to the Island.
Danish forces launches an attack along the southern coast of Sicily, in order to Unite with the Americans in the East.
If the Danish attack is a success, all allied forces on the Island will be on a single front instead of 2.
The 6th of February 1943 The offensive was a failure and Denmark lost a lot of men in the faiiled offensive.
The Allies have too many soldiers in Sicily, than they can effectively supply, hampering the danish assault.
