August 1943

Sicily

During the early morning Gen Fries decides to withdraw his 29th Panzer Grenadiers, leaving the remnants of the Assietta Division on San Fratello Ridge to cover his withdrawal. Meanwhile the American landing force, units of the 3rd Division, having sailed through the night, lands near Sant' Agata, 9 miles east of San fratello at 3:15am. By 4:08am all soldiers are ashore. Advancing toward the coastal road they discover the 29th Panzer Grenadier Division is gone, almost. A bridge 1 mile east of the Americans had been knocked out by a US destroyer shell, which blew up the bridge having already been wired for demolition. Col Bernard's 2nd Battalion quickly overruns the mass of confusion capturing 350 Germans as well as 4 panzers and about 60 other vehicles. Capt Schneider's 2nd Battalion of the 71st Panzer Grenadier Regiment is also cut off, but Schneider swings his troops inland to avoid the coast road. Feeling abandoned by the Germans the Italians of the Assietta Division choose to surrender in droves rather than die for the Germans. Truscott links up with Bernard late in the afternoon.

The 47th Infantry of Eddy's 9th Division, having replaced the 1st, takes Cesaro on the road to Randazzo. The 60th Infantry captures Monte Camolato, 6 miles nortwest of Cesaro.

In the British 8th Army's XXX Corps area, Bronte falls to the 78th Division.