March 9 Lecture by William "Pat" Schuber

William "Pat" Schuber will deliver a lecture on the war in Sicily and Italy during World War II in which the American and British forces encountered resistance by the Nazi troops.  When the invasion commenced in Sicily (July 1943), the Italian army quickly surrendered and thereafter the American and British troops were left to deal solely with the Nazis.

Churchill deemed the Italian invasion, even after the war, as a worthwhile endeavor and essentially an attack on "soft underbelly" of the Nazis.  It was far from that.  Ask any survivor of Sicily, Anzio or Salerno and they will dissuade you from that viewpoint rather rapidly.  Stand at the Sicily-Rome cemetery where over 8,000 American servicemen are buried and you will agree with American servicemen.

This was a tough struggle.  General Kesselring, commander of the Nazi forces, said in his memoirs that the only way to invade Italy was to start at the top of the boot.  We started at the toe and worked our way up. Rome was not taken until June 5, 1944, the day before D-Day.

This is essentially the same trip taken by John McLaughlin, Rich Schonberg and Miller Bugliari in the summer of 2014.  Pat Schuber covers the same battle sites.   John McLaughlin heard this lecture by Pat Schuber some time in the fall of 2013 and immediately booked him for this lecture.  This is a lecture that no one should miss.