July 10, 1943: Aboard over two thousand ships - the largest armada in history - two great Allied Armies readied to invade Sicily. This was Operation Husky, the first step towards winning a toehold in fascist occupied Europe. Among the invaders were 20,000 troops serving in the 1st Canadian Infantry Division and 1st Canadian Tank Brigade - in their first combat experience. Over the next twenty-eight days, the Canadian and other Allied troops carved a path through rugged land despite fierce German opposition.