Why didn't the allies invade Germany from Italy?

Question

-Since Italy had been occupied by late 1943
-since an invasion via land would be considerably easier
-since the allies could actually get to Berlin before the soviets
-since fuel could be shipped from the middle east and transported to front lines in a faster pace, unlike the expensive and complicated 'Red Ball Express' thing
-since ports and supply chain is already available from the invasion of Italy and don't have to fight and secure those and roads, bridges, like in France
-since there's a chance to end the war sooner, by 1944

I'm no expert in war/strategy/geography/history or anything for that matter ! So, do explain if this is stupid.

Is it because the soviets would cover the east and the allies would invade from west, making Germany fight a two front invasion?
Is it because France needed to be liberated first?
Is it because Germans had strong defenses along their Italy-border-region?
Is it because transporting men and material from US to England to France via ships was easier than to transport them all the way to Italy and then to front lines?

Answer 1

Italy is a narrow, mountainous peninsula, making it easily defensible against a campaign moving north, and then there are even taller mountains, with fewer passes, once you get to the Italian-Austrian border.



The fact that it took two years just to move from the Gustav Line to the Gothic Line, a distance of 400 kilometers, indicates that an Allied campaign to take Germany via Italy would have resulted in the Allies reaching Germany just as the Soviets were reaching Paris.



Lots of people neglect geography on their first pass, so don't feel too bad. It's actually not that stupid a question unless you know the geography of Italy and South-Central Europe.

Answer 2

1. The German's still held northern Italy until the end of the war.

2. Austria, Switzerland and some rather large mountains were in the way

3. An awful long way from the main allied supply areas in Britain.

Answer 3

You might want to read about the Italian Campaign, and possibly look at a map that shows terrain features (hint: Locate the geological formations known as the Appennines and the Alps).

Answer 4

the Alps