Question

Why did the Allies invade Europe from the Mediterranean in 1943? Southern Europe was not as strongly defended as the coast of France. Stalin urged the Allies to attack from the Mediterranean. Italy, the stronger enemy, needed to be defeated first. The Allies wanted to thwart a planned Axis invasion of North Africa.

Answer 1

The Allies invaded Europe from the Mediterranean in 1943 for multiple reasons, including the belief that southern Europe was less defended, Stalin's urging for a second front, the need to defeat Italy first, and the goal of thwarting the Axis invasion of North Africa.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Allies invaded Europe from the Mediterranean in 1943 for several reasons:

1. The Allies believed that southern Europe, especially Italy, was not as strongly defended as the coast of France.
2. Stalin urged the Allies to attack from the Mediterranean because he wanted a second front in Western Europe to reduce the pressure on the Eastern Front.
3. The Allies wanted to defeat Italy, which was a stronger enemy, before focusing on Germany.
4. The Allies also wanted to thwart a planned Axis invasion of North Africa by gaining control of the Mediterranean.

Answer 2

Southern Europe was not as strongly defended as the coast of France, in fact, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill called it “the soft underbelly of Europe.”.