History
15th Army Group was activated in 1943 in Algiers, North Africa, to plan the invasion of Sicily codenamed Operation Husky. Its main forces for this job were the British Eighth Army and the U.S. Seventh Army. Following the capture of Sicily the group became responsible for the invasion of mainland Italy for which the U.S. Seventh Army was replaced by U.S. Fifth Army. In January 1944 the army group was re-designated successively Allied forces in Italy and then Allied Central Mediterranean Force. In March 1944 it was renamed Allied Armies in Italy. Throughout this period the army group was under command of British General Harold Alexander. By late 1944 the army group had pushed northward through Italy, capturing Rome, and driving the retreating Axis forces into Northern Italy. In December, American Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark became the new commander and the army group was renamed 15th Army Group once again. The Axis forces in Italy were finally defeated in the army group's Spring 1945 offensive in Italy, their surrender taking place in May.
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