​​The VI Army, formerly Po Army, was sent to Sicily in February 1941 to organise the territorial and coastal defence of southern Italy. 

​​Ezio Rosi was placed in command, then replaced in February 1943 by Mario Roatta. On 9 May 1943, Roatta issued a controversial circular proclaiming: 'Strictly, confidently and fraternally united, you, proud Sicilians, and we, Italian and German soldiers of the FF.AA. Sicily, will prove to the enemy that we will not pass this way'. 

​On 30 May, having been appointed Chief of Army Staff, Roatta was replaced by General Alfredo Guzzoni. Guzzoni chose Colonel Emilio Faldella as his Chief of Staff and Prince Giovanni Moncada (later revealed as a British spy) as his aide-de-camp. 

​On 4 June, the decree for the militarisation of the Sicilian territory was published in the 'Gazzetta del Regno', and all powers were consequently transferred to the Military Command. The following week, Guzzoni patrolled the defences, returning dejected and pointing out the numerous shortcomings to the Central Command. 

​On 26 June, the German Generals, Kesselring and von Senger, went to Enna to meet Guzzoni, who unsuccessfully called for German reinforcements in the southeast. On the morning of 10 July at 01:09, Guzzoni decreed a state of emergency on the island but was soon subjected to the orders of the new German Commander, Hube. 

​The British General Montgomery gave Leese's XXX Corps the task of advancing along State Highway 124 Siracusana, through the Iblei mountains towards Enna, to attempt to outflank the German forces on the right and occupy the important road junction. In reality, US General Patton had Bradley's 2nd Army Corps with the 45th and 1st Divisions, advance in the direction of Enna. 

​On 16 July, the Italian retreat from Enna began. US General Terry Allen's 1st Division arrived on the morning of 20 July, slightly ahead of the British troops. In Enna, the soldiers of the Regio Esercito (Royal Army), most of whom were reservists, who had been left to guard sensitive areas, failed to maintain public order. The military warehouses and depots of the 'Provvida' and 'Colombaia' were attacked. 

​The confused action of the civilians also caused the explosion of the 'Polveriera della Misericordia’ (a gunpowder factory), between Enna and Calascibetta. Guzzoni was removed, arrested and tried as a traitor by the RSI (Italian Social Republic), but was saved by the German forces. 

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