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The next step after North Africa had already been decided in January 1943 at the Casablanca Conference. That step, Operation HUSKY, the invasion of Sicily, followed from the recognition that the Allies still were unready for a direct thrust across the English Channel. Utilizing troops already available in North Africa, they could make the Mediterranean safer for Allied shipping by occupying Sicily, per- haps going on to invade Italy and knocking that junior Axis partner out of the war.
As planning proceeded for the new operation, General Eisenhower (promoted now to four stars) remained as supreme commander; Gen- eral Alexander, heading the 15th Army Group, served as ground com- mander. Alexander controlled Montgomery's Eighth Army and a newly created Seventh U.S. Army under Patton (now a lieutenant general).