As a follow-up to victory in North Africa, the Allies began an attack on Hitler's "Fortress Europe." On July 10, 1943 the landings at Sicily with more than 150,000 Allied troops met little opposition. On land, the operation progressed well as General Patton's 7th Army pushed towards Palermo, and General Montgomery's 8th Army battled up the island's east coast. The conquest of Sicily was accomplished in 38 days, paving the way for an invasion of the Italian mainland.