The Kuban was Hitschhold's last battle in the field. In June 1943 he was relieved of command from SG 1 on 10 June and promoted to "Oberst". Hitschhold was appointed "Fliegerführer Sardinien", responsible for the coordination of air units in Sicily. "FliegerführerLuftflotte" 2 Fliegerkorps II's previous headquarters at Viterbo was appropriated by "FliegerführerLuftflotte" 2 under Hitschhold. Hitschhold was directly subordinated to "Fliegerkorps" II. Hitschhold was to assume command of all the bomber, fighter, reconnaissance and ground-attack units in support of the 10th Army. Hitschhold's command failed to repulse the Allied invasion of Sicily. In September 1943 the Allied invasion of Italy succeeded in gaining a foothold on continental Europe. Naples was captured and only the Air raid on Bari yielded any success.