The soft underbelly of the Axis was Churchill's concept of Italy and it was chosen as the country the Allies would go after first (on the European Continent)
The soft underbelly of the Axis Powers was Italy. The allies (US-led) launched the invasion of Scicily and Italy in order to knock it our of the war.
Italy
Italy. Want proof? Watch Hetalia.
The reference was to Italy .
EFEWFEW
During World War II, the 'soft underbelly' of the Axis Powers in 1943 was, according to Winston Churchill, the Italian Peninsula. Usually considered to have been the unfortunate effect of a misplaced metaphor, this view was partly responsible for the actual Allied invasion of Italy which took place in 1943.
Italy
Winston Churchill referred to Italy as the "soft underbelly of Europe" because he believed that invading Italy would be a strategically advantageous way to weaken Axis powers. He thought that Italy's military position was vulnerable, given its lack of strong defenses and the fatigue of its forces. Additionally, a successful campaign in Italy could potentially knock Italy out of the war and open a path to Germany, thereby aiding the overall Allied strategy in Europe. This belief led to the Allied invasion of Sicily and mainland Italy in 1943.
Sicily and Italy.
To protect itself from predators. To shield its soft underbelly from its attackers.
Because Winston Churchill said it was. Churchill was hoping knock over Italy and invade Germany from the south, thus avoiding a cross-channel invasion. Although the Fascist government in Italy was overthrown, Germany quickly occupied Italy and stalled the Allied advance for the cost of a few of their best divisions. In the words of General Clark, the soft underbelly of Europe turned out to be one tough old gut.