North Africa Campaigns: Operation Torch

Algiers, Algeria. November 8th, 1942. With no warning, hundreds of battleships arrive at the beach. Troops pour out. Local people learn from an American soldier what’s happening.

The Americans have arrived with the British First Army, supported by Canadian, Dutch, and Australian soldiers. Together they form the Allied First Army. On the same day troops land in Algiers… …more Allied ships arrive in Oran and in Casablanca, Morocco. This is Operation Torch. The Allies’ plan is to move eastwards into Tunisia, to take it from Axis forces, but first they must get past French troops.

Morocco and Algeria have long been under French control. Now, the north of France is under direct Nazi control, and the south of France is a separate state, called Vichy France, led by Philippe Pétain. Vichy France is technically independent, but Pétain has been collaborating with the Nazis. The Allied forces landing in Morocco and Algeria can’t be sure how they will be received by Vichy troops stationed there… In Casablanca, some of the Allied ships face no French resistance. Others are fired at by French troops on the shore and ships in the harbour.

But the French firepower is no match for the Allies’ numbers. By November 10th, Allied ships surround the Port of Casablanca and the city surrenders. In Oran, a French naval fleet breaks from the harbour and attacks arriving Allied ships. Within hours, the Allies sink or drive back to shore all the French ships. Oran surrenders on November 9th.

In Algiers, the Allies secretly secure the help of a group of French fighters who oppose the Vichy Regime: the Jewish French Resistance. In the early hours of November 8th, Jewish French Resistance fighters take over the Vichy French army headquarters, the radio station, telephone exchange, and the French governor’s house. When the Allied First Army lands later that day, Vichy troops have to concentrate their efforts on defeating the Resistance fighters rather than the Allied forces. The First Army pushes inland easily. By 6 pm, the Vichy forces surrender Algiers to the Allies.

Now that Vichy forces in Morocco and Algiers have surrendered, French troops across North Africa, including Tunisia, are ordered to support the Allies. Operation Torch has succeeded. Next, the First Army gathers in Algiers, ready to make their way to Tunisia to defeat Axis forces there. This is the Tunisian Campaign. The Axis forces have recently been driven over the border from Libya to Tunisia by British forces led by General Montgomery.

Now, as the First Army moves east towards Tunisia, Montgommery’s troops move west from Libya, behind the Axis forces. The Axis forces are trapped. In February 1943, Axis forces launch attacks to try and stop the First Army’s advance towards the key city of Tunis. They push the Allies back. Fighting continues.

Axis forces rely on air and naval support from the Italian island of Sicily. But Allied aircraft shoot down Axis transport planes and destroyer ships operating from the British island of Malta stop Axis ships attempting passage. In a final battle in early May, the Allies defeat the Axis forces in Tunis. On May 13th, Axis forces surrender unconditionally. The Allies have overcome French resistance and defeated Axis powers in North Africa.

Now the Allies can turn their full attention back to securing victory in Europe.