OPERATION TORCH

Background of Operation Torch

General Field Marshal Erwin Rommel and his Afrika Korps were in North Africa and allied with Italy

They pushed the British out of their area and captured Libya and Egypt

The British were still present in that area, but they were definitely not in control – they were defending their territory

Britain asked the United States to invade and overtake Northen Africa from Rommel

What was Operation Torch ?

Operation to gain complete control of North Africa

This control would be over land from French Morocco to Tunisia

The plan was to take this land from the current ruler and then control North Africa from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea

First offensive operation that the United States did against Germany during WWII

The United States came by boat and landed in three different places: Casablanca, Morocco; Oran, Algeria; Algiers, Algeria

Who was involved in Operation Torch?

United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt British Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill Western Task Force: Patton and his Western Task

Force from Hampton Roads, VA Center Task Force: Major-General Lloyd

Fredendall Eastern Task Forces from Britain under Lt.

General Kenneth Anderson (from America) French military forces defending Northwest Africa

– Vichy Troops General Field Marshal Erwin Rommel and his

Afrika Korps

Roosevelt and Churchill at Casablanca

When was Operation Torch?

1942 – Roosevelt and Churchill discussed the invasion and reached agreement to send troops

November 8, 1942 – 125,000 invaded French North Africa under Eisenhower

November 11, 1942 – Gen Mark Clark arranged an armistice agreement with the French

November 12, 1942 – Operation Torch ended

Where was Operation Torch?

Operation Torch Landings

Casablanca, Morocco 190 miles south of Gibraltar Atlantic Coast Western Task Force

Oran, Algeria 280 miles east of Gibraltar Center Task Force

Algiers, Algeria 220 miles east of Oran Easter Task Force

What was the outcome and result of operation torch?

The operation was a success after Admiral Jean Darlan, the French Leader , agreed to a cease-fire

Most of the North African Frenchman sided with Darlan but others joined Hitler’s forces in Tunisia

Eisenhower appointed Darlan as the leader of North Africa but he was soon killed by an assassin

They attempted to go into Tunisia to take that land over but were unsuccessful and German troops pushed

After Operation Torch - Tunisia

The Eastern Task Force (in the west) advanced towards Tunisia under Lt. General Kenneth Anderson Called the “British Eighth Army” Moved East

In the Far East, L. General Bernard L. Montgomery led British troops Moved West

Tried to catch Rommel in Between Anderson and Montgomery’s troops

By Nov. 16, troops had advanced into Tunisia 400 miles. German counter offenses on November 27 and

December 1 forced the troops to withdrawal from Tunisia “Campaign in Tunisia” – extension of Operation Torch did

not end until May 1943

Citations

Gordon, John. Joint Power Point Projection: Operation Torch. 10 May 2009 <http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/jfq_pubs/optorch4.pdf>.

  Morrison, Samuel E. Operation Torch (North Africa

Invasion). 10 May 2009 <http://www.internet-esq.com/ussaugusta/torch/index.htm>.

  Operation Torch November 8, 1942. 10 May 2009

<http://www.worldwar2database.com/html/torch.htm>.  Operation Torch. 10 May 2009

<http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWtorch.htm>.