Torch was the first major airborne assault carried out by the United States. Major General Mark W. Clark—one of Eisenhower's senior commanders—was dispatched to Cherchell in Algeria aboard the British submarine HMS Seraph and met with these Vichy French officers on 21 October 1942. "Operation Torch was the first major Allied and American offensive in WWII and, because everyone from the generals down to the privates were inexperienced in combat, there were many mistakes and hard learned lessons. Operation Torch (8 November 1942 – 13 May 1943) was an Allied invasion of French North Africa during the Second World War. Other leading and trailing events may also be included for perspective. 99–105, 107–10. (2020, August 26). His demand was refused and instead, Giraud became a spectator for the duration of the operation. Two others landed in French Morocco and three in Spanish Morocco, where another Dakota dropped its paratroopers by mistake. 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Harmon turned the 2nd Armored Division north and raced towards Casablanca. By 13 May, the Axis forces in Tunisia had surrendered, opening the way for the Allied invasion of Sicily in July. Asked by Wiki User. The deal was made on 10 November, and French resistance ceased almost at once. In Operation Torch, they had the task of slipping into Oran harbor, carrying two companies of the US 1 st Armored Division for an assault on the port. It resulted from an uneasy compromise between the Western Allies, and was intended to relieve pressure on the Soviet Union by imperiling Axis forces in the region and by enabling an invasion of Southern … [26][27] French batteries and the invasion fleet exchanged fire throughout 8–9 November, with French troops defending Oran and the surrounding area stubbornly; bombardment by the British battleships brought about Oran's surrender on 9 November. Axis forces pushed on to Sbeitla and then fought the Battle of Kasserine Pass on 19 February, where the US II Corps retreated in disarray until Allied reinforcements halted the Axis advance on 22 February. The information gathered by the Agency was used by the Americans and British in planning the amphibious November 1942 Operation Torch[18][19] landings in North Africa. While efforts to land directly in the harbor largely failed, Allied forces quickly surrounded the city and at 6:00 pm on Nov. 8, Juin surrendered. The setbacks at Kasserine forced the Allies to consolidate their forces, develop their lines of communication and administration before another offensive. They therefore chose the Casablanca option as the less risky since the forces in Algeria and Tunisia could be supplied overland from Casablanca (albeit with considerable difficulty) in the event of closure of the straits. -51% $19.99 $9.80. Endeavoring to accomplish his objectives, Murphy provided evidence suggesting the French would not resist and made contact with several officers, including the commander-in-chief of Algiers, General Charles Mast. Moreover, the Anglo-American presence in French North Africa invalidated the only real rationale for not occupying the whole of France since it was the only practical means to deny the Allies use of the French colonies. In planning, Eisenhower preferred the eastern option which provided for landings at Oran, Algiers, and Bône as this would allow for the rapid capture of Tunis and because the swells in the Atlantic made landing in Morocco problematic. Operation Torch cost the Allies around 480 killed and 720 wounded. The Eighth Army (Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery) advancing from the east, stopped around Tripoli while the port was repaired to disembark reinforcements and build up the Allied advantage. World War II Europe: Fighting in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy, World War II: Operation Lila & the Scuttling of the French Fleet, World War II: Second Battle of El Alamein, M.S., Information and Library Science, Drexel University, B.A., History and Political Science, Pennsylvania State University. In preparation for Operation Torch, General Henri Giraud was smuggled out of Vichy France with the aid of the resistance. Operation Torch was an invasion strategy by Allied forces into North Africa that took place Nov. 8 to 10, 1942, during World War II (1939 to 1945). The Vichy French had around 125,000 soldiers in the territories as well as coastal artillery, 210 operational but out-of-date tanks and about 500 aircraft, half of which were Dewoitine D.520 fighter… On the night of Nov. 7, pro-Allies General Antoine Béthouart attempted a coup d'etat in Casablanca against the regime of General Charles Noguès. Underway in coastal waters. In November 1943, de Gaulle became head of the CFLN and de jure head of government of France and was recognized by the U.S. and Britain. Wiki User Answered . Safi surrendered on the afternoon of 8 November. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. In June 1943, Giraud and de Gaulle agreed to form the French Committee of National Liberation (CFLN), with members from both the North African government and from de Gaulle's French National Committee. However, Tunis was much too close to the Axis airfields in Sicily and Sardinia for any hope of success. The Americans surrounded the port of Casablanca by 10 November, and the city surrendered an hour before the final assault was due to take place. The Western Task Force landed before daybreak on 8 November 1942, at three points in Morocco: Safi (Operation Blackstone), Fedala (Operation Brushwood, the largest landing with 19,000 men), and Mehdiya-Port Lyautey (Operation Goalpost). Operation Torch (8-11 November 1942) was the Allied invasion of Vichy occupied North Africa, and was the first significant land operation carried out by American troops in the war against Germany. figure it out yourself. Flying from Britain, the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion was assigned the mission of capturing the airfields at Tafraoui and La Senia. Wracked with indecision, Barré moved his troops into the hills and formed a defensive line from Teboursouk through Medjez el Bab and ordered that anyone trying to pass through the line would be shot. [25] The commander of Reservist, Captain Frederick Thornton Peters, was awarded the Victoria Cross for valour in pushing the attack through Oran harbour in the face of point blank fire. After weather delays at Fedala, Patton's men, enduring French fire, succeeded in taking their objectives and began moving against Casablanca. Operation Reservist failed, as the two Banff-class sloops were destroyed by crossfire from the French vessels there. In North Africa, the French Armée d’Afrique joined with the Allies as did several French warships. T… Although ammunition was short and equipment obsolete, their fighting caliber was high. Today, it is all but forgotten. Outside of the city, American forces fought for a full day before the French in the area finally surrendered on Nov. 9. Attempts to confuse the Axis with names went further. [30] Of the other aircraft, one pilot became disoriented and landed his plane in Gibraltar. The Vichy French had around 125,000 soldiers in the territories as well as coastal artillery, 210 operational but out-of-date tanks and about 500 aircraft, half of which were Dewoitine D.520 fighters—equal to many British and U.S. Anderson (CG, 3rd Infantry Division, USA) (18,783 officers and enlisted), Fez Division (Maj. Gen. Maurice-Marie Salbert), Meknès Division (Maj. Gen. Andre-Marie-François Dody), Marrakech Division (Brig. In the south, French forces slowed the landings at Safi and snipers briefly pinned Allied troops down on the beaches. Intending to land in Morocco and Algeria, Allied planners were forced to determine the mentality of the Vichy French forces defending the area. Reports indicated that they might support the Allies. Entries are listed below by date-of-occurrence ascending (first-to-last). On all fronts, the French were eventually overcome and American forces tightened their grip on Casablanca. Approaching Casablanca, Allied ships were fired upon by French shore batteries. 39,000 officers and enlisted, Major General Charles W. Ryder, USA (CG, 34th Infantry Division, USA) [6] It was the first mass involvement of US troops in the European–North African Theatre, and saw the first major airborne assault carried out by the United States. Successful completion of these operations was to be followed by an eastwards advance into Tunisia. [8] In addition, there were 10 or so warships and 11 submarines at Casablanca. https://www.thoughtco.com/world-war-ii-operation-torch-2361497 (accessed January 25, 2021). Nearly 100 men lost their lives in that mission. On July 26, 1942, Maj. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower , whom U.S. Army chief of staff Gen. George C. Marshall had chosen as commander of the U.S. forces in the European theatre, was given the post. In the fall of 1942, US Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, supreme commander of Allied forces in Europe, planned Operation Torch, and wrote the story in his … Overcoming shallow waters, the troops went ashore and encountered stubborn French resistance. Slated to land on Nov. 8, 1942, the Western Task Force approached Casablanca under the guidance of Major General George S. Patton and Rear Admiral Henry Hewitt. …approved the renamed operation “Torch”—a combined invasion of North Africa planned for the autumn. [28] The operation was marked by communicational and navigational problems owing to the anti-aircraft and beacon ship HMS Alynbank broadcasting on the wrong frequency. Dubbed Operation Reservist, this saw two Banff-class sloops attempt to run through the harbor defenses. Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation that launched the successful invasion of German-occupied Western Europe during World War II. Under the command of Major-General Charles W. Ryder, commanding general of the U.S. 34th Infantry Division, the 11th Brigade Group from the British 78th Infantry Division, landed on the right hand beach, the US 168th Regimental Combat Team, from the 34th Infantry Division, supported by 6 Commando and most of 1 Commando on the middle beach while the US 39th Regimental Combat Team, also from the US 34th Infantry Division, supported by the remaining 5 troops from 1 Commando, landed on the left hand beach. Operation Torch - the Invasion of N orth A frica. Elements of the First Army (Lieutenant-General Kenneth Anderson), came to within 40 mi (64 km) of Tunis before a counterattack at Djedeida thrust them back. French losses totaled around 1,346 killed and 1,997 wounded. An attempt was made to land U.S. infantry at the harbour directly, in order to quickly prevent destruction of the port facilities and scuttling of ships. Crusade in Europe, pp. However, Noguès telephoned loyal forces, who stopped the coup. On the night of 7 November, pro-Allied General Antoine Béthouart attempted a coup d'etat against the French command in Morocco, so that he could surrender to the Allies the next day. See more ideas about operation torch, world war two, torch. The Allies planned an Anglo-American invasion of north-western Africa/Maghreb—Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, territory nominally in the hands of the Vichy French government. World War II: Operation Torch. This Western Task Force consisted of the U.S. 3rd and 9th Infantry Divisions, and two battalions from the U.S. 2nd Armored Division — 35,000 troops in a convoy of over 100 ships. Jun 7, 2019 - Explore Kathy roe's board "Operation Torch" on Pinterest. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/world-war-ii-operation-torch-2361497. During the time of Operation Torch the French Air Force had some 500 aircraft based on five airfields in Morocco, all within easy range of Casablanca, and various other fields in Algeri… They sailed from the United Kingdom and were commanded by Major General Lloyd Fredendall, the naval forces being commanded by Commodore Thomas Troubridge. With British forces advancing from Egypt, this would eventually allow the Allies to carry out a pincer operation against Axis forces in North Africa. French sailors scuttled many of their navy ships to prevent Hitler from capturing them. It quickly became clear that Giraud lacked the authority to take command of the French forces. Robert Murphy took some men and then drove to the residence of General Alphonse Juin, the senior French Army officer in North Africa. One of the terms of the Second Armistice at Compiègne agreed to by the Germans was that southern France would remain free of German occupation and governed by Vichy. By 10 November, the remaining defenders were pinned down, and the bulk of Harmon's forces raced to join the siege of Casablanca. 8th to 12th Nov ember 1942. Under pressure from the Allies and de Gaulle's supporters, the French régime shifted, with Vichy officials gradually replaced and its more offensive decrees rescinded. As a result, both vessels were lost with the entire attack force either killed or captured. In the hours prior to the landings, resistance teams under Henri d'Astier de la Vigerie and José Aboulker attempted a coup against General Alphonse Juin. [21] (Fleet Air Arm aircraft did carry US "star" roundels during the operation,[22] and two British destroyers flew the Stars and Stripes. The French were former members of the Allies and the American troops were instructed not to fire unless they were fired upon. Aerial operations were split into two, east of Cape Tenez in Algeria, with British aircraft under Air Marshal Sir William Welsh and west of Cape Tenez, all American aircraft under Major General Jimmy Doolittle, under the direct command of Major General Patton. This new addition to the most detailed strategy game available on the Western Front of WWII, introduces 10 new challenging scenarios, including both historical and what-if operations. Operation Torch was an attack led by General Dewight Eisenhower (from the United States). Nearly 160,000 troops crossed the English … Landings at the westernmost beach were delayed because of a French convoy which appeared while the minesweepers were clearing a path. American forces encountered German troops for the first time in February when they were defeated at Kasserine Pass. While they surrounded his house (making Juin a hostage) Murphy attempted to persuade him to side with the Allies. (Bonnier de La Chapelle was arrested on the spot and executed two days later.). Leading the charge was Major General Charles W. Ryder's 34th Infantry Division, as it was believed the French would be more receptive to the Americans. Supported by aircraft from carriers offshore, the Americans pushed forward and secured their objectives. With the groundwork laid with the French, the invasion convoys sailed with the Casablanca force departing the United States and the other two sailing from Britain. The French North African government gradually became active in the Allied war effort. Planners identified Oran, Algiers and Casablanca as key targets. During this period of weakness, the Allies decided against a rapid advance into Tunisia while they wrestled with the Vichy authorities. Despite Operation Torch's role in the war and logistical success, it has been largely overlooked in many popular histories of the war and in general cultural influence. Consisting of the U.S. 2nd Armored Division as well as the U.S. 3rd and 9th Infantry Divisions, the task force carried 35,000 men.