In 2012 Jean Paul Pallud wrote the After the Battle account of the
Desert War; now he completes the story with detailed coverage of
the landings of Operation `Torch’ in North-West Africa in
November 1942. When the western Allies decided to launch a second
front in North Africa, they carefully considered the anti-British
feeling left in France by the ill-advised attack by the Royal Navy
on the French Fleet at Mers el Kébir in July 1940. Consequently,
the operation was given an American rather than a British
complexion, General Eisenhower was chosen to lead a mostly American
force into battle and the major Royal Navy contribution was kept as
inconspicuous as possible. At this point in the war, the Allies had
almost no experience with amphibious operations and it was a risky
undertaking to carry out such an immense operation covering
multiple landings over 600 miles apart. Even more amazing was the
fact that part of the invasion forces was to depart from the United
States, 6,000 miles away. As the orders were not confirmed until a
month before Operation `Torch’ was launched, there was very
little time to organise such a logistically complex operation
involving American and British forces, and even less time for the
pro-Allied French to organise more than small measures of support.
There were two landings in the Mediterranean, at three main points
near Algiers and three near Oran, and three landings on the
Atlantic coast of Morocco. There, the main landing came ashore at
Fédala, 18 miles north-east of Casablanca, and the armour was
brought ashore at Safi, 140 miles south-east. In spite of all the
difficulties, the landings all went well and the operation quickly
achieved all of its initial objectives. However, the Germans
reacted swiftly and, with little Allied interference, they rushed
in reinforcements to Tunisia by air and sea. The Allies were thus
drawn into a six-month campaign in Tunisia, the First Army from
Operation `Torch’ soon joining hands with the Eighth Army
advancing from Libya to finally clear Axis presence along the
southern shore of the Mediterranean. This operation marked the
first time that American troops fought against German forces during
the Second World War. They had a rough baptism of fire in southern
Tunisia in February 1943, training, equipment and leadership failed
in many instances to meet the requirements of the battlefield, but
the US Army was quick to learn and revise army doctrines,
particularly with respect to the use of armour. The successful
campaign created thousands of seasoned soldiers of all ranks whose
experience would prove decisive in subsequent campaigns. The next
test was only two months away — the invasion of Sicily. In
addition, Operation `Torch’ brought the French army back into the
war. Most important of all, the Allies had seized the initiative in
the West.
General
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