Operation Torch cost the Allies around 480 killed and 720 wounded. French losses totaled around 1,346 killed and 1,997 wounded. As a result of Operation Torch, Adolf Hitler ordered Operation Anton Case Anton was the military occupation of Vichy France carried out by Germany and Italy in November 1942. It marked the end of the Vichy regime as a nominally-independent state and the disbandment of its army, but it continued its existence as a puppet government in Occupied F…Case Anton
What was Operation Torch WW2?
Operation Torch (8 November 1942 – 16 November 1942) was an Allied invasion of French North Africa during the Second World War. While the French colonies formally aligned with Germany via Vichy France, the loyalties of the population were mixed.
What was the significance of the Battle of torch?
Significance of the battle (II) "Operation Torch was the name given to the Allied invasion of French North Africa in November 1942. Operation Torch was the first time the British and Americans had jointly worked on an invasion plan together.".
What were the consequences of Operation Torch in Africa?
Consequences of Operation Torch. Due to the lack of resistance by the French in North Africa, the Germans immediately occupied southern France and seized the remainder of the French Fleet located in Toulon (Operation Lila). The majority of the ships were scuttled at the dock; however, before the Germans could press them into service.
How did Operation Torch affect Vichy France?
As a result of Operation Torch, Adolf Hitler ordered Operation Anton, which saw German troops occupy Vichy France. Additionally, French sailors in Toulon scuttled many of the French Navy's ships to prevent their capture by the Germans.
What did Operation Torch accomplish?
Operation Torch also saw the first large scale American airborne drop when the US 509th Parachute Regiment captured two airfields near Oran. The landing at Algiers was aided by an attempted coup within the city by pro-Allied forces.
Did the Allies win Operation Torch?
On November 10 Marshal Philippe Pétain's deputy, Admiral François Darlan, coincidentally in Algiers, concluded an armistice with the Allies, ending French resistance in North Africa and confirming the Allies' victory but provoking the Germans into occupying the rest of metropolitan France.
Who won in Operation Torch?
Allied victoryOperation TorchDate8–16 November 1942LocationFrench Morocco, French AlgeriaResultAllied victoryTerritorial changesAnglo-American occupation of Morocco and Algeria Free French control of French West Africa Case Anton (Axis occupation of southern France)
Why was Operation Torch a turning point?
Operation Torch was a turning point in World War II for the allied powers. This battle served a number of main purposes in the allied war effort against Germany and Italy. This joint Anglo-American offensive was the first major win for the allied powers and established an allied foothold in North Africa.
What was Operation Torch?
Operation Torch, as the landing in North Africa was to be code-named, effectively postponed Roundup again, while subsequent operations in Sicily and the Italian mainland delayed preparations for the cross-Channel invasion through 1943 as well. The postponements were a principal cause of concern at inter-Allied…
When did the Torch attack happen?
…strategists had decided on “Torch” (Allied landings on the western coast of North Africa) late in July 1942, it remained to settle the practical details of the operation.
What was the turning point in 20th century international relations?
diplomatic events. In 20th-century international relations: The turning point, 1942. …approved the renamed operation “Torch”—a combined invasion of North Africa planned for the autumn. Churchill then traveled to Moscow in August 1942 , where Stalin berated him for postponing the second front and suspending Arctic convoys because ...
What was the purpose of Operation Torch?
Operation Torch. Operation Torch was the name of the Allied invasion of northwest Africa in the hopes and goal of removing the Axis presence on the continent. The operation marked the first time that British and American forces worked together on an invasion plan and would take place from November 8-16, 1942.
What was the plan that would later evolve into Operation Torch?
The plan that would later evolve into Operation Torch was to first make their way into North Africa and then later invade Sicily and move onto mainland Italy. Such a victory would have been very important for the Allies because it would have cleared the Mediterranean for shipping purposes.
What were the problems at the Oran landings?
The major problems at the Oran landings were also more of a logistics nature, the beach that was meant for the landing hadn’t been properly inspected and the shallow waters lead to damage on some of the landing craft which slowed down the deployment of equipment and troops. A few ships of the French navy also tried to attack the Allied fleet but were quickly sunk or driven away and by November 9th the French troops had surrendered.
How many troops were in the Central Task Force?
The Central Task Force was set on Oran under the command of Major-General Lloyd Fredendall with 18, 500 troops.
What were the first targets of the Allies?
The first planned targets of the Allies were Morocco and Algeria. These two countries were under the rule of Vichy France, which the Allies considered to be in collaboration with Germany so both of the African countries were legitimate targets for the Allies. Morocco had around 60, 000 French troops and a small naval fleet at Casablanca, but instead of fighting against the French army the Allies wanted to cooperate with them. Operation Torch was under the command of General Eisenhower and the headquarters were in Gibraltar.
What was the largest amphibious operation in the war?
At the time of Operation Torch being conducted, it was the largest amphibious operation conducted in warfare and was also the first big success of the war for the Allied powers. tweet.
What did the Allies want above all else?
What the Allies wanted above all else was a good amphibious landing, for that purpose Casablanca, Oran and Algiers were chosen as the landing sites. The Western Task Force under the command of Major-General George Patton was chosen to land near Casablanca with some 35, 000 troops.
How many people died in Operation Torch?
Operation Torch cost the Allies around 480 killed and 720 wounded. French losses totaled around 1,346 killed and 1,997 wounded. As a result of Operation Torch, Adolf Hitler ordered Operation Anton, which saw German troops occupy Vichy France. Additionally, French sailors in Toulon scuttled many of the French Navy's ships to prevent their capture by the Germans.
When did Operation Torch take place?
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).
What was the mission of the Center Task Force?
Tasked with landing the 18,500 men of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division and the U.S. 1st Armored Division on two beaches west of Oran and one to the east, they encountered difficulty due to insufficient reconnaissance. Overcoming shallow waters, the troops went ashore and encountered stubborn French resistance. At Oran, an attempt was made to land troops directly in the harbor in an effort to capture the port facilities intact. Dubbed Operation Reservist, this saw two Banff -class sloops attempt to run through the harbor defenses. While it was hoped that the French would not resist, the defenders opened fire on the two ships and inflicted significant casualties. As a result, both vessels were lost with the entire attack force either killed or captured.
How many men were in the Vichy French?
These numbered around 120,000 men, 500 aircraft, and several warships. It was hoped that, as a former member of the Allies, the French would not fire on British and American forces.
What was the name of the operation that saw two Banff class sloops attempt to run through the?
At Oran, an attempt was made to land troops directly in the harbor in an effort to capture the port facilities intact. Dubbed Operation Reservist, this saw two Banff -class sloops attempt to run through the harbor defenses.
Which aircraft did Hewitt direct?
Responding, Hewitt directed aircraft from USS Ranger (CV-4) and USS Suwannee (CVE-27), which had been striking French airfields and other targets, to attack targets in the harbor while other Allied warships, including the battleship USS Massachusetts (BB-59), moved inshore and opened fire.
Who was the commander in chief of the French army in Algeria?
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. While these men were willing to aid the Allies, they requested a meeting with a senior Allied commander before committing. Meeting their demands, Eisenhower dispatched Major General Mark Clark aboard the submarine HMS Seraph. Rendezvousing with Mast and others at the Villa Teyssier in Cherchell, Algeria on Oct. 21, 1942, Clark was able to secure their support.
What aircraft were used in Operation Torch?
8–16 November 1942. Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless scout bombers and Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat fighters on the flight deck of USS Santee (ACV-29) during Operation Torch. Note the yellow Operation Torch markings visible around the fuselage stars of some of these airplanes.
What happened to the Oran port?
After an attempt to capture the port facilities failed, heavy British naval gunfire brought about Oran’s surrender on 9 November.
What happened after the crossing of the Atlantic?
After a transatlantic crossing, the Western Task Force effected its landings on 8 November. A preliminary naval bombardment had been deemed unnecessary in the vain hope that French forces would not resist. In fact, the initially stiff French defense caused losses among the landing forces. However, by 10 November, all landing objectives had been accomplished and U.S. units were poised to assault Casablanca, whose harbor approaches were the scene of a brief, but fierce, naval engagement. The French surrendered the city before an all-out attack was launched.
What happened to Casablanca in November?
However, by 10 November, all landing objectives had been accomplished and U.S. units were poised to assault Casablanca, whose harbor approaches were the scene of a brief, but fierce, naval engagement. The French surrendered the city before an all-out attack was launched.
What was the purpose of the Allied invasion of North Africa?
The Allied invasion of French North Africa in November 1942 was intended to draw Axis forces away from the Eastern Front , thus relieving pressure on the hard-pressed Soviet Union.
When did the Combined Chiefs meet in Casablanca?
As if to drive home this point, President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill, and the Combined Chiefs met at Casablanca itself in January 1943 to determine the next steps for further rolling back the Axis. Despite these many positives, Torch also fell short of expectations.
What was Operation Torch?
Click card to see definition 👆. "Operation Torch was the name given to the Allied invasion of French North Africa in November 1942. Operation Torch was the first time the British and Americans had jointly worked on an invasion plan together.". "The Allies planned to invade Morocco and Algeria.
What lessons did the Allies learn from the Normandy invasion?
because everyone from the generals down to the privates were inexperienced in combat, there were many mistakes and hard learned lessons. The most lethal lesson was learned by those men who tried to take Oran's harbor in Reservist. Nearly 100 men lost their lives in that mission. Its sister operation Terminal was not as lethal but all of the men involved were captured. From this, the Allies learned that they could not try to secure a harbor or a port as part of the operation. They acted on this knowledge for the Normandy invasion by building and towing two Mulberry harbors across the channel to ease the unloading process before a port was captured."
What did Eisenhower consider the operation to be?
Eisenhower considered the operation to be 'an undertaking of a quite desperate nature.''. "Eisenhower himself had never before commanded a major operation of war and was about to receive a baptism of fire. Apart from all the usual operational hazards there were other considerations for him to deal with.
How many commandos were in the B sector?
The 'B' sector landing consisted of Regimental Combat Teams of the American 34th Infantry Division and the British No1 and No 6 Command os, 5420 strong in all, landing on five separate beaches.
What was the significance of the Battle of Casablanca?
Significance of the battle (II) "The Western Task Force was to land near Casablanca at Safi, Rabat and Mehdia and Major-General George Patton commanded it. 35,000 troops were in this task force.". "The Central Task Force was to land at Oran.
What was the name of the region in which the Allies were trying to break the streak of terrible campaigns?
Lublin,Ryan. "The Allies in World War II (WWII) wanted to break the streak of terrible campaigns that included unsuccessful amphibious operations, and the place they chose was North Africa, specifically the Maghreb, a region in Algeria and Morocco. This operation would come to be known as Operation Torch.
What aircraft supported the French invasion of Casablanca?
Major General Doolittle's American aircraft also supported this invasion target, along with Casablanca.". Ww2db.com. Significance of the battle (II) "The French defenses at Casablanca were formidable, as the port was a major French Navy base.
What were the objectives of the Vichy war?
objectives—they had to go for ports right away.The lack of an adequate over-the-shore capabilityforced planners to target ports for quick seizure.Had the Vichy troops been more determined, hadthe Navy not been able to quickly suppress theirdefenses, or had the enemy been better alerted,the fights for Safi, Fedala, and Port Lyautey couldhave been much more costly. A shortage of land-ing craft (and many of which were destroyed inrough seas on November 8) led to delays in un-loading transports—ships that then became U-boat targets. Being able to initially enter awayfrom heavily defended points such as airfields orports, rapidly disembark personnel and equip-ment, and then quickly disperse strategic lift,should be a goal for U.S. joint forces in a forcibleentry, whether the troops are landing by air or sea.
Where did the Western Task Force embark?
Western Task Force embarked the Armyforces in Norfolk, with several ships arrivingat the last minute which complicated load-ing. On October 23 most of Task Force 34departed from Hampton Roads. Patton wasaboard the cruiser USS Augusta, the flagship.To deceive Axis agents or U-boats outside theharbor the task force initially turned south-east, ostensibly to conduct exercises in theCaribbean. Although the transports left fromNorfolk, the carrier force and certain surfaceunits came from other east coast ports.Linkups were performed in the mid-Atlantic.21The task force route took it south of theAzores. Fortunately, no Axis submarinesspotted the convoy en route. This was atleast partly due to the fact that north of theWestern Task Force’s route a savage battlewas underway in the North Atlantic inwhich convoy SC 107 lost 15 of its 42ships.22The U-boats were preoccupied. ByNovember 6 the task force approached theMoroccan coast. At this point the weathertook a turn for the worse. Hewitt studiedforecasts received from Washington, Lon-don, and the task force itself. It was decidedto go with the November 8 D-Day, despiterisks of a heavy surf along the Moroccancoast.23On the morning of November 7 TaskForce 34 split into three attack forces. Thatnight Hewitt told Patton that the Navywould be in position the following morningto conduct the assault. All was now ready.The biggest question was whether theFrench would fight.
What was the largest joint amphibiousoperation undertaken up to that time?
Torch was the largest joint amphibiousoperation undertaken up to that time. Thusit was in many ways a watershed event forboth the Army and the Navy. The number ofissues that had to be considered and re-solved was enormous. The two services hadnever conducted an operation like this. Priorto World War II interaction between themwas infrequent. While lack of familiarity ineach other’s procedures did hinder prepara-tions for Torch , the professionalism of keyleaders and staffs of both services overcamethis handicap. The major concern was com-mand and control.
Allies
Axis
Planning
- In 1942, having been persuaded of the impracticality of launching an invasion of France as a second front, American commanders agreed to conduct landings in northwest Africa with the goal of clearing the continent of Axis troops and preparing the way for a future attack on southern Europe. Intending to land in Morocco and Algeria, Allied planners were forced to determine the …
Contact with The Vichy French
- 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. While these men were willing to aid the Allies, they requested a meeting with a senior Allied commander before committing. Meeting their demands, Eisenhowe…
Casablanca
- Slated to land on Nov. 8, 1942, the Western Task Force approached Casablanca under the guidance of Major General George S. Pattonand Rear Admiral Henry Hewitt. 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. On the night of Nov. 7, pro-Allies General Antoine Béthouart attempted a coup d'eta…
Oran
- Departing Britain, the Center Task Force was led by Major General Lloyd Fredendall and Commodore Thomas Troubridge. Tasked with landing the 18,500 men of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division and the U.S. 1st Armored Division on two beaches west of Oran and one to the east, they encountered difficulty due to insufficient reconnaissance. Overcoming shallow waters, the troop…
Algiers
- The Eastern Task Force was led by Lieutenant General Kenneth Anderson and consisted of the U.S. 34th Infantry Division, two brigades of the British 78th Infantry Division, and two British Commando units. 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. Surrounding his ho…
Aftermath
- Operation Torch cost the Allies around 480 killed and 720 wounded. French losses totaled around 1,346 killed and 1,997 wounded. As a result of Operation Torch, Adolf Hitlerordered Operation Anton, which saw German troops occupy Vichy France. Additionally, French sailors in Toulon scuttled many of the French Navy's ships to prevent their capture by ...