#operationtorch

[whencyclopedia]

Operation Torch

Operation Torch (aka the North Africa landings) landed Allied troops in French Morocco and Algeria on 8 November 1942 with the aim of removing German and Italian forces from North Africa. The first jointly-planned Allied operation of the Second World War (1939-45), Torch overcame difficulties such as the testing logistics of shipping troops directly from the United States and Britain and the large presence of Vichy French forces in North Africa, but the landings were ultimately successful, establishing the region as a launchpad for a future invasion of Italy.

The Importance of North Africa

Right from the start of WWII, both the Axis powers of Germany and Italy were interested in controlling North Africa because a presence there would help protect shipping in the Mediterranean and provide support for such campaigns as the attacks on enemy-held Crete and Malta. The Allies, particularly Britain, had the same strategic interest but were, in addition, anxious to protect the vital Suez Canal and the Middle East oil fields. In addition, in the early years of the war, North Africa remained the only place where Britain could fight a land war against the Axis powers and so hopefully gain much-needed victories that would encourage the British people after the debacle of the Dunkirk Evacuation and the horrors of the London Blitz. Here in the great desert plains of Libya and Egypt, then, a series of battles were fought, which became known as the Western Desert Campaigns (June 1940 to January 1943).

The Desert War became something of a pendulum affair. First, the Italians pushed across from their colony of Libya into British-held Egypt but were then pushed back by the British and its empire forces in Operation Compass (December 1940 to February 1941). The German army arrived in February 1941 with superior armour, weapons, and training compared to both the Italians and the Allies. Axis forces in Africa came under the command of General Erwin Rommel (1891-1944) who proceeded to win a number of battles, notably the Battle of Gazala, which ended in the capture of the port of Tobruk in June 1942. Rommel was then held back at the First Battle of El Alamein (July 1942) and roundly defeated by the British Eighth Army led by General Bernard Montgomery (1887-1976) at the Second Battle of El Alamein (October-November 1942). Rommel was obliged to retreat back to Tunisia. Without sufficient supplies, Rommel recommended to Adolf Hitler, who was wholly preoccupied with the Russian Front, that North Africa be abandoned, but he was ordered to continue the desert campaign as best he could.

The Allied commanders, in sharp contrast to Rommel, were keener than ever to control North Africa as they realised this region could be used as a platform for a full invasion of southern Europe, in particular, Sicily and the Italian mainland. Such a plan would fulfil a long-made promise to their ally Russia that there would be a second front to the war after the Eastern Front had opened in the summer of 1942. In order to finally remove Axis forces from North Africa, then, a massive and complex joint landing operation was months in the planning: Operation Torch.

WWII North Africa Campaign, 1940-1943

Simeon Netchev (CC BY-NC-ND)

Continue reading...

[sandyhookhistory]

"A One For One Swap." Eighty Years Ago, Today - (Friday) December 11th, 1942. In the Mediterranean, 69 miles northwest of Oran, Algeria, U-443, a Type VIIC, is stalking Convoy KMF-4. Outbound from England, it is enroute to support the Allied efforts in North Africa, now a month old. She fires a pair of torpedoes - both find their mark on the Royal Navy destoryer HMS Blean (L-47, Hunt-Class, Photo 1). She is gone in four minutes, taking 89 Officers and Men with her. 94 others make it over the side, and are rescued. Meanwhile, the 6,400 ton German cargo ship "SS Trautenfels" (Photo 2) is cruising through the North Sea. Off Terschelling, an island on the north coast of Holland. She runs into a mine, and down she goes. There are No Fatalities. Juuuust another day. ** 🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲 Photos: 1, uboat.net; 2, wrecksite.eu #visitmonmouth #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #onlyinnewjersey #njspots #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #battleoftheatlantic #battleofthemediterranean #operationtorch #royalnavy #hmsblean #Kriegsmarine #uboats #uboat #torpedoattack #convoybattle #seamine #northseacoast #dutchhistory (at Fort Hancock, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmCd8ItA7k7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[spaingibraltarchannel]

Today I had one of the most awesome opportunities of my life! I got to go inside a tunnel at the center of The Rock of Gibraltar, at the bottom and go half way in The Rock, to see the office General Dwight D. Eisenhower used for 12 days to plan and coordinate Operation Torch, 80 years ago this November. This location also played a major role in preparations and planning for D-Day. Picture the Rock of Gibraltar (I always post it), inside is like Swiss cheese, full of tunnels throughout the entire Rock, which makes it one of the best defensive and decisive military strategic points in Europe. There are tunnels carved out inside, near the top, as well as at the very bottom which is where I was today, in the center of The Rock and at the very bottom. These tunnels (I have a video on some built in the 1700’s), are all over The Rock and most are not open to the public, however, I got lucky and got a tour of The Admiralty Tunnel. This tunnel was built in the late 1800’s. It goes from one side of The Rock completely to the other side forming openings on the east and west side of The Rock of Gibraltar. Military operations were held here with joint partnership with the US through WWII, the Cold War, Gulf War, up to the early 2000’s. I was so happy to have such an amazing opportunity thanks to Continent 8 Technologies , who currently use the space for their offices. I was so overwhelmed by pure excitement I didn’t get as much footage or pictures as I would have liked. But if anyone knows me, I’m like partially obsessed with Gibraltar, And this opportunity to go that deep inside The Rock, and experience US History and be in the same location as General (future President) Eisenhower was incredible. And a special thanks to @pieceofcake_gib for the connection to the tunnel, so full of gratitude for you 🙏 #gibraltar #wwii #worldwar2 #eisenhower #history #operationtorch #europehistory #gibraltartunnels #tunnels #undergound #military #militarybase #militaryhistory #wwiihistory (at Admiralty Tunnel) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch9-4iVMUw0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[wemhall]

October, 1942 - Dad and the Invasion of North Africa

October, 1942 – Dad and the Invasion of North Africa

They were kids really. These men getting ready to invade North Africa, were kids. 79 years ago, on November 8th, 1942, the invasion of North Africa began. Dad had turned 19 just two weeks before. Under the Command of Major General George S. Patton, Sergeant Willie I. Hall and his squad were among the first troops on the beach. It was the first US offensive ground engagement against the enemy…

[enjoytheshoqw]

Need Help everyone....I use donations to pay for Medicine that's not covered by insurance also pay for bills. I have an expedited disability hearing End of Nice because I was just on Hospice ....might being going back .....I have Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy at age 32 from my Professional Fighting Career and multiple concussions Please Help and every penny helps me guys even small donations I rely on you guys right now for real... Thanks for having my back Link http://www.Instagram.com/Scott.Mangum12 I did NOT PUT THE L AFTER MY NAME SEE INSTAGRAM FOR PROOF when SHARING THIS VIDEO ON MY FACEBOOK! #ENJOYTHESHOQW #THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE MY INSTAGRAM I'M OVER THE TARGET GUYS FUTURE PROVES PAST BTW I AM THE GUYS ON THE GOFUNDME MY NAME IS SCOTT I CREATED #ENJOYTHESHOQW ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS STARTING ON INSTAGRAM PLEASE FOLLOW ME I FOLLOW BACK ! WHERE WE GO ONE WE GO ALL! DARK TO LIGHT #ENJOYTHESHOQW #Q #PATRIOTSUNITED #WORLDWIDE #HONGKONG #PRAYFORJAPQN #PRAYFORCALIFORNIA #CALIFORNIA #BLACKOUTS #OPERATIONtorch #CALIFORNIA #ADAMSCHIFF http://www.GoFundMe.com/9myddr-Very-Sick-Please-Help https://www.instagram.com/p/B4LnW7VgAo2/?igshid=1o0zvh6q5q5tg

[sandyhookhistory]

80 Years Ago Today - (Wednesday) February 10th, 1943, in the Mediterranean: U-118, a Type XB, has done pretty well for herself these last few days, sinking or damaging three ships with her minefield just off the Strait of Gibraltar. Now, she wings a fourth. The neutral Spanish steamer "SS Duero" (Photo 1) blunders into a mine 8.4 miles north of Tangier, Morocco. The ship is only damaged and does not sink; casualties unspecified. On the polar opposite end of the Mediterranean, 20 miles southwest of Beirut, Lebanon, U-81 (VIIC) hits the Dutch tanker "SS Saroena" (Photo 2) with only one torpedo, but that's enough to ignite part of her cargo of 57,000 barrels of crude oil. Ablaze, she runs for shore and beaches herself by Beirut. Miraculously, they get the fire out and she is refloated, repaired, and returned to service. 2 Dead, 57 Survivors. Last but not least, the Germans actually manage to sink someone. 7.5 miles southwest of Suiderstrand, South Africa, U-509 (IXC) stalks Convoy CA-11. Her victim is the British freighter "SS Queen Anne" (Photo 3). 5 Dead, 39 Survivors. Just Another Day... 🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲 Photos: 1,2 uboat.net; 3, wrecksite.eu #visitmonmouth #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #battleoftheatlantic #battleofthemediterranean #seamine #minefields #straitofgibraltar #operationtorch #torpedoattack #convoybattle #kriegsmarine #oiltanker #merchantmariner #seamines #uboat #uboats #lifeboat https://www.instagram.com/p/Coga7qgNp5w/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sandyhookhistory]

"Scratch Two German Landing Boats" Eighty Years Ago Today - (Thursday) January 28th, 1943 - Sfax, Tunisia: The U-Boats aren't active today, but the US Army Air Forces are. As the noose is tightening on the Afrika Korps and their Italian Allies in North Africa, they are getting forced tighter and tighter into the coast of Tunisia. Allied land troops and tanks are closing in - as is their air cover. In an attack today, American planes sink Marinefährprahm F359 "landing barge" (similar craft, Photo 1) and the landing ferry "SF 36 Goldbutt" (similar craft, Photo 2). Casualties unspecified. Just another day... 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲 🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲 Photos: 1, wqrlordgames.com; 2, PubDom #visitmonmouth #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #onlyinnewjersey #njspots #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #battleoftheatlantic #battleofthemediterranean #Marinefahrprahm #landingcraft #landingbarge #afrikakorps #operationtorch #usarmyairforce #armyairforce #armyaircorps #airstrike #shipwrecks #goodshooting (at Fort Hancock, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn-lCkYADof/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[enjoytheshoqw]

Need Help everyone....I use donations to pay for Medicine that's not covered by insurance also pay for bills. I have an expedited disability hearing End of Nice because I was just on Hospice ....might being going back .....I have Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy at age 32 from my Professional Fighting Career and multiple concussions Please Help and every penny helps me guys even small donations I rely on you guys right now for real... Thanks for having my back Link http://www.Instagram.com/Scott.Mangum12 I did NOT PUT THE L AFTER MY NAME SEE INSTAGRAM FOR PROOF when SHARING THIS VIDEO ON MY FACEBOOK! #ENJOYTHESHOQW #THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE MY INSTAGRAM I'M OVER THE TARGET GUYS FUTURE PROVES PAST BTW I AM THE GUYS ON THE GOFUNDME MY NAME IS SCOTT I CREATED #ENJOYTHESHOQW ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS STARTING ON INSTAGRAM PLEASE FOLLOW ME I FOLLOW BACK ! WHERE WE GO ONE WE GO ALL! DARK TO LIGHT #ENJOYTHESHOQW #Q #PATRIOTSUNITED #WORLDWIDE #HONGKONG #PRAYFORJAPQN #PRAYFORCALIFORNIA #CALIFORNIA #BLACKOUTS #OPERATIONtorch #CALIFORNIA #ADAMSCHIFF http://www.GoFundMe.com/9myddr-Very-Sick-Please-Help #WWG1WGA https://www.instagram.com/p/B4LeT1_gik5/?igshid=17pyro9p291e7

[enjoytheshoqw]

Need Help everyone....I use donations to pay for Medicine that's not covered by insurance also pay for bills. I have an expedited disability hearing End of Nice because I was just on Hospice ....might being going back .....I have Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy at age 32 from my Professional Fighting Career and multiple concussions Please Help and every penny helps me guys even small donations I rely on you guys right now for real... Thanks for having my back Link http://www.Instagram.com/Scott.Mangum12 I did NOT PUT THE L AFTER MY NAME SEE INSTAGRAM FOR PROOF when SHARING THIS VIDEO ON MY FACEBOOK! #ENJOYTHESHOQW #THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE MY INSTAGRAM I'M OVER THE TARGET GUYS FUTURE PROVES PAST BTW I AM THE GUYS ON THE GOFUNDME MY NAME IS SCOTT I CREATED #ENJOYTHESHOQW ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS STARTING ON INSTAGRAM PLEASE FOLLOW ME I FOLLOW BACK ! WHERE WE GO ONE WE GO ALL! DARK TO LIGHT #ENJOYTHESHOQW #Q #PATRIOTSUNITED #WORLDWIDE #HONGKONG #PRAYFORJAPQN #PRAYFORCALIFORNIA #CALIFORNIA #BLACKOUTS #OPERATIONTorch #CALIFORNIA http://www.GoFundMe.com/9myddr-Very-Sick-Please-Help #WWG1WGA https://www.instagram.com/p/B4LavQPgSvH/?igshid=1bkvhqj8a8csz

[enjoytheshoqw]

Need Help everyone....I use donations to pay for Medicine that's not covered by insurance also pay for bills. I have an expedited disability hearing End of Nice because I was just on Hospice ....might being going back .....I have Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy at age 32 from my Professional Fighting Career and multiple concussions Please Help and every penny helps me guys even small donations I rely on you guys right now for real... Thanks for having my back Link http://www.Instagram.com/Scott.Mangum12 I did NOT PUT THE L AFTER MY NAME SEE INSTAGRAM FOR PROOF when SHARING THIS VIDEO ON MY FACEBOOK! #ENJOYTHESHOQW #THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE MY INSTAGRAM I'M OVER THE TARGET GUYS FUTURE PROVES PAST BTW I AM THE GUYS ON THE GOFUNDME MY NAME IS SCOTT I CREATED #ENJOYTHESHOQW ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS STARTING ON INSTAGRAM PLEASE FOLLOW ME I FOLLOW BACK ! WHERE WE GO ONE WE GO ALL! DARK TO LIGHT #ENJOYTHESHOQW #Q #PATRIOTSUNITED #WORLDWIDE #HONGKONG #PRAYFORJAPQN #PRAYFORCALIFORNIA #CALIFORNIA #BLACKOUTS #OPERATIONTorch #CALIFORNIA http://www.GoFundMe.com/9myddr-Very-Sick-Please-Help #WWG1WGA https://www.instagram.com/p/B4LavQPgSvH/?igshid=1qa61623bbyx6