168 - Axis and Allies Both Invade France - WW2 - November 13, 1942

by Panzer
So they stopped Hitler’s train, huh?
Man, I wouldn’t wanna be the guy who had to do that.
So what did he do then?
He called the French and the Italians together?
Okay...
November 13, 1942
The Allies realized months ago that they could not open a second European front this year,
but they could open a new front in Africa, attacking the Vichy French African possessions;
a big strike against the Axis Powers.
And that strike begins this week, Operation Torch.
I’m Indy Neidell; this is World War Two.
Last week the Allies broke through in Egypt and decisively defeated Erwin Rommel’s forces
in the 2nd Battle of El Alamein.
The Axis were also in trouble in the Caucasus, with a panzer division surrounded.
There was a bit of a lull at Stalingrad the second half of the week, though, as both sides
prepared new offensives.
Adolf Hitler leaves the Eastern Front by train for Munich the afternoon of the 7th.
The morning of the 8th, the train is halted so he can be given a message from the Foreign
Office in Berlin.
It says that British radio is announcing that an American invasion force is making landings
at Algiers, Oran, and Casablanca.
This is Operation Torch.
“In victory of defeat, Torch was sure to be spectacular.
An amphibious assault from the sea is one of war’s most complex operations, and the
Americans were making not one but three landings.
No one knew whether the troops would be greeted with bouquets or bullets; in fact, it was
entirely possible that Torch would tip the balance against the Allies rather than for
them.”
(Sears)
This is true.
Remember, after the Fall of France and the armistice, German troops had not occupied
the French African possessions and only half of France itself, and so all high French Officers
agreed to honor the armistice and made personal oaths of loyalty to Philippe Petain.
Military honor is a big deal to an officer and that oath pretty clearly requires them
to defend against Allied attacks.
At the same time, Nazi Germany is equally clearly their true mortal enemy.
Torch begins on November 8th.
There are three main sectors of operations: a Western Task Force lands at three points
on a 350 km front around Casablanca.