Operation Torch: The Battle for North Africa

Operation Torch:
For 35 months the United Kingdom, United States, Free French, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Poland, and Greece fought the axis troops in South Africa. The allied troops were trying to prevent the Soviet Union spreading any more into different parts of the world. It ended up being a victory for the allied troops with around 100,000 casualties and over 950,000 for the axis troops. British code breaking operation was a huge contributor to the success of the allied troops. This was a big win for the allied troops because it gave them control of the Mediterranean, and stopped the axis from spreading even further across the globe. It also gave the allied generals a better perspective on the intentions of the axis powers.


Allied troops arrive at the beaches on Algiers. (for original site click here)

Many of the battles were back in forth for the most part between sides until the Allied troops stormed Egypt with more then 200,000 troops, taking over tanks, stationery weapons, and breaking the Axis front with superior firepower and massive numbers.

http://http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Crusadertankandgermantank.jpg A British crusader tank passes a burning German mach IV during

Operation Crusader

A back-and-forth series of battles for control of Libya and parts of Egypt followed, climaxing in the Second Battle of El Alamein when British Commonwealth forces under the command of Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery, delivered a decisive defeat to the Axis forces and pushed the Axis forces back to Tunisia. Following the Allied landings in North West Africa, Operation Torch, in late 1942 under the command of General Dwight Eisenhower, and after Allied battles against Vichy France forces (which subsequently joined the Allies), the combined Allied forces encircled the Axis forces in northern Tunisia and forced their surrender.

American Generals Dwight D. Eisenhower (right) and George S. Patton plan Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa. Place uncertain, 1942

1ST Parachute Brigade was fully operational for Operation TORCH, which began with amphibious landings by the Allied 1st Army on 8th November 1942. Employed initially in the classic airborne role, dropping ahead of advancing ground forces until link-up, they were later employed in the infantry role, earning for themselves the nickname the ‘Red Devils’. http://www.paradata.org.uk/events/north-africa-operation-torch





Here are the landings of the allied ships in africa.


Quiz questions:

1.Q:what year did operation torch begin?
A:1942

2.Q:name two american generals of operation torch.
A:Dwight D. Eisenhower, George S. Patton

3.Q:true or false; operation torch took place in North Africa?
A:True