BATTLE OF EL-ALAMEIN AND OPERATION TORCH By Grace Wu and Ryan Ducich

THESIS While on it’s own it was fairly inconsequential, the Battle of El-Alamein and Operation Torch created a crucial foundation for a victory in North Africa and eventually for a victory in the War as a whole

ORIGINS OF THE INVASION Stemmed from a promise by Roosevelt to Stalin to invade Germany before 1943 American forces originally wanted to invade continental France, but after a failed attack on Dieppe, the Allied forced agreed that it would be better attack in North Africa The allies also wanted to open up a new front for the war to divert Axis re- enforcements away from the Eastern Front Based on ideas from Operation Gymnast (a British contingency plan) and Operation Roundup

BATTLE OF EL-ALAMEIN Spearheaded by the British, this was the first step in opening up the war on the North African Front Led by commander Monty Montgomery, British Armies attacked the German lines in Western Egypt near El-Alamein Started with the dropping of 122 tons of bombs on Axis airfields on October 24 th

BLINDSIDED!

AMERICA LAUNCHES OPERATION TORCH

AMERI-CAN! Given fact that Britain had attacked Vichy French forces before, they felt that America would be better received if they received the credit for the invasion. All Allied troops involved in the Operation, regardless of nationality, flew the American Flag, which was quite literally displayed anywhere and everywhere possible Allies hoped that the French would see the American landing as a liberation in stead of an invasion The Operation was not well received and saw surprisingly heavy French resistance

Allies Advance East

Meanwhile…

TIMELINE OF EL-ALAMEIN October 24, British aircraft dropped 122 tons of bombs on Axis airfields and tank concentrations Oct 25- The British army launches a diversion attack in the South, drawing German re- enforcements away from the real target Oct 25 – 30 – British continues to move north, heaving fighting observed in Egypt, Axis forces at El Alamein with only 320 tanks while Allies had 800 tanks Oct 31 – Nov 7 – German launched four successive strikes against Australian troops, Rommel plans to withdraw forces, Operation Supercharge launched destroying Axis tanks, Axis begins to fall back November 8, Operation Torch begins Nov 8 – 11 – Axis defenses in Egypt fall back, Allied captured Sidi Barrani in Egypt, Axis troops pushed out of Egypt Nov 13 – 23 – Allied Troops capture most of Libya, British Troops enter city of Benghazi, Axis evacuate Libya Nov 27 – Dec 18 – Axis stiffens resistance on approaches to Tunis, Tunisia, Italy fights off Britain

TIMELINE OF OPERATION TORCH November 8, Allied invasion forces reach North Africa Nov 9 th - First French Ceasefire begins Nov th - Paratroopers attack airfields, Allied and Axis paratroopers fight for control of strategic airfields near Bore, Youles le Bains, Soul el Arba resulting in Allied Victory Nov 16th- Allied forces begin to move into German-held Tunisia Nov th - Allies capture strategic cities including Beja, Sidi Nsir, Medjes el Bab Nov 30 th - Allies progress into North Africa is halted by German Reinforcement Total Liberation of North Africa is not achieved Paved way for Allies capture of North Africa and helped develop strategies for amphibian invasion into Sicily, Italy, and Normandy

OUTCOMES The Battle of El-Alamein and Operation Torch failed to secure North Africa, but set the groundwork for the Allied victory Ended with German Armies fighting off American armies advancing from the West and British Armies advancing from the East Secured ports and airfields along the Mediterranean coast Scared Spain out of signing a pseudo alliance with Germany Resulted in massive troop movement by the Axis into North Africa, only prolonging the inevitable Axis defeat

WORK CITED Tucker, Spencer C. "Operation TORCH: World War II." World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society. ABC-CLIO, Web. 23 Mar van Hartesveldt, Fred R., and Tucker, Spencer C. "Battle of El Alamein: World War II." World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society. ABC- CLIO, Web. 23 Mar