North African Campaign

The North African Campaign, also known as the Desert War, of World War II took place in the North African desert during 1940-1943.

Operation Torch

In an attempt to pincer German forces, American forces landed in Vichy-held French North Africa under the assumption that there would be little to no resistance.

Related Topics:
American - Vichy - French North Africa

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Nevertheless, Vichyists put up a strong and bloody resistance to allied forces in Oran and Morocco. But not in Algiers, where the French resistance Putsch of November 8, had succeeded in neutralizing the French XIX Army Corps of Algiers before the landing, and in arresting the Vichyist generals (Juin, Darlan, etc.). Consequently the landings practically met no opposition, and Algiers has been captured the first day with the whole Vichyist African command. Then General Clark, Eisenhower assistant had to compel the Vichyist admiral François Darlan (and chief commander General Juin) who, after 3 days of talks and threats, to order French forces to cease armed resistance in Oran and Morocco, November 10 and 11, providing he remained head of a French administration.

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