Operation+Torch

Operation Torch

Name: William Cornfield Gender: Male Race: White Religion: Protestant Age: 33 Address: 27 Chester Avenue, NY 32562

Dear Diary, May 1943 Today is the last day. After months of heavy fighting the last of the African Korps, led by General Erwin Rommel surrendered. Many of my fellow comrades lay strewn across the field bathed in their own blood. I remember it clearly the date is November 1942 and I and some 107,000 Allied troops landed in North Africa. At first it was our intention to strike with haste directly at the source, Nazi Germany. However I was not planning to die because of some poor thought up plan by Stantin, who thought that an attack across the English Channel would divert German troop’s attention from the Soviet Line. Luckily Roosevelt thought differently, he and Churchill believed that it would be suicide putting the unprepared allied troops up against seasoned German veterans (Burleson 1). He therefore proposed an operation that would weaken Germany without committing to a full frontal invasion. This would later be known as operation torch. The objective of operation torch was to seize the major ports and airfield in Africa. This would allow the allies to perform operations from air and sea. The assault would consist of three units (Burleson 2). The western component totaling 35000 troops would land in Morocco taking Casablanca and Port Lyautey (Browning 2). The Central Attack Force would capture Oran with 39000 American troops (Burleson 1). The last stage would be to capture Algeria with the 60000 troops in the eastern force at the allies disposal (Browning 2). The importance of the operation was due to the particular timing. In 1942 Hitler’s forces took the French colonial possession of North Africa, after the surrender of the French in the 1940’s, making the Aegean Sea unsafe for British ships (Browning 1). However, there was a complication, some North Africa French colonies remained loyal and France sent several ships to occupy the African ports. This caused a dilemma and upon landing the French welcomed us with gun fire (“Operation” 1). Eventually all the troops and supplies were on land and the operation commenced. However the French actually posed little interference. November 11 was the last day of fighting (“Operation” 1). After months of heavy fighting the last of the African Korps, led by General Erwin Rommel surrendered. Many of my fellow comrades lay strewn across the field bathed in their own blood. The operation was a success, even with the loss of our own. This proved to be the turning point of the war with Germany being on the defensive for the duration of the war. Alex Tubito



Browing, Robert. **“****Operation Torch: The Coast Guard and the Invasion of North Africa.” __U.S.__ __Coast Guard__. July 2000. 23 October 2007 <****[|http://www.uscg.mil/history/OperationTorch.html****>.]**


 * Burleson, Mike. “Operation Torch.” __Buzzle__. 8 November 2002. 23 October 2007 <****[|http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/11-7-2002-29827.asp****>.]**


 * “Operation Torch.” 23 November 2007 <****[|http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWtorch.htm****>.]**