Transcript Battle of El-Alamein and Operation Torchx

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 reenforcements 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
24th
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, 1942- 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 reenforcements 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, 1942- 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, 1942- Allied invasion forces reach North Africa
• Nov 9th- First French Ceasefire begins
• Nov 12-16th- 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 17-26th- Allies capture strategic cities including Beja, Sidi Nsir, Medjes
el Bab
• Nov 30th- 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, 2015. Web. 23 Mar.
2015.
• van Hartesveldt, Fred R., and Tucker, Spencer C. "Battle of El Alamein:
World War II." World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society. ABCCLIO, 2015. Web. 23 Mar. 2015.