Operation TORCH: The Seizure of Casablanca

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the situation of the Allied powers in early December 1941 and the United States' decision to focus on "Europe first," which led, after some opposition from the United States Joint Chiefs, to the North African Campaign. The writer describes the situation in Northwest Africa, which was completely under European, mostly French, control at the time, and explains that the only way into Africa was through one of the few French artificial ports, most notable of which was Casablanca. As the French were less likely to resist American forces than British, Operation Torch was mainly commanded by U.S. officers, notably General Patton. The writer describes the preparations for the assault as well as the assault itself, and concludes that Operation Torch was extremely successful since, with casualties of only about 1% of the landing force, Morocco succumbed in less that four days.

From the Paper:

"Why North Africa? The British already had a vested interest in controlling the Suez Canal, a vital point for both sides of the conflict. Since the autumn of 1940 the Eighth Army had fought a successful battle against combined Italian and German forces, but the tide was on the brink of turning. Rommel, commander of the German Afrika Korps, was able to retake the initiative after the seizure of Tobruk in June, 1942. This seizure gave him a direct line of supply from the Balkans, through Nazi occupied Crete, and into Tobruk. With this vital life line, Rommel and the Afrika Korps were able in July to punch deep into Egypt, stopping only at El 'Alamein due to thinning supply lines."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Maurice Matloff and Edwin M. Snell. United States Army in World War II, The War Department: Strategic Planning for Coalition Warfare 1941-42. Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army: Washington, D.C., 1953.
• Matloff, Maurice. United States Army in World War II, The War Department: Strategic Planning for Coalition Warfare 1943-44. Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army: Washington, D.C., 1959.
• Howe, George F. United States Army in World War II, The War Department: Northwest Africa: Seizing the Initiative in the West. Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army: Washington, D.C., 1957.
• Anderson, Charles R. U.S. Army History of the Operations: Algeria-French Monaco. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Department of the Army: Washington, D.C., 1957.

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