Operation Torch 11/8/42

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the Allied landings in northern Africa. In Churchill's words it is an attack on the "soft underbelly" of the German juggernaut.
This was probably the most difficult time of the war for the Allies since half a world away the US was heavily committed to wresting Guadalcanal back from the Japanese and shipping, materiel and manpower were stretched to the breaking point.
Ike said this was the most trying time of the war for him as he tries to juggle the competing interests of the French (both Free and Vichy) the Brits (with their various commonwealths) the Americans and last but not least, the people of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, etc.
It's the first time the US Army really engages the German and Italian enemy too - with green troops and untested tactics.
Give a thought to those who were there as they grope their way to victory.
Torch

My father was in North Africa, he was a Paratrooper. I don't know when as he would never talk about it much. I do know that he saw and did horrible things that he worked very hard to forget. War is he!!. Dad passed in 2003 and I miss him terribly. His happiest times and I think his therapy I think, was to spend time on a tractor. Mom would get upset with him because he would come home from work (Banker) and get on the tractor without changing clothes.

What's really amazing about Operation Torch is that on Dec 6 1941 the US was totally unprepared for war yet in less than a year had launched 2 invasions, Guadalcanal and Operation Torch, stopped the Japanese at Coral Sea and beaten them at Midway. Truly an amazing feat accomplished by the raw courage of our servicemen and our industrial might.

Rick

As a young boy I too attempted to get dad to tell me about it. He flat refused! Don't blame him now but that wasn't the answer I wanted back then. He missed the Bataan Death March by the stroke of a pen....was needed in the Aleutians instead to stop that infiltration just as he and his company were boarding the ship for the Phillipines.

An old family friend grew up in Abilene, Kansas, Ike's hometown. When he, (Perry) was in high school, he worked part time for a local dry cleaner, delivering clean clothes after school. He routinely made deliveries to Ike's house.

Came WWII and Perry was drafted into the Army and sent to North Africa. Perry said he once drove his CO to headquarters for something or other, and while he was waiting in the Jeep, Ike and his entourage drove up. Ike walked past the front of Perry's Jeep, then turned around and asked Perry, "Where do I know you from?"

Perry told him, and Ike chatted for a few minutes about Abalene and went on his way. Perry always thought it was really something that someone of Ike's stature would take a few minutes out of the war to chat with a hometown brat.

That was the first use of liason aircraft, (which flew off an aircraft carrier for the only time) to spot for naval artillery. Problem was that they didn't brief the navy well enough and all but one were shot down by our own forces. The only one that got through was quickly shot down IIRC.

my neighbor and second cousin fought in north Africa, then was sent to England to prepare for d-day. he survived the beach landing then fought his way across Europe receiving a battle field promotion and silver star. he never talked about it. his son and were talking recently and he told that "dad" would wake the family at night from his screaming in his sleep. I cannot imagine.

I totally agree. It's really something to think about. The America then sure isn't the America now.

(quoted from post at 12:48:34 11/08/17) I totally agree. It's really something to think about. The America then sure isn't the America now.

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I think you`re right about that. Our industrial base is nothing near what it was back then, and no where near as regulated as it is now.

Bingo, Mark.

The tables have turned.

Anyone care to speculate how many liberty ships we could build next year, let alone tanks, planes, etc?

We would not be able to import them from China.

Dean

totally unprepared? do some more research- plans for a join the British war in spring 1943 made. The Us was gearing up for the war in 1940, Curtis warplanes for French were sold and money used for more tooling for Wright Cyclones engines. Pratt and whitney got some money for molds for the twin row cases. Remington got the old rock island rifle tooling to make 1903a3 rifles. Lots of military goods contract for British after French sales over. CCC camp rexcruitment for Army before draft, navy had some recruiters and the shore facilities for training built. Pacific fleet got Pearl harbor base instead of San Fransisco. USA military and industry doing same thing as was done WW1- build up industry for military supplies and make British, French pay for initial costs instead of taxpayers. Philipines was the secondary proposed forward base against Japan if needed- thoughts of politicians was directed first at Germany, second at Japan and the politicians didn't think Japanese would strike when they did- intelligence consensus was Japan would leave US alone for 6 months until British, leftover french, dutch territories taken, then diplomats would make deals, Japan would strike after diplomats meetings were over, then the counter to have one big campaign- sort of like the Russians in 1904 defeat- and then the diplomats would talk again- didn't understand Japanese culture of ruling party, Black Dragon society influence--and second guess wrong was Japan would strike at Russia instead of honor non -aggression Pact same as Hitler had done. Wrong guess on Japans plans--but strategic industrial program was in effect mid 1940, production of weapons, training facilities being built, training excersizes for tanks done. Torch Planning was started as one of options before Japanese attack. Lend-lease as option after 'Cash and Carry' for allied weapons production was discussed- the WW1 production and loans for weapons that had given a couple of war profiters a big advantage was not popular 1940- lessons learned WW1 and political fallout afterwards. Germans struck first at Russians before they could use their plans to strike at Germany 1943, Gehlen had info about stalins proposals, KGB archives available to researcher after Soviet collapse showed pretty close on timing. US military 'fast response' to strike at Germany after Japanese attack-- plans already made, equipment being made, troops being trained.
russians got a lot of tooling out of western russia and shipped to Urals- plans had been made to do that before Barbarosa and timeline was pretty much followed to get strategic equipment out of range of Luftwaffe. Publicity at time of conflict has 'heroic' response, actual response was planned before attaks, plans A,B,C to Z if SHTF. 'Neutral' America was very friendly to British, supplies from US sent to Canada and then loaded on british shipping, then US ships would do some of their own trips, US navy attacking German craft before war declared- north atlantic convoys with american aircraft patrols, destroyers shooting at germans- provocations as planned against germany, economic sanctions, diplomatic sanctions against Japanese to delay them- object of diplomatic measures against germany as done WW1- 2 years or more of profitable war good production and then fresh troops sent at end to get share of war booty. Cynical historical analisis. RN

Dad was a bit involved in North Africa. Having been in the NG on Pearl Harbor day, his status changed from USAR to regular Army. They didn't waste a lot of time shipping out- he was a Combat Engineer and landed on a small island in the middle of the Atlantic in March of 1942. They then cut the tops off two mountains and filled the valley in between. Ascension Island now became an airbase. We then put belly tanks on fighter aircraft and flew them to Brazil, then to Ascension, then on to a new airbase they built in the Belgian Congo. The aircraft then flew to the North African front to the next field they built. The Germans didn't know about Ascension until it was too late and we were flying planes to the front through a back door. Pop got shot in the hand in North Africa and was sent home and made a 90 day wonder in 1943, sent back to England in May of 1944 and landed on Omaha beach two weeks later. When VE day came, they started to get ready to be shipped to Saipan for the Japanese invasion, but VJ day came before they left Europe. Even with all the bungling, they managed to do pretty good.....

When the Allies left North Africa my Uncle was one of the soldiers who were sent to Coriano Beach in Italy. Last Beach he ever seen. He was killed on the beach.

His identical twin Brother was sent for. A Soldier was sent to bring my Uncle (a Canadian Soldier)to his brothers side....he was to late, his brother had died.

Coriano Ridge War Cemetery HISTORY

Coriano Ridge War Cemetery in Italy is a World War II Commonwealth cemetery located in what was a vital strategic site in 1944.

Once Italy had reached an armistice with the Allies in 1943, Allied forces began to engage in fierce battles aimed at removing German forces ? particularly the Gothic Line - from Italy, especially in the areas surrounding Rimini.

It was vital for the Allies to take Coriano Ridge in order to allow them to liberate Rimini from German forces. Yet, hampered by severe rain and German resistance, the battle for Coriano Ridge, whilst eventually successful, led to significant casualties.

Today, Coriano Ridge War Cemetery contains the neatly tended graves of 1,939 Commonwealth soldiers from the British and Canadian divisions that fought there, notably the Eighth Army, the 1st British Armoured Division and the 5th Canadian Armoured Division.

I had six Uncles and an Aunt,all from the same family Conscripted (drafted).

Bob....

Not prepared?
Why do you think the 9Ns were painted ugly battleship gray?