Editing Operation Torch (section)

{{short description|Allied landing operations in French North Africa during World War II}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{This article is about|the World War II Allied campaign in North Africa|Biafran offensive during the Nigerian Civil War|Midwest Invasion of 1967}}{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Operation Torch
| partof            = the [[North African campaign]] of the [[Second World War]]
| image             = Operation Torch - map.jpg
| image_upright = 1.0
| caption           = Landings during the operation
| date              = 8–16 November 1942 <br />({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=11 |day1=08 |year1=1942 |month2=11 |day2=16 |year2=1942}})
| place             = [[French protectorate in Morocco|French Morocco]], [[French Algeria]]
| result            = [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] victory
| territory         = *Anglo-American occupation of French Morocco and French Algeria
* [[Case Anton]] (Axis occupation of southern France)
| combatant1        = {{flag|United States|1912}}<br />{{flag|United Kingdom}}
| combatant2        = {{flag|Vichy France}}<br />{{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}}<br />{{flagcountry|Fascist Italy (1922-1943)}}
| commander1        = {{plainlist |
* {{nowrap|{{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]}}
* {{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[George S. Patton]]
* {{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Henry Kent Hewitt]]
* {{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[Lloyd Fredendall]]
* {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope|Andrew Cunningham]]
* {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Kenneth Anderson (British Army officer)|Kenneth Anderson]]
* {{flagicon|Vichy France}} [[François Darlan]] <small>(Since 14 November)</small>
}}
| commander2        = {{plainlist |
* {{flagicon|Vichy France}} [[François Darlan]]
* {{flagicon|Vichy France}} [[Alphonse Juin]]
* {{flagicon|Vichy France}} [[Charles Noguès]]
* {{flagicon|Vichy France}} [[Frix Michelier]]
}}
| strength1         = '''Ground forces:'''<br />107,000 troops<br />35,000 in Morocco<br />39,000 near Algiers<br />33,000 near Oran<br />'''Naval activity:'''<br />108 aircraft<br />350 warships<br />500 transports
| strength2         = '''Ground forces:'''<br />125,000 troops<br />210 tanks<br />500 aircraft<br />many [[shore batteries]] <br />'''Naval forces:'''<br />{{nowrap|1 [[French battleship Jean Bart (1940)|battleship]] (partially armed)}}<br />10 other warships<br />11 submarines<br />'''Germany:''' 42 submarines<br />'''Italy''': 21 submarines
| casualties1       = '''United States''':{{sfn|Breuer|1985|p=254}}<br />556 dead<br />837 wounded<br />'''United Kingdom''':<br />574 dead<br />'''Naval Forces''':<br />1 escort carrier<br /> 4 destroyers<br />2 sloops<br />6 troopships<br />1 minesweeper<br />1 auxiliary anti-aircraft ship
| casualties2       = '''Vichy France:'''<br />1,346+ dead<br />1,997 wounded<br />1 light cruiser<br />5 destroyers<br />6 submarines<br />2 [[flotilla leader]]s<br />'''Germany:''' 8 submarines<br />'''Italy:''' 2 submarines
}}
{{Campaignbox Vichy France Military in World War II}}
{{Campaignbox North Africa}}

'''Operation Torch''' (8–16 November 1942) was an [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] invasion of [[French North Africa]] during the [[Second World War]]. Torch was a compromise operation that met the British objective of securing victory in North Africa while allowing American armed forces the opportunity to begin their fight against [[Nazi Germany]] and [[Fascist Italy]] on a limited scale.{{sfn|Willmott|1984|p=213}}

The French colonies were aligned with Germany via [[Vichy France]] but the loyalties of the population were mixed. Reports indicated that they might support the Allies. The American General [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], supreme commander of the Allied forces in [[Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II|Mediterranean theater of the war]], approved plans for a three-pronged attack on [[Casablanca]] (Western), [[Oran]] (Centre) and [[Algiers]] (Eastern), then a rapid move on [[Tunis]] to catch Axis forces in North Africa from the west in conjunction with the British advance from [[Egypt]].

The Western Task Force encountered unexpected resistance and bad weather but Casablanca, the principal French Atlantic naval base, was captured after a short siege. The Centre Task Force suffered some damage to its ships when trying to land in shallow water; Oran surrendered after bombardment by British battleships. The Eastern Task Force met less opposition and were able to push inland and compel surrender on the first day.

The success of Torch caused Admiral [[François Darlan]], commander of the Vichy French forces, who was in Algiers, to order co-operation with the Allies, in return for being installed as [[French Civil and Military High Command|High Commissioner]], with many other Vichy officials keeping their jobs. Darlan was assassinated by a monarchist six weeks later and the [[Free French]] gradually came to dominate the government.

[[Category:Battles of World War II involving the United States]]