North Africa: Hitler’s First Defeat

1. North Africa: Hitler’s First Defeat

2. North Africa • America had decided that Germany would be the number one enemy • The bombing of Pearl Harbor changed this plan • Once Americans took Guadalcanal, they could focus on Hitler again. • In Europe, the Soviets were still fighting German invaders

3. North Africa • British and Americans could not agree of where to attack Hitler • British wanted to attack Germany’s outer ring • America wanted to go through France and attack into the heart of Germany • Stalin wanted the Allies to open a Second Front in Europe

4. North Africa • British invade Dieppe on French Coast • Was a disaster • Roosevelt and Churchill agree the Allies aren’t ready to invade Europe • Decide to invade in North Africa

5. North Africa • Mussolini’s men were the first to invade British-held Egypt • They were stopped and the Germans and Rommel come in • Continues to go back and forth • Rommel attacks again and Tobruk falls. The Afrika Korps drive toward Cairo and Suez Canal.

6. North Africa • U.S. send Sherman tanks and guns • General Montgomery takes over the British Africa campaign • Said there would be no retreat from their position at El Alamein • Control of North Africa would give the Allies a base from which to invade Italy

7. North Africa • Dwight D. Eisenhower named Commanding General, European Theater of Operations • General Montgomery builds up his forces at El Alamein • Would be the final thrust of the Desert War

8. El Alamein • Massive assault began at night • Von Stumme dies of a heart attack and Rommel called back in. • Rommel personally leads one counterattack which fails • Orders full retreat • El Alamein was an Allied victory

9. American Invasion of North Africa • 3 invasions of North Africa • Casablanca in Morocco • Oran- inside the Mediterranean Sea • Algiers in Algeria • Called Operation Torch • Eisenhower sends Major General Clark to meet with two French Generals known to be sympathetic to the Allies

10. American Invasion of North Africa • Eisenhower looks for someone the French will follow in this invasion • General Henri Giraud • Eisenhower sends 100 Allied invasion ships through the Strait of Gibraltar • Invasion begins the following morning

11. Algiers • Algeria surrenders in one day

12. Oran • Had fierce resistance • French will not follow General Giraud so put Admiral Darlan in charge of North Africa.

13. Casablanca • Fiercest of all fighting • Invasion force commanded by George S. Patton • 3 days later, French surrender but object to surrender terms. • Eventually the problem of French allegiance was solved.

14. Tunisia • Tunisia was the land separating Algeria and Libya • In Libya, Rommel was retreating with Montgomery in pursuit • Rommel would reach Tunisia • Eisenhower wants to beat Rommel to Tunis

15. Tunisia • British and American forces close in • Rommel realizes the battle is lost, but Hitler will not let him evacuate

16. Interactive Map • Interactive Map of North Africa Campaign