Operation Torch

bigpigeon.us webpage WWII - Germany > MTO > North Africa & Sicily > Operation Torch, updated by RAC 21 Jan 2022.

French North Africa

In early November 1942, the French North African colonies of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia were controlled by the Axis-oriented Vichy French government.
Over 100,000 French military personnel were stationed in these three colonies.
Clandestine efforts to persuade French political and military leaders in North Africa to switch loyalty from Vichy France to the Allies failed.

Morocco, Algeria & Tunisia

Operation Torch, 8 November 1942. Operation Torch consisted of amphibious landings by British and American forces in three locations in French North Africa:

near Casablanca in Morocco.
near Oran in northwest Algeria.
near Algiers in north central Algeria.

Vichy French forces resisted until 11 November, resulting in the deaths of around 500 Americans.

Operation Torch Landings - 8 Nov 1942

The Allied forces that landed near Algiers included the US 168th Infantry Regiment, formerly of the Iowa National Guard, and the British 1st and 6th Commando Battalions, to which many Iowans were attached.

The Allied Landings at Algiers - 8 Nov 1942

The Allied Landings at Algiers - 8 November 1942

Allied forces moved eastward from Algeria towards Tunisia by sea, by road, and by rail as quickly as possible. However, adequate motor transportation was not available and German aircraft attacked Allied troop movements on the French railroad network.

Meanwhile, Germany rushed forces by air and sea into Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, and other locations on northern Tunisia.

French North Africa Railroads 1935

Germany won the race to Tunis.

While US and British forces were approaching Tunisia from the west, Erwin Rommel's German and Italian army were beginning their long retreat from the El Alamein area in northern Egypt to Tripoli in northwestern Libya and then into Tunisia.

Thus the Allied North African Campaign continued in Tunisia for six additional months.

Northeastern Algeria & Northern Tunisia

Sources for the Operation Torch webpage:

The Morocco, Algeria & Tunisia map is courtesy of https://www.nationsonline.org/index.html.
The Operation Torch Landings map is courtesy of https://history.army.mil/brochures/algeria/algeria.htm.
The Allied Landings at Algiers map is courtesy of C. Peter Chen's World War II database and was found at https://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=27204.
The French North Africa Railroads 1935 is courtesy of railwaywondersoftheworld.com.
The Northeastern Algeria & Northern Tunisia map is courtesy of https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-MTO-NWA/.

Pottawattamie Area WWII Dead Roster - Operation Torch:

Taken from the bigpigeon.us WWII Roster module.

02-01 - North Africa & Sicily > Morocco and Algeria: (five dead, updated 21 Jan 2022)
† Alff, John Fredrick, SN 37-118-084, US Army, Pott & Cass Cos.

436 Coast Artillery Bn.; on troop transport USS Tasker H. Bliss (AP-42); KIA 12 Nov 1942 Fedala Roads, off Casablanca, Morocco, North Africa; Bliss sunk by German submarine U-130, 31 dead, 204 survivors; North Africa & Sicily > Operation Torch; BNR.

† Bird, Frank Raymond, SN 20-706-126, US Army, Mills Co.

Co. I, 168th Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div., detached to British Commando; WIA 8 Nov 1942; DOW 12 Nov 1942 near Algiers, Algeria; North Africa & Sicily > Operation Torch.

† Denison, Paul Marsh, SN 20-706-336, US Army, Cass Co.

b. 28 Oct 1918 Anita, Cass Co.; s/o George E. Denison & Elva L. Marsh; entered service 10 Feb 1941 from Atlantic, Cass Co.; bur. Cass Co.
Co. K, 168th Inf. Regt., Cass Co.; KIA 8 Nov 1942 Algiers, Algeria; North Africa & Sicily > Operation Torch.

† Johnston, Stanford Samuel, SN 20-706-341, US Army, Cass Co.

Co. K, 168th Inf. Regt., 34th Inf. Div.; KIA 8 Nov 1942 near Algiers, Algeria; North Africa & Sicily > Operation Torch.

† Klefman, Gordon Louis, SN O-325561, US Army, Pott. Co. & Douglas Co., NE

Co. C, 1st Ranger Bn. (one of 500 original US Army Rangers); KIA 10 Nov 1942 near Oran, Algeria, North Africa; North Africa & Sicily > Operation Torch.