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Allied
forces landed on the coast of Morocco. Their main targets were
Casablanca, Algiers, and Oran. Strategically, the Allies’
intention was to cleanse the western coast of Africa of German
forces and create a basis for a future offensive in southern Europe.
Algiers fell that evening, but the Vichy French put up stiff
resistance in Oran. One of the forces meant to land in Casablanca
lost 242 ships, 64 percent of its fleet, but established a beachhead
anyway. It was obvious to everyone that the Allies’ North African
toehold would hasten the liberation of France. |
