Tuesday, December 9, 2014

The Famous French Resistance

There is a book out on the French psyche. The thesis is that the entire modern French mind is damaged by the French collaboration with the Nazis through the Vichy government, a puppet government set up by the Germans in southern France and French North Africa. The Americans first encountered the Vichy government in North Africa.

The Americans, struggling against Japan, wanted to make its citizens aware of their responsibilities against the Germans. The British, impressed with the German war machine and reluctant to commit to the European continent yet with no stronghold, shied away from the idea of attacking Europe; they wanted to attack North Africa. They hoped to weaken Hitler with another front and felt the French Vichy forces in North Africa would be accepting of an attack. The American military wanted to attack Europe but Roosevelt over rode them and with the British for French North Africa. The operation was code named Operation Torch and would be the largest invasion of land by sea in history.
Eisenhower was appointed lieutenant general and named to head Operation Torch. A number of bizarre elements arose. It was felt by many that the Americans would be more "French friendly" than the British so they should lead at several heavily held French positions. French General Henri Giraud was slipped away and the position of commander in chief of French forces was offered to his. He declined, wanting to be chief of all invading forces. That was Eisenhower's position! Consequently Giraud sat the battle out.  
The Vichy French forces, however, did not sit it out. In Casablanca, because it was hoped that the French would not resist, there were no preliminary bombardments. This proved to be a costly error as French defenses took a toll of American landing forces. 
In Oran, the Vichy French naval fleet broke from the harbour and attacked the Allied invasion fleet but its ships were all sunk or driven ashore. French batteries and the invasion fleet exchanged fire throughout 8–9 November, with French troops defending Oran and the surrounding area stubbornly. Heavy fire from the British battleships brought about Oran's surrender on 9 November.
In Algiers, French fought the Allies but eventually surrendered.
Sooooo, the invasion of North Africa was a victory....against fierce French resistance.

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