Torch Operation, North Africa 1942

"Okay, okay, come on bye bye". Here's how Moroccans lived the landing of US soldiers, Morocco, in 1942. The will of Hitler to dominate Europe in the events of World War II pushed the Allied powers - Britain, France, Morocco, USSR, United States ..., to defeat Hitler armies to open several fronts.
That of North Africa marked the beginning of the defeat of the German armies.
November 8, 1942, American forces landed in Casablanca, Safi, and Fedala Mehdia; the same day, the Anglo-American troops landed in Oran and Algiers. It was "Operation Torch" - code name - or "War of the Three Days." This landing, followed 67 days later by the Conference of Anfa, would shorten the Second World War and change the face of the world. The Nazi invasion of Europe plan, which was developed at the aforementioned conference helped to turn the tide in favor of the Allies, especially in Morocco rallying to their cause, until pro-Axis forces. These events were an important step in the march towards independence from Morocco. Despite the significant risk that the Allies were running to see their plan of attack unveiled Casablancans could observe, for a week and shortly before landing, inscribed on the walls of their city painting, dated 8 nomvembre 1942 . A harbinger. The American landing in Casablanca. Leaflets dropped by US aircraft at the time of that landing reassured the public that the Americans came as liberators, not conquerors. But General Nogues, Resident General of France, faithful to Marshal Petain, decided to resist the American forces, despite the favorable position them to King Mohammed V, who had refused to withdraw to Fez, as requested by the General. After the entry into the war the United States, Allied had not yet determined where they would open a front against Germany. It was not until 24 July 1942 that the fate of the Second World War was to be played. The Staff combined Anglo-American, saw the political and strategic interest to set up a landing operation forces simultaneously in Morocco and Algeria, to establish a base from which the big attack would be launched against Hitler in Europe. Several German officers were convinced of the strategic importance of the Mediterranean, and Morocco in particular. They tried to persuade Hitler to seize Gibraltar, lock the entrance to the Mediterranean, crossing the Strait and land in Morocco, 15 km away, visible in clear weather. But Hitler gave priority to the attack against Russia. King Mohammed V understood, in October 1940, that "Who would lose the Mediterranean, would lose the war."
Route through the Maghreb 
The attack convoys for Safi sectors Fedala and Mehdia departed from Norfolk. Blankets forces sailed to Casco Bay. They joined five aircraft carriers Bermuda parties to form the most fantastic naval force ever launched in the oceans. An armada DE102 buildings with a linear length of 50 km by 40 wide to cross more than 8000 km on infested ocean of German submarines, the famous U-boats.
For feint these, the route taken was made to believe that the convoy was heading to Dakar. The course was going to be handed over Morocco thereafter. When the orders reached against-the Axis submarines, it was already too late. The GI's were taking foot on the Moroccan coast. They are found no Germans, but a local army determined to defend the French Empire against any aggression. General Bethouart, commander of the Casablanca Division, had agreed to facilitate Operation Torch. Because of the mystery that surrounded that transaction, it would be informed of the place, date and time as the day before, which did not fail to be the cause of the failure of the military coup that had fomented . The rapid intervention of General Patton, from the landing, and his companions escaped the firing squad. US forces, 9,000 men and 65 tanks, landed at Mehdia to capture the air base of Port Lyautey (Kenitra). Casablanca to occupy the north and from the south, they landed 19,000 men and 65 tanks to Fedala and 6 500 men and 108 tanks in Safi. 172 were loaded on the aircraft carriers of the squadron provided air support. If Mehdia, Fedala and Safi, operations were relatively easy, however, in Casablanca, a great battle, especially naval, raged for three days. It is only when the port was in ruins, fire and cemetery of wrecks, full of dead and wounded who withdrew hour after hour, that General Nogues and Admiral Michelier did stop the fighting, just in time to avoid the bombardment of Casablanca. Indeed, the refusal Nogues and Michelier to surrender, General Patton, surrounded the city and decided to finish. Casablanca attack the next day at 7 pm 30 am. Although it was repugnant to reduce in Dar El Beida ashes, he ordered a naval and air bombardment. At midnight, his plans were drawn and his men were ready for battle. At 4 pm 30 am, his intelligence officer told him that the local army prepared to surrender.
Capitulation

Essayez avec cette orthographe : Le général Patton refuse d'annuler l'attaque de Casablanca avant que la capitulation ne soit effective. Le général Noguès et l'amiral Michelier ordonnèrent donc à leurs troupes de cesser le feu immédiatement. La garnison de Casablanca rendit les armes et accepta de cantonner ses troupes dans leurs casernes. Seul le Jean Bart, puissant cuirassé de 35 000 tonnes, en voulait encore aux Américains. Il continua à lâcher ses bordées de 380 mm, répétées toutes les demi-heures, ce qui avait fait dire au contre-amiral Mac Whorter : « Faites-moi taire ce monstre ». Les aviateurs américains le rendirent effectivement muet. La fin des hostilités fut saluée par des manifestations de joie des Casablancais. Les Américains ne furent des ennemis que pendant trois jours. Le général Patton avait son quartier général aux Roches Noires, qu'il déplaça ensuite dans les locaux de la Shell, et ses appartements à l'hôtel Majestic. Des campements avaient été installés, par l'armée, dans plusieurs endroits de la ville, et notamment, à l'emplacement actuel de la Fontaine lumineuse. Des maisons en préfabriqué pour abriter les bureaux, et les logements des officiers supérieurs furent installés à Ouled Haddou, actuelle California de Casablanca, en raison de son climat qui avait été comparé à celui de la Californie. L'architecte de l'Opération Torch, Robert Murphy, aura été le seul civil de toute l'histoire américaine, à servir dans l'État-major d'un chef de guerre, sur le théâtre des opérations, avec accès à toutes les informations militaires. Il fut mêlé aux généraux Marshall, Eisenhower, Patton, Mac Arthur, Clark et Bradley. Le Général De Gaulle, qui ne devait en aucun cas, être mis au courant du débarquement du 8 novembre, comprit que le prénom de Robert, contenu dans le fameux message de la BBC, répété un nombre incalculable de fois depuis le 2 du même mois, était celui de Murphy. Le speaker de la BBC, répétait : « Allô Robert Franklin arrive ». Robert Murphy était présent à la Conférence d'Anfa et au dîner offert par le Président Roosevelt en l'honneur de feu S.M. Mohammed V. Il était également présent lors de l'entretien que le Président eut avec le Roi, en présence de Son altesse Royale le Prince Moulay Hassan, actuel Roi du Maroc, et le Premier Ministre britannique Churchill.

General Patton refused to cancel the attack in Casablanca before the surrender becomes effective. General Nogues and Admiral Michelier therefore ordered their troops to cease fire immediately. Garrison Casablanca surrendered and agreed to confine its troops to barracks. Only the Jean Bart, powerful battleship 35 000 tonnes, still wanted by the Americans. He continued to drop his lined with 380 mm, repeated every half hour, which was made to say against Admiral Mac Whorter: "Let me shut this monster." American airmen actually made him mute. The end of hostilities was greeted with joy the Casablanca events. The Americans were not the enemy for three days. General Patton had his headquarters at Roches Noires, he then moved to the premises of Shell, and apartments at the Hotel Majestic. Camps were set up by the army in several places in the city, especially at the current location of the light Fontaine. Prefabricated houses to house the offices and homes of senior officers were installed in Ouled Haddou, current California Casablanca, because of its climate which was compared to that of California.
The architect of Operation Torch, Robert Murphy, has been the only civilian in all of American history to serve in the General Staff of a warlord in the theater of operations, with access to all military information. He was involved in the Marshall generals, Eisenhower, Patton, MacArthur Clark and Bradley.
General De Gaulle, who should in no case be made aware of the landing of 8 November, saw that the first name of Robert, contained in the famous message of the BBC, repeated countless times since 2nd of the month was that of Murphy. The announcer of the BBC, repeated: "Hello Robert Franklin arrives."
Robert Murphy was present at the Conference of Anfa and dinner hosted by President Roosevelt in honor of the late King Mohammed V. He was also present during the meeting the President had with the King, in the presence of His Highness Royal Prince Moulay Hassan, the current King of Morocco, and British Prime Minister Churchill.