![]() ![]() While US commanders had favored a direct assault on mainland Europe, the British suggested an attack on North Africa as a way to reduce pressure on the Soviets. On November 8, five days after Montgomery’s victory in Egypt, US forces stormed ashore in Morocco and Algeria as part of Operation Torch. Thus, the North African campaign and the naval campaign for the Mediterranean were extensions of each other in a very real sense. The Suez Canal also provided Britain with a valuable link to her overseas dominions–part of a lifeline that ran through the Mediterranean Sea. Britain, which was the first major nation to field a completely mechanized army, was particularly dependent on the Middle Eastern oil. ![]() Oil in particular had become a critical strategic commodity due to the increased mechanization of modern armies. The battle for North Africa was a struggle for control of the Suez Canal and access to oil from the Middle East and raw materials from Asia. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |