A Stragic War
Fighting in some desert may seem pointless, however fighting for men, food, supplies, and access to the world’s economy is not. The North African Campaign, in World War II, was exactly that, a struggle to the death for supplies and resources that defined what the world saw as important for survival. North Africa includes countries such as Libra, Egypt, Morocco, and Algeria, places that were important for both the Axis and Allied powers to control for supplies, recruiting men, and for control of the oil-fields in the Middle East. This campaign also pushed back the Axis Powers so that the Allies could have another front against their enemy in Sicily and later in mainland Italy.
When learning about World War II, we tend to focus on the European and Pacific theatres, however the North African theatre was almost more important, and very strategic. The Axis Powers idea was to invade and capture Egypt to gain control of the area that the British had previously maintained there. There were three different stages in North Africa, including the Western campaign located in eastern Libra and western Egypt, Operation Torch in French Morocco and Algeria, and the Tunisia campaign.
A series of battles took place, starting with the invasion of the italians into Egypt on September 13, 1940. These battles were between the Afrika Korps formed by the German led by General Erwin Rommel (also known as the Desert Fox), for his masterful techniques at fighting in the desert, and the British led by Sir Archibald Wavell. There were not many Canadians posted in North Africa at the time. Operation Torch started in 1942 with the arrival of the American in North Africa bringing supplies and weapons to the allied forces which much helped the cause. Operation Torch (formally known as Operation Gymnast) was from November 8th 1942 to November 11th 1942, when forces landed on three different Algerian beaches, Oran, Casablanca, and Algiers. There Allied troops met resistances from the Garrison French Defenders who supported the Axis powers, but the French`s weapons were not adequate enough (the German had given them terrible weapons because they did not trust the French) to fight the Americans, and they were soon overpowered. Having successfully captured Algeria and Morocco, the Allies moved on to the last stage of the North African campaign Tunisia. The 166th Newfoundland regiment was sent to help with this stage, and as new recruits they were a helpful asset. The Allies gained control of North Africa on May 7th, 1943, having sucessful captured a major strategic point in World War II.
Many died in these horrific battles, fighting in the desert is very messy. Over 620,00 Germans and Italians died, many more suffered injuries or were captured by the Allies. The British and Commonwealth lost 220,000 men with many other with injuries. The Newfoundland 166 regiment lost 24 men, which was a large amount of their men. This men were important to the war, important men saving so many lives, if only they knew how important their sacrifice was.
When learning about World War II, we tend to focus on the European and Pacific theatres, however the North African theatre was almost more important, and very strategic. The Axis Powers idea was to invade and capture Egypt to gain control of the area that the British had previously maintained there. There were three different stages in North Africa, including the Western campaign located in eastern Libra and western Egypt, Operation Torch in French Morocco and Algeria, and the Tunisia campaign.
A series of battles took place, starting with the invasion of the italians into Egypt on September 13, 1940. These battles were between the Afrika Korps formed by the German led by General Erwin Rommel (also known as the Desert Fox), for his masterful techniques at fighting in the desert, and the British led by Sir Archibald Wavell. There were not many Canadians posted in North Africa at the time. Operation Torch started in 1942 with the arrival of the American in North Africa bringing supplies and weapons to the allied forces which much helped the cause. Operation Torch (formally known as Operation Gymnast) was from November 8th 1942 to November 11th 1942, when forces landed on three different Algerian beaches, Oran, Casablanca, and Algiers. There Allied troops met resistances from the Garrison French Defenders who supported the Axis powers, but the French`s weapons were not adequate enough (the German had given them terrible weapons because they did not trust the French) to fight the Americans, and they were soon overpowered. Having successfully captured Algeria and Morocco, the Allies moved on to the last stage of the North African campaign Tunisia. The 166th Newfoundland regiment was sent to help with this stage, and as new recruits they were a helpful asset. The Allies gained control of North Africa on May 7th, 1943, having sucessful captured a major strategic point in World War II.
Many died in these horrific battles, fighting in the desert is very messy. Over 620,00 Germans and Italians died, many more suffered injuries or were captured by the Allies. The British and Commonwealth lost 220,000 men with many other with injuries. The Newfoundland 166 regiment lost 24 men, which was a large amount of their men. This men were important to the war, important men saving so many lives, if only they knew how important their sacrifice was.
Captain Frederick Thornton Peters, known as Fritz, is Canada’s most decorated Naval Officer having received multiple awards in WW1 and WW2. He was born in Charlottetown P.E.I but lived in Victoria till the age of 15, when he joined the Royal Navy in 1905.
In World War II, Fritz commanded a fleet of anti-sub trawlers, which patrolled looking for enemy submarines, and he successfully sank two earning the Service Cross in 940. For two years, Captain Peters worked for both the Navy and the British Secret Intelligence Service. However in 1942 Captain Peters took charge of the most dangerous Allied mission in North Africa; Operation Torch, Oran.
It was his job to successfully take the harbour of Oran as part of Operation Torch, and to secure the harbour for the invasion by the Allies. At 1am on November 8th, 1942, Fritz`s ship, the HMS Walney, landed on beaches east and west of Oran. 2 hours later, the French defenders reacted with warships and shore batteries, still Captain Peters reach his target berth having directed the Walney through many opticals. He assisted the landing lines and was injured, losing vision in his eyes and being wounded in the shoulder. He and other fellow survivors were captured and held for 2 days till American troops took Oran, and he was paraded around the city as a hero.
The landing of Oran beach was a successful mission in the eyes of the Allies and Captain Peters was rewarded for his work with the Victoria Cross and the U.S. Distinguished Service Cross. Captain Frederick Thornton Peters never lived to see his actions in North Africa rewarded, for 3 days after the mission was completed he was killed in a plane crash on the way back to England. His mother received his medals for him in Nelson British Columbia, February 3rd.
In World War II, Fritz commanded a fleet of anti-sub trawlers, which patrolled looking for enemy submarines, and he successfully sank two earning the Service Cross in 940. For two years, Captain Peters worked for both the Navy and the British Secret Intelligence Service. However in 1942 Captain Peters took charge of the most dangerous Allied mission in North Africa; Operation Torch, Oran.
It was his job to successfully take the harbour of Oran as part of Operation Torch, and to secure the harbour for the invasion by the Allies. At 1am on November 8th, 1942, Fritz`s ship, the HMS Walney, landed on beaches east and west of Oran. 2 hours later, the French defenders reacted with warships and shore batteries, still Captain Peters reach his target berth having directed the Walney through many opticals. He assisted the landing lines and was injured, losing vision in his eyes and being wounded in the shoulder. He and other fellow survivors were captured and held for 2 days till American troops took Oran, and he was paraded around the city as a hero.
The landing of Oran beach was a successful mission in the eyes of the Allies and Captain Peters was rewarded for his work with the Victoria Cross and the U.S. Distinguished Service Cross. Captain Frederick Thornton Peters never lived to see his actions in North Africa rewarded, for 3 days after the mission was completed he was killed in a plane crash on the way back to England. His mother received his medals for him in Nelson British Columbia, February 3rd.
Work Cited"Canadian Virtual War Memorial." Veterans Affairs Canada. Government of Canada, 15 Sept. 2016. Web. 7 Dec. 2016.
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