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The Forgotten Battle of Casablanca (1942)
The United States versus France
Operation Torch is a well-known facet of World War II. Allied forces landed in North Africa and forced the Germans out of Tunisia before pivoting towards their eventual invasion of Sicily in Operation Husky. What is not as well known is the major naval battle that erupted off the coast of Morocco in 1942 between the United States and Vichy France, during the opening phases of the invasion.
Despite theoretically having a common enemy in Nazi Germany, the political situation in North Africa was muddled and tense. The loyal Vichy administrators did not want to antagonize their new German overlords. Technically, at the time of Operation Torch, Vichy France was an independent and neutral nation. Under the stipulations of the treaty, France signed with Germany in 1940 after the fall of Paris, Vichy France had an obligation to defend its remaining colonies from invasion.
As the rumors of an impending Allied invasion of North Africa became more rampant, a debate was occurring between loyalist French leaders, American military planners, and average soldiers on the ground. Some French had no intention of fighting against the Americans, while others agreed that an American invasion was equally appalling to a German one.
Many American officers believed that they would be welcomed as liberators and allies when they landed in French Morocco. That illusion was shattered on November 8th, 1942, when French guns opened fire on the approaching American invasion force. The ensuing battle was longer and bloodier than either side anticipated and marked a major action between the United States and France.
The Battle
The American forces consisted of 35,000 troops at sea arrayed in a massive task force protected by cruisers, destroyers, and battleships. The task force anchored off the coast of Casablanca and began loading landing craft for the invasion. The Americans still hoped that once the Stars and Stripes were seen from shore, the French would lay down their arms and embrace their longtime friends.
