6.+General+Dwight+D.+Eisenhower,++General+Erwin+Rommel+and+Operation+Torch

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Profile: Ernie Pyle Birthdate: August 3, 1900 Intrests: reading, writing, exploring, visiting with friends General Information: I am a reporter for the US during WWII.

October 15, 1942 Good evening America! It has been decided that the Allies will invade North Africa. Winston Churchill and President Roosevelt believe we need to engage ourselves in the war in Europe (Laurie 1). Stalin wants us to attack across the English Channel to divert Hitler's army away from the Soviet Union, but the Allies do not have enough troops to attempt an invasion (Danzer 572). If we are able to capture the area in North Africa instead, we can use it for future operations ("Operation" 1).

October 25, 1942 Finally after much discussion the Allies have agreed to land within the Mediterranean at Oran and Algiers, Algeria and at Casablanca, Morroco (Frame). The Western Task Force, led by Major General George S. Patton will leave from Norfolk, VA and land in Casablanca. The Central Task Force, led by Major General Lloyd R. Fredenall will leave from Great Britain and land in Oran. The Eastern Task Force, consisting of both British and Americans will be commanded by Major General Charles W. Ryder and land in Algiers (Frame 1; Laurie 1). Altogether, these forces will be commanded by Lieutenant General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Danzer 572; Frame 1).

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November 11, 1942 Great Britain and the US's navies landed with 650 ships and more than 107,000 men (Danzer 572; "Operation" 1). These colonies, ruled by the neutral French Vichy government, were caught by surprise. They resisted at first and more than 1,400 American and 700 French soldiers were killed (Laurie 1). Oran was captured yesterday, Algiers surrendered on the 8th and today the French surrendered in Casablanca ("Operations" 1).

November 15, 1942 As a result of the cease-fire from French Vichy official, Admiral Jean Darlan, Hitler's German forces now occupy all of metropolitan France and dispatched 17,000 men to Tunisia to fight the Allies as a response to Darlan's betrayal (Laurie 1). The Allies will march to Tunisia to fight the Germans.

December 20, 1942 Troops have attempted a dash to Tunisia but they were halted by inexperience, poor cooperation, bad weather and mountainous terrain and German resistance (Laurie).

February 24, 1943 The Afrika Korps, led by German field marshal Erwin Rommel have retreated to Tunisia. They have launched an attack along with German forces against the Allies at Kasserine Pass (Laurie). His forces were stopped by British and American troops, but they were able to secure a victory (Frame 1).

March 19, 1943 Lieutenant General Bernard L. Montgomery's Eighth Army successfully attacked Germany's last defensive position, the Mareth line and with this victory, the Allies are able to make good progress (Laurie 2).

May 13, 1942 The Americans took Bizerte on May 7. allied aircrafts dominated the skies and the navies blocked escape routes for the Afrika Korps and the Germans. They finally surrendered today and the Allies have control of the North African Coast (Laurie 2).

Works Cited

Danzer, Gerald A. et. al. __The Americans__. Evanston: McDougal Little Inc., 2003

Frame, Arthur T. "Operation Torch." //Encyclopedia of American Military History//. New York: Facts on File Inc., __American History Online__. Facts on File, Inc. Hunterdon Central Regional High School. 20 Oct 2008,

Laurie, Clayton D. "North African campaign." //Encyclopedia of American History: The Great Depression and WWII, 1929 to 1945,// vol. 8. New York: Facts on File, Inc., 2003 __American History Online__. Facts on File, Inc. Hunterdon Central Regional High School. 20 Oct 2008.

"Operation Torch." __American History__. 2008. ABC-CLIO. Hunterdon County Lib. 20 Oct 2008.