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Subject:
Eisenhower's Operation Torch leaflet message
WDDavenport
11/5/2003 5:10:10 PM
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"... The principal aim is the annihilation of the enemy and the complete liberation of invaded France. ..."
"Annihilation of the enemy" -- not a poltically correct choice of words by today's standards.
-- Dwight Eisenhower
Morocco
R.G.Auckland
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MOROCCO, that north-western area of the African continent, has little to offer to the student of aerial leaflets, but having just visited the country there is an opportunity to record its interest.
OPERATION TORCH
This part of North Africa lay dormant to the attack of leaflets until after the Allies launched Operation Torch against the Vichy French in 1942 ? an operation which covered Morocco and Algeria. As the amphibious plan began, planes dispatched from Gibraltar, flying over Oran and Casablanca dropped millions of British-printed leaflets on the natives and French 'colons' addressed to 'Frenchmen in North Africa.'
"The immediate purpose of the invasion," explained the leaflet (coded T2) which fluttered down between midnight and dawn on November 8, 1942, "is to protect French North Africa against the menace of an Italo-German invasion. The principal aim is the annihilation of the enemy and the complete liberation of invaded France. The sovereignty of France over French territories remains complete. All together, we will get them." These words were printed over the signature of Lt. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces.
SURRENDER
Besides uplifting morale it was considered necessary to issue military instructions to the defending African forces to ensure their surrender, but happily no sustained severe fighting took place and all was over in a few days.
Unable to forecast the extent of possible French African resistance, Eisenhower broadcast to Vichy forces in North Africa certain measures they must take. These were printed in leaflet form (T4) and dropped over Arzeu, Port Lyautey and Oran, as well as other places, during the first three days of the landings.
Preceded by a short explanatory note, the instructions were:
BY DAY
Display the French tricolor and U.S. flag one above the other, or two French tricolors one above the other.
BY NIGHT
Display searchlights at a 90o angle.
TO ALL SHIPS OF THE NAVY AND MERCHANT NAVY
(1) Stay where you are.
(2) Do not scuttle any ships.
TO ALL COASTAL DEFENCE UNITS
Do not man your batteries or other installations.
TO ALL UNITS OF THE AIR FORCE
Do not take off.
All aircraft must remain in their normal places.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
Generally speaking, you will obey any order which may be given to you by my officers. We come, I repeat, as friends and not as enemies, I have given strict instructions that no offensive shall be taken against you on condition that on your side you observe the same attitude.
This notice was issued by the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Expeditionary Forces, Lt-Gen, Eisenhower.
Albacore biplanes of the Fleet Air Arm flew from a British carrier cruising near the coast carrying a note from Lt-Gen, Eisenhower who said that he had been charged to deliver a message from President Roosevelt to the peoples of French North Africa.
The message was excerpts from a longer speech which was being, disseminated over France at the same time, and which declared the strong ties between America and France and the wish only to destroy a mutual enemy.
The obverse of this tract (un-numbered) was in Arabic and the reverse in French; both sides displayed the Stars and Stripes and Roosevelt's portrait.
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