The politics among French generals, their jealousies
and feuds with one another, often determined the greeting
received by the Americans. How did you feel about Petain -
patriot or puppet? Did being anti-Nazi make you a traitor?
At the time, only Churchill appreciated Charles de Gaulle's
leadership talents. The Free French cause was still
only a distant rumble.
The game plan for taking Algiers was from the same
blue print used to take Oran, but hopefully without the
resulting lose of life. A destroyer packed with
Allied soldiers made a daring dash, under fire,
the length of the harbor, successfully capturing
their objective . The landed infantry were soon
surrounded, surrendering only when their
ammunition had run out.
Mistakes were made up and down the line.
No one escaped the harsh judgment of reality.
How do you feel about a game using
human lives as chess pieces?
Can you make a decision on the basis of little
knowledge and a good deal of hunch?
Under these circumstances a desk in Washington
is the preferred destination for most.
The Allied goal was to take nearby Tunis, quickly
ending the war in North Africa. Despite the sometimes
hideous cost of inexperience, the risks taken
were worth it. On the job training errors
produced fatalities. Give it a curse word
of disgust, then move on.
Success validates the cost.
The six engine Gigant provided Hitler with overnight
delivery of combat infantry and vehicles. It was a
short hop from Sicily to Tunis. German troops
were already making their presence know in Tunisia
even as the Yanks were mopping up Vichy
opposition in Algiers.
Hitler just upped the ante with these troops added
to his pile of North African poker chips.
They were a real fun bunch.
The Yanks would soon meet up with them
just down the road at a mountain pass
named Kasserine.
* * * * *
OVER EASY
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