Part 1- Landing of the U.S. 3rd Division on the coast of Morocco
After Pearl Harbor and the German 'declaration of war' on the United States in December 1941, the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division were the first U.S. division into action in this theatre. Fifteen thousand young men left America in 1942, heading for the coast of North Africa, with a mission to land on the coast of Morocco. The situation was complicated by the status of the French colonies.
After the French surrender in June 1940, France was divided, with the north being occupied by German troops. The southern part of France was ruled by the Nazi installed ‘Vichy’ government. Some of the French colonies broke away joining the Allies, while others maintained loyalty to the ‘Vichy’ regime. Morocco was one of the latter.
As the U.S. 3rd Division approached the coast of Morocco, an order was given not to have a pre-landing naval bombardment. This was made, in order to give the French forces in Morocco the opportunity to come over to the ‘Allied’ side.
The young U.S. 3rd Division infantrymen hit the beaches early in the morning on the 8th of November 1942, (for what would be the first of four amphibious landings during their journey through World War II). The French did indeed change sides and Hitler was furious! Having said that though, the young Americans sustained 500 casualties during this landing!
