Why did the allies try to conquer North Africa after attacking Southern Europe in World War 2?

Answer 1

Stategy is the big picture. Tactics is the small picture. Or as Napoleon said, strategy is out of cannon shot range, tactics is within cannon range.

Originally Germany went down to Africa to bail the Italians out of trouble in North Africa, they had difficulties fighting the British.

Britain's empire controlled large parts of Africa, such as Egypt and so British troops were already fighting the Italians there. Mussolini knew if he wanted an Italian Mediterranean he'd have to evict the British. The AfrikaKorps, commanded by Erwin Rommel arrived in North Africa to aid the Italians since a total defeat would expose the south coast of Italy and France, as well as the Balkan regions to invasion by the Allied powers. Ultimately Rommel was unsuccessful. The Americans invaded Vichy French held Algeria because they thought the French would be less likely to fire on Americans than British and thus reduce the casualties sustained in a beach landing. They were partially right.

Another reason why the Western Allies invaded North Africa was political. The United States, under pressure from the Soviets wanted to invade France in 1942. However, Churchill feared throwing untested American forces against Hitler's fortified French coast. Furthermore Britain did not have the resources to commit to an invasion of France in 1942. Therefore, as a compromise and because Roosevelt was determined to blood the American army as soon as possible the decision was made to invade North Africa. The Americans performed relatively poorly in the opening months of the African campaign, and so one can only speculate as to how successful an invasion of France would have been in 1942.

The aftermath of the invasion gave the Allies the springboard to invade Italy in 1943, and detained and eventually captured or killed about 300,000 Axis soldiers. Soldiers which could have been used decisively against the USSR. Furthermore it secured Allied shipping routes to Malta and the Middle East. Whilst not the direct plan of action favoured by the USSR or Roosevelt, the invasion of North Africa was an invaluable step on the road to Berlin.

During WW2, Germany and Japan were allies (Axis Powers). Germany was now fighting in North Africa and Japan was advancing towards INDIA (CBI-China, Burma, India Theater). The old military saying drove the allies: "United We Stand; Divided We Fall." The Axis Powers were NOT to become united!

Answer 2

Answer Easy. The US and the other Allies were not prepared and strong enough. Militariliy, it is risky to attack directly the strongest defense. Instead, you attack the fringes and work your way in to get closer. Germany and Italy had control of a large area of Europe and the Mediterranean. Suppose they were able to land forces on the border of Germany, then their flanks and lines of support would be exposed to attack from behind. In order to attack Germany directly, they would have to have capablity to move troops and support troops. It took them 4 years to get enough ships and men and equipment to land on northern France. The main reason they waited that long for the Normandy invasion was because it took that long to prepare for it.

Answer 3

There were strong German and Axis forces in North Africa under the leadership of Field Marshall Rommel that had to be defeated. Vichy France controlled the territory along with a strong naval presence that had to taken out before the Allies could invade Sicily and the Italian mainland. By removing this threat, they now how airbases to attack southern Europe and they no longer had to worry about the Axis ever occupying the middle eastern oilfields.

Answer 4

I think you have the sequence of events reversed.

Answer 5

They attacked the Axis invaders that invaded Europe, drove them out, then worked their way North.