Did Gen Patton fight the French in North Africa?

Answer 1

Yes. Patton led the invasion of Africa during Operation Torch, in which the Americans fought French Colonial Forces in Morocco and Algeria. The invasion was actually executed by three Task Forces, the largest of which was Patton's Western Task Force, which sailed directly from the US to the African coast for the invasion. The French gave a more stubborn resistance to the Allies invasion than expected, but they were, of course, divided between loyalties to the French Colonial Government led by Admiral Darlan (considered as a traitor by the Free French Forces in England) and the logical loyalty to the cause of the liberation of their country. The most serious resistance occurred in Oran Harbor, but overall most French forces defended their positions, although half-heartedly. As the invasion was taking place, diplomatic efforts were being made to convince the French to join the Allied cause. The French eventually accepted, and Darlan was recognized as the head of the French government in North Africa. General Charles de Gaulle bitterly opposed this, since Darlan was considered a traitor, and soon after Darlan was assassinated, and General Henri Giraud was assigned as his replacement. The fact that Allied Forces had to fight the French is still hard to believe today, but many French were sympathetic to the Nazi cause and actually fought heroically for Germany. French SS Units (SS Charlemagne Division) fought well in the European conflict, and actually four of their members were recipients of the Knight's Cross during the defense of Berlin.