Casablanca, French Morocco
an overthrow of Mussolini
The 1943 meeting in Casablanca between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill resulted in the decision to pursue the strategy of "unconditional surrender" for Axis powers, which aimed to ensure that they would not negotiate separate peace agreements. The leaders also agreed to increase military pressure on Germany through the invasion of Italy and to continue support for Allied forces in the Pacific. This meeting solidified their cooperative approach and set the stage for future Allied operations during World War II.
Winston Churchill referred to Italy as the "soft underbelly of Europe" because he believed that invading Italy would be a strategically advantageous way to weaken Axis powers. He thought that Italy's military position was vulnerable, given its lack of strong defenses and the fatigue of its forces. Additionally, a successful campaign in Italy could potentially knock Italy out of the war and open a path to Germany, thereby aiding the overall Allied strategy in Europe. This belief led to the Allied invasion of Sicily and mainland Italy in 1943.
Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill agreed to concentrate their war efforts first in North Africa. This decision was part of the strategy to gain a foothold in Europe by defeating Axis forces in the region before moving on to more direct assaults on Europe, such as the invasion of Italy and later Normandy. Their collaboration aimed to alleviate pressure on the Soviet Union while also securing vital Mediterranean routes.
The Big Three—Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin—adopted a strategy of prioritizing the defeat of Nazi Germany before focusing on Japan, known as the "Germany First" strategy. This approach involved coordinated military campaigns across multiple fronts, including the North African campaign, the invasion of Italy, and the D-Day landings in Normandy. The strategy began to succeed in 1943, with significant victories such as the Battle of Stalingrad and the Allied invasion of Sicily, which shifted the momentum in favor of the Allies. By mid-1944, the Allies had regained substantial territory in Europe, leading to the eventual defeat of Germany in May 1945.
Churchill wasn't Prime Minister of England until 1940. Neville Chamberlain declared war on Germany and Italy in 1939 following the German Invasion of Poland in September 1939.
Stalin (Russia) Churchill (UK) Hirohito (Japan) Truman/Roosevelt (US) Hitler (Germany) Mussolini (Italy)
The only country they both had in common of defeating were the Germans. Althouth the British also fought Japan and Italy.
The Casablanca Conference, held in January 1943, was a crucial meeting between Allied leaders Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, with the participation of Charles de Gaulle and Henri Giraud. The main outcome was the agreement on the strategy for the next phase of World War II, which included the decision to pursue the unconditional surrender of the Axis powers. Additionally, the leaders discussed plans for the invasion of Sicily and Italy, as well as increased military support for the Soviet Union. This conference marked a significant moment in Allied cooperation and strategy formulation.
Leader of Axis Hitler - Germany Mussolini - Italy Tojo - Japan Leader of Allies Franklin D Roosevelt - USA Joseph Stalin - Soviet Russia Winston Churchill - Britain
It was the landing of British & American forces in French North Africa. It would lead to the Invasion of Italy. As Churchill described it the soft underbelly of Europe.