← The History of WWII Podcast
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When did making plans get this complicated? It's time to streamline with WhatsApp, the secure messaging app that brings the whole group together. Use polls to settle dinner plans, send event invites and pin messages so no one forgets mom 60th and never miss a meme or milestone. All protected with end to end encryption. It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone. Learn more@WhatsApp.com hello, this is Matt from the Explorers Podcast. I want to invite you to join me on the voyages and journeys of the most famous explorers in the history of the world. These are the thrilling and captivating stories of Magellan, Shackleton, Lewis and Clark and so many other famous and not so famous adventures from throughout history. Go to explorerspodcast.com or just look us up on your podcast app. That's the Explorers Podcast. Hey everyone, Ray here one last time for the seats in the back. You already know of the incredible Dunkirk civilian mobilization during World War II and what it took to pull that off. But there's another remarkable story of a civilian led maritime operation where Denmark ferried thousands of their Jewish citizens to safety in a mass scale rescue right under the noses of the Nazis. From award winning author Tim Brady, A Light in the Northern Sea, Denmark's incredible rescue of their Jewish citizens during World War II meticulously explores this nationwide resistance movement that reads like a thriller. Denmark's nearly 8,000 Jews survived, but it wasn't a miracle. It was the combined achievement of a nation refusing to stand by using clever subterfuge and increasingly daring acts of sabotage. Among the rescued was Niels Bohr, the world famous nuclear physicist who went on to help Oppenheimer build the bomb at Los Alamos. Publishers Weekly calls this book illuminating an inspiring and suspenseful history that showcases grassroots efforts to stand up to tyranny. A Light in the Northern Sea from Kensington Books is available everywhere. Books are sold and you can learn more at tim hyphen brady.com hello and thank you for listening to the History of World War II podcast. Episode 558 of all the gin joints in the world. As Operation Torch was being planned, the American people, knowing nothing of this, were restless. Most were asking, right alongside Stalin, where's the second front? From Charlie Chaplin to Wendell Wilkie, the Republican candidate back in 1940 were pleading for Washington to do something. They were. They just had to keep a tight lid on it. Least the enemy should find out and prepare. As war correspondent Alan Morris had described America at this moment spending time between New York and Washington as he was about to be shipped out to North Africa. America was discontent and uncertain, not unlike a young soldier that was about to go over the top. But not yet. He still had time to imagine all the things that could go wrong. The that this would never end. But then the whistle is blown, he springs forth and action takes over his body. There's no more time for thinking, only doing well. On the morning of November 8th, all those questions, concerns and doubts that the American people had came to an end when the radios and newspapers exploded with the news that American troops under General Eisenhower had landed in North Africa. Not for the first time, nor the last, Americans were glued to whatever radio was closest to them. As for the American people, well, most of them all was forgiven. Good for fdr. Good for the State Department, good for our boys, as the first two had been riddled with questions for months. When are we getting stuck in? Why do we still have relations with the Vichy? Don't. Don't they have relations with Germany? Still, Alan Moorhead was confused by the whiplash of the American people. How could they go from dread to elation? Did they not understand the suffering their boys were about to go through? But then he understood that the Yanks did not know what they did not know. The learning curve was coming. It always comes. Coming at French Morocco was western task force of 33,843Americans being transported and protected by just over 100 ships, including carriers, the battleship USS Massachusetts, cruisers, destroyers and support craft, oilers and hospital ships. Though if the work the US State Department had put in since Vichy was created did any good, the hospital facilities within the Western task force would not be needed as the entire French territory needed to be subdued. The task force would break apart when near land and come ashore at three different places. In overall command was Major General George S. Patton Jr. The naval commander was Rear Admiral Henry K. Hewitt aboard the heavy cruiser USS Augusta. Like the other two task forces, there would be multiple landings. One to stop the enemy from delaying defeat by engaging a single force and two to close in on Casablanca from two sides so the Vichy powers that be could not retreat further inland. The main landing, using up most of Patton's infantry, would make landfall 18 miles or 29 kilometers north of Casablanca at Fedala, as that city would be shielded by French troops, but not as many as were at the capital, Casablanca. This landing also threatened Rabat to the north of the another major city that will become the capital after the war. A second landing would take place further north, about 90 miles north at Media Port Ute. For that had an all weather Airfield. The third and last landing would take place 140 miles or 225 kilometers south of Casablanca at Safi. The main reason for this was that Patton's 55 M4 Shermans were were too big for tank lighters. But as Safi had a deep water harbor there, it was possible to offload them. So there it would be. Given the fact that French Morocco was just off the Atlantic, the French highly valued it as its defenses showed. Defending French Morocco as a whole were four divisions along with coastal and air defenses. All told about 55,000 troops along with 120 tanks and 80 armored cars. As for the French air arm, there would be 40 DW 250 and 46 Hawk 75 fighters with 30 French medium bombers and 26 Douglas A20 Havoc light bombers ordered from the United States. And as for the eyes in the sky, the French would have 13.11 reconnaissance aircraft spread throughout the country. Of course the million dollar question was would the French resist or not? Lord knows that all the ways to pressure a government or persons had been tried, including cash. Still, it was best to have their ducks in a row. So the Americans, if fired upon, would send out the phrase batter up. And if permission was given to fire back, Task Force 34's command reply would be play ball. Matching this light hearted approach. As for the ground troops, once ashore, their call and response would be the following. They would call out George. The correct response had better be Patton. It would be Force Brushwood or the Center Attack Group that would land at FedAlla, commanded by Major General Jonathan W. Anderson, with Rear Admiral Lyle A. Davidson in charge of the naval component. Under Anderson were men from the 3rd Infantry Division, the 7th and 15th Regiments supported by the 756th Tank Battalion. Waiting for them was Fadala's defenses. The Battery du Pont Blandon, which had three 138 millimeter M1910 guns about three miles up the coast. The Battery du Fadala itself with three 100 millimeter M1910s and two 75 millimeter guns being placed hard upon the city just to the northwest and north at the end of the peninsula. Once past these guns There were still three Renault FT light tanks and 100 Senegalese troops of the Coastal Defense Company and the 53rd AA Defense Unit with four 105 millimeter guns. Hey everyone, Ray here. Do you honestly think that you were the only one struggling with Ed? Please, you're not. In fact, 40% of men experience ED by the age of 40. But now there's an easier way to fix it all from your home. No awkward conversations. No doctor's office. Let Rex MD an online telehealth service that helps men get real FDA approved ED medications help you regain your confidence. Here's how it works. First, ED meds are not one size fits all, but Rex MD has you covered with options. You'll tell them what's going on, your health history and what you're looking for through a short quiz. Then a US Licensed provider will review your information and prescribe a medication. If appropriate, your treatment will be sent to you with free two day delivery. That's it. It's that easy. And the Rex MD team is there for any questions you have. And again, just know you're not alone in this. But some men are taking the bull by the horns. What are you waiting for? These are the good years. Now make them better and you can get up to 95% off ED treatment with Rex MD. Visit rexmd.comww2 this this is going to change everything. See full details and usage@rexmd.com Prescription required. Results may vary. Meanwhile, just to the southwest, at Casablanca itself, there was the impressive battery at L Hank, which had four 194millimeter M1902 guns and four 130millimeter M1910s. This battery was on a promontory just northwest of the city. Added to this were two more smaller batteries, one to the northeast of Casablanca near the shoreline and the other on the city's eastern edge to landward but hoping to negate these powerful French guns. At Casablanca and the Fadala area were the aircraft aboard the carrier Ranger and the auxiliary carrier suwanee, which had 77 F4F Wildcats, 27 Dauntlesses and TBF Avengers, as well as the guns of the heavy cruiser Augustus, light cruiser Brooklyn, and four destroyers. It was time. As darkness came on November 7th, the Center Attack Group took up station six miles offshore. On board the twelve transports and three cargo ships were nineteen thousand eight hundred seventy US army troops, one one thousand seven hundred and one vehicles, and fifteen thousand tons of supplies. The first four transports to go in were carrying four Battalion Landing Teams or BLTSs, BLT1 7, BLT2 7, BLT1 30 and BLT2 30. Yet each landing team needed just over forty LCPRs, Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel or Higgins boats, and nine LCVs, Landing Craft Mechanized. Thus, this was going to take a while, and that made it dangerous. With each battalion there was a Control destroyer parked about 400 yards offshore, watching over them as they moved in. The BLTs were to have come ashore at 4am but there had been a delay. Was this an ominous sign or just normal Murphy's Law? It was the former. The tides were intense, pushing the landing craft around like toys. More than a few foundered and the men weighed down with equipment were lost. For the ones that made it ashore, most were not where they were supposed to be, some miles away, but they were on dry land, jumping ahead for a second. By the time the sun set on this d day for 160 of the 347 landing craft would be lost. This would slow down the resupplying of troops and their weapons. Each man coming ashore had to hope that the French would see the pointlessness of fighting back and allow the gis to come further shore peacefully. But the coastal batteries would not see it this way, nor would the ships of the French fleet. At 5am Nov. 8, the lead U.S. elements had been on Fatella beach for five minutes when the French searchlights came on. The Destroyers, again only 4,000 yards away, saw this and opened fire. The lights were either deactivated or permanently deactivated. At 6am Though dawn came suddenly. French machine guns opened up, as did the batteries at Cap Fadala and at Cherki, about 3,500 yards above or to the north of Fadala. This could spell disaster as most of the Allied men were making landfall in between these two positions. But again the four control destroyers on the spot opened up. Oh, they asked for permission, radioing batter up. But had already started firing. As the saying goes, it is easier to ask for forgiveness than it is permission. At 6:20am The Destroyers Murphy and Ludlow fired at Cherokee again north of Fedalla, while the destroyers Wilkes and Swanson fired at the guns at Cap Fadala. The light cruiser Brooklyn came in and added her 6 inch gun at 622. Perhaps overconfident because of this, the Murphy came in closer to the battery Pont Blondon at Cherkey when the destroyer was hit in its starboard engine room killing three. Which is when someone gave BLT 2:30 and parts of BLT 2:7 orders to attack that battery. As the men made their way inland. The battery had already been hit by 81 millimeter mortars and shells from the Brooklyn battery. Du Pont Blandon, just off Fadala, surrendered to the GIS at 7:30am as for the city of Fadala itself, that fell to the men of BLT 17 at 6am and among the civilians was the German Armistice Commission making sure that Vichy complied with the details of their agreement. Not that BLT1 7's job was done after securing the town and the Germans more on them later. BLT1 7 would go on to seize the heavy AA battery by 11am but not to be outdone, when BLT1 30 came ashore at 7am they ambushed a train that was just coming into town. Now they had 75 French POWs to stack up against BLT's 1 7's captured battery still in the Fodala area. The Battery du Port opened up on the nearest enemy vessels. As the heavy cruiser Augusta exchanged shells with the battery Day Fadala. The American naval guns were trying with all their might to silence those guns still active on shore. To their horror, they received the following radio message at 8:35am For Christ's sake, quit firing. You are killing our own troops. This is from army. You are killing townspeople. No opposition ashore. If you quit firing, they will surrender. The shelling eventually stopped, but the battery Day Fadala was still operational, so a combined armed assault was needed. But soon they silenced its 100 millimeter guns and gave the Americans 22 more prisoners, which left Cap Fadala's 75 millimeter guns and machine gun bunkers dug into the peninsula just north of Fedala. The American infantry were not looking forward to rushing towards that. Fortunately, they did not have to. American mortars and 75mm Pak Howitzers encouraged those inside to surrender at 3pm the central task force had given the Western Allies a toehold in French Morocco. As for the German Commission committee, when they were captured, the Americans noticed a lack of anger on their faces. It was more like relief. In time, more was explained for these Germans. The war was over and they were still alive, which was a hell of a lot better than being on the Eastern front. Meanwhile, about 30 miles northwest of Casablanca, carrier USS Ranger, considered too slow for the Pacific, had started launching Wildcats. At 6:15am that morning, those planes flew up and down the coast, strafing enemy batteries and any unfortunately parked aircraft either at Rabat or Saleh, a bit further to the north. This left the Dauntless is free to provide air cover for the gis and if needed, to dive bomb enemy warships. As will soon happen, the French fleet strove mightily to take out the American naval assets and their planes again jumping ahead, but just for a moment. By the end of the fourth day, of these 172 allied aircraft, they would lose 44 having launched their fighters and dive bombers, the covering group's battleship Massachusetts, heavy cruisers Wichita and Tuscaloosa and four destroyers turned south heading for Casablanca at 25 knots. The way Casablanca is laid out, her top edge is spread out due north to the city's west northwest is the battery L Hank along her northern edge is a port. And there was the battleship Jean Bart, which was moored and had one operational 380 millimeter or 15 inch turret. At 7:01am when the closest American vessels were now 18,000 yards from El Hank and 20,000 yards from Jean Bart both opened up, the Massachusetts was rocked by near misses of the guns of L Hank while the Jean Bart's shots were 600 yards short. That was enough for Rear Admiral Giffen who then ordered play ball. At 7:04am The Massachusetts 16 inch main turret opened fire. This would turn out to be the United States Navy's only Atlantic fleet action of the entire century. Mostly because the Atlantic would become an Allied pond after this war. And by 1943 the U boat menace had been much greatly reduced. But what was about to unfold was the most intense naval combat to an allied amphibious operation. With play ball announced, the Massachusetts and the Tuscaloosa fired on Jean Bart due north of the city, leaving Wichita to focus on the L Hank battery to the northwest of Casablanca. The nine salvos that quickly came from the Massachusetts registered five hits. Not bad. The fifth one at 7:25am took out the Jean Bart's one operational battery. Wichita had been firing on the battery and was joined by the Tuscaloosa. After seeing Massachusetts fifth strike. L Hanks guns went quiet at 7:27am so the Allied ships went after the city's submarine pen. And though the battery was quiet, that did not stop US naval aircraft from bombing and strafing the harbor, sinking three merchantmen and three submarines. This had been fast and furious fighting, but mostly one sided. That was about to change. At 8:15am Casablanca's Vice Admiral Michelier ordered seven French destroyers to run up the coast coming from further south, which would allow these destroyers to evade most of the enemy surface ships and go right at the landing craft at Fedalla. They would soon be joined by eight French submarines again coming from the south. Michelier's hope was that as the destroyers would get there first, the Americans would be too distracted by these to notice until too late the coming threat from below. The first French destroyer shell fired and scored a direct hit on a landing craft. Greetings everyone from central Virginia. So as you can tell my Voice is really bad. So sorry about that. I tried editing and mixing, but it didn't do any good. I am on the tail end of COVID but I didn't want to go a whole week without putting out a show. So the information's there, the words are there, there's just not a lot of style. Is that the wrong word? Anyway, so I'm sorry I sound like this. I should be better next week. Anyways, I would just like to take a moment and thank some people who have contributed to the show. Let's see here, my latest member who gets anywhere from three to four episodes a month. And I've. And I've just ended the Battle of the Atlantic and I've started. I've started a new series that's not Despise. I'm going to save that for later, but I'm not going to tell you what it is. I want you to listen to the first episode and see if you can guess what the main subject is for you members. Obviously before the episode is over, it's kind of like. So anyway, so I. I'm just trying something new, but I found this kind of, to me obscure story and so I'm going into it and just tell me if you figure it out. Anyway, so I don't know why I said all that, but anyway, so the member is Michael Gallagher from Pennsylvania. Thank you very much, Michael, for becoming. It's going to be a while because there's 290 episodes in front of you before you get to this. But I hope you figure it out and enjoy it as well. Anyways, as far as those who have donated, let's see here. This Cohen, White, Irwin Johnson, who I think is donated before, and the one and only Anthony DeLuca who has donated several times. So Anthony, big Tony. Thank you very much. It is much appreciated. So we will wrap up Casablanca because there's going to be a big naval clash. I mean this is going to get ugly. And so we'll cover that and then we will. They'll solidify these three spots, handle the things they have to handle politically. And then boom, it's time to start moving east to Tunisia and to grip Rommel and or his forces in the vice that is the Western allies. Take care, everyone. Limu Emu and Doug. Here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug. Uh, Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us. Cut the camera. They see us only pay for what you need at libertymutual.com Liberty Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings Ferry unwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates Excludes Massachusetts.