ALGIERS, THE MOST IMPORTANT OBJECT of the North African invasion. The ultimate goals for the operation were Bizerte and Tunis, but because of the land-based enemy aircraft in Sardinia, Sicily, and southern Italy, it was decided to land no troops farther east than Algiers until airports had been captured. British-American elements at Algiers re-embarked for a movement eastward to Bougie where they landed on 11 November. Bône was captured the following day by British paratroopers dropped from C-47’s and by seaborn forces from Bougie. From there the advance toward Tunis started. Allied columns reached Djedeida, twelve miles from Tunis, on 29 November 1942, but rapid enemy build-up forced the Allies to abandon it on 13 December.
ALGERIA
ANTIAIRCRAFT DEFENSE OVER ALGIERS AT NIGHT. The city suffered practically no damage during the invasion. On the first evening of its surrender it was bombed by enemy planes. This attack was followed by many others, mostly aimed at the concentration of shipping in the harbor. Damage was surprisingly small. Algiers became Allied Force Headquarters (AFHQ).
ALGERIA
FRENCH PRISONERS OF WAR CAPTURED DURING THE INVASION. The prisoners were released shortly after the end of hostilities, 11 November, and from then on fought on the side of the Allies. On 15 November orders were issued for the movement of French troops, then at Algiers and Constantine, to protect the southern flank of the American and British units advancing into Tunisia along the northern coast. The French were reinforced by U. S. troops, including tank destroyer units, and one of their assigned missions was the protection of advanced airfields in the Tébessa-Gafsa area.
ALGERIA
