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The purpose of Operation Reservist was to capture the valuable facilities and ships at the Vichy French port of Oran before they could be destroyed. The landing of troops directly from ships was extremely risky; however it was hoped that either the French defenders would be taken entirely by surprise, or that they would actually co-operate with the landing forces.
A British admiral visited Oran on 24 June, and Duff Cooper, Minister of Information, visited Casablanca on 27 June. [14] The French Atlantic ports were in German hands and the British needed to keep the German surface fleet out of the Mediterranean, confine the Italian fleet to the Mediterranean and to blockade ports still under French control.
Later, despite a World War II sentiment that favored acceptance, Oran still had a history marked by intolerance. In 1954, when Oran passed the 400,000 inhabitants mark, the city's Jewish community accounted for 10% of this total. This is the largest proportion of Jews in the Algerian urban fabric.
After World War II, France used its naval base at Mers-el-Kébir to assist in atomic tests, the base was substantially developed by the French in 1953. [3] The Évian Accords of 18 March 1962, which recognized Algerian independence, allowed France to maintain its base for 15 years; however, France withdrew five years later in 1967.
The Oran Marching Division stalled in front of El Fahs, which it took on 7 May 1943. [5] It was then credited with encircling Djebel Oust on 9 May 1943 and Djebel Zaghouan on 13 May 1943. [ 6 ] [ 7 ] It was disbanded on 30 June 1943, with some of its elements joining the 8th Algerian Infantry Division.
Americans Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, Tafaoui base, 1943.. During World War II, it was a primary mission objective of the United States Army 34th Infantry Division during the Allied Operation Torch landings on 8 November 1942, and became a major Twelfth Air Force base of operations during the North African Campaign against the German Afrika Korps.
From the time before World War II French Algeria in regards to air force operations was in the Area of Responsibility of the 5th Air Force Region (5e région aérienne (5e RA)). The region covered the territories of French Northern Africa ( Afrique française du Nord ( AFN )), which included Algeria (incorporated into Metropolitan France) and ...
Nouvion Airfield was a pre-war airport and World War II military airfield in Algeria, located about 5 km west of Camp Militaire d' El Ghomri in Mascara province; about 76 km east of Oran. History [ edit ]