E145 - Torch to Tunis

Bletchley Park

November 2022

The Allied victory in the Second Battle of El Alamein in November 1942 proved to be the beginning of the end of the war in North Africa. But many months of hard fighting, and the opening of a whole new front in northwest Africa, would be needed before the Allies were finally able to kick Axis forces off that continent for good.

Though often forgotten about today, the Operation Torch landings were a pivotal event which led to the first battles between German and American forces. These troops, and the intelligence personnel who supported them, had to learn their trade quickly in the toughest of circumstances.

In this 'It Happened Here' episode, Bletchley Park's Research Officer Dr Thomas Cheetham reveals how these lessons would prove fundamental to the Allied use of intelligence later in the war

This episode is hosted by Exhibitions Manager, Erica Munro.

Many thanks to Dr Ben Thomson and Owen Moogan for voicing our archival documents.

Image: © US Army Green Books (Public Domain)

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