 Last week, we saw the ill-fated invasion of North Africa by the forces of Italy in 1939, the coming of Rommel and the Afrika Korps, the Gallen Commonwealth stand at Tobruk, and the eventual rout of the enemy by General Montgomery and the Eighth Army at L. Alamein in October 1942. Today, we continue our story. It begins with a conference in Washington where secret plans are made for a large-scale invasion of North Africa and continues to the ultimate outcome of the bitter four-year struggle for control of the Middle East. He presents an official report produced for the armed forces and the American people. The Washington Conference was top-level. Prime Minister Churchill arrived from London by ranking members of the military stats were present. The results of that conference were kept top-secret. Few knew of the tremendous plan formulated there, which would call for preparations on a scale never before equaled in military history, the Allied invasion of North Africa, 123 days in which to get ready, hundreds of ships to be prepared, armed and loaded with some 700,000 items of equipment, tons of supplies, stockpiled for what was to come. Numbers of troops suddenly found themselves engaged in intensive training. It was evident that something big was at hand. Big enough to involve a maximum effort from two continents, from both Britain and America. But what? 1942. While the British Eighth Army was smashing rumble and the Germans at El Alamein, a vast troop convoy set sail from American ports. Britain, in all, three convoys, 700 ships traveling 5,000 miles of the scope of their undertaking. Nothing to do but relax and wonder. Destination unknown. Speculations plentiful. Rumors even more so. As the days crawled by, tension mounted, what lay ahead for them and where? Finally, the secret was out. North Africa, the men were fully aware of the bitter-fighting wage there for three years of the Africa Corps, Ramo and Tobruk. And as the convoy steamed onward, a bulletin was received of the retreat of the German army, resulting from the shattering El Alamein battle. The plan, invasion. The objective, route the Axis powers from North Africa. The invasion was to be made hundreds of miles west of El Alamein at three points. Casablanca. Oran. Algiers. General Mark Clark had previously landed in Algeria to confer with French officers. General Henri Giraud would lead the free French forces. The entire operation was under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, appointed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. At 3 AM on November 8, the convoys converged west of Gibraltar. The events planned four months ago were about to become history. Now, everything depended upon taking the enemy by surprise. Lieutenant General George S. Patton Jr. speaks. The African army will contest our landing. By whomever offered, must be destroyed. The French soldiers accept it and treat them with respect, view of brave opponent, and future ally. This was Casablanca, the northwest corner of Africa. H. Hauer. The invasion began. The ensuing events, now in the hands of fate. It's a success. Opposition in Algiers was slight. In a short time, it was in Allied hands. H. Hauer. Here, the paratroops went into action. Troops of the enemy Vichy French capitulated. The plan was taken. Two down, one to go. But at the Atlantic port of Casablanca, there was trouble. The Vichy French Navy still fought for the Axis. Fighting on the water was heavy. Allied guns pounded the port and the Vichy fleet. The battle lasted for five grueling days. Vichy deputy chief of state Admiral Darlan reached an agreement with General Eisenhower and ordered all French in Africa to cooperate with the Allies. Resistance ceased at Casablanca. The troops rolled in. Of the prisoners taken, none seemed to be very popular with the civilians. Greatest invasion and military history was a success. The enemy had been taken by surprise. The first phase in the Allied invasion of North Africa was over. In addition to General Eisenhower, the British First Army was commanded by General Anderson. The French troops were under General Giraud. The next step, move east swiftly. Time was precious. The Allies moved toward the Tunisian border, hoping to reach Biserty and Tunis before the Germans could rush in reinforcements. Despite all but impossible roads and shoddy railroad facilities, but still we moved on by land and in the air, which was our best means of transportation by air that the German forces struck back. Entered Tunisia. Our line of supply was now 500 miles long. Major's Al-Bab. The terrain became more and more precarious. Tank battle occurred. The Germans lost 15 tanks and withdrew. Time was running out. It's now stabilized on a line running north and south from Major's Al-Bab. The North African winter had come. Hopes for a lightning victory in North Africa were forgotten. Airfields were flooded. With the lines stabilized, the war became a waiting game. Sports at the time would say action was light on the Tunisian front. Actually, this light action accounted for half our casualties in the campaign. Patrols were set out continuously. Sometimes they weren't so lucky. In the clouds, there was more activity. In a single week, Allied planes destroyed 241 enemy aircraft. We lost 89. Both to make devastating attacks on Italy, Sardinia, and Sicily was the battle of supply. Both sides girded themselves. The British 8th Army was racing west from Libya to meet us. In Tunisia, the winter would soon be over. The crucial struggle loomed ahead when the struggle was momentarily forgotten. A day dedicated to peace on Earth. Christmas in Tunisia, 1942. 14, 1943. American troops in Casablanca were startled to see a familiar face from home. The president arrived. And Prime Minister Churchill came. General Charles de Gaulle and General Giraud were brought together to unite the fighting men of France. The Casablanca conference was underway. It was held to set the requirements for victory. Not only in North Africa, but all over the world. The ultimate object? No appeasement. No negotiation. Nothing short of complete victory over the enemy. In the Civil War, General Grant had first used the term. Now President Roosevelt used it. Unconditional surrender. The stage was set. After the conference, Mr. Churchill flew to Tripoli and greeted General Montgomery. The climax in North Africa was approaching. But there was still fight in the enemy. Veteran 21st Panzer Division attacked and German armor overran the Casserine Pass. However, infantry and artillery support from the 9th and 34th divisions, plus British units and bombers, stopped the Germans and drove them back through the Pass. Though a setback to the Allies, there was something gained. The troops became, in General Eisenhower's words, battle-wise and tactically efficient. It was the last Nazi offensive in Africa. By this time, the British 8th Army had caught up with Rommel's forces at the Marath Line. On March 15, 1943, Rommel was recalled to Germany. He never returned. His army had retired to the Marath Line's fortified hills. Nazi and the French to the south, Montgomery kept up a pounding assault on the line to divide Axis Reserves. Hitting the enemy in front, he flanked to the left and delivered a telling blow. The New Zealanders moved on this flank. The 4th Indian Division circled the rear, supported by heavy air assaults. He's abandoned the field with the lied armor on their heels, pushed east to cut off the enemy retreat. Those on the enemy flank, 1943, a big day. British patrols met advanced guards of the American 2nd Corps on the Gob Road. Thus, allied lines were linked. Now, the British 8th could be supplied from North African ports and troops could be shuttled along the entire Tunisian front. 2nd Corps, under General Bradley, moved north to the Beja Road, which ran to Bezerte. The end was in sight. 8th opened the final offensive. Anfida Ville was taken and the natives began to return to their homes. Plentlessly, the allies pushed onward to Bezerte in Tunis. The going was slow, tough, and dangerous because the enemy was holed up in the surrounding hills. Key positions often changed hands several times before the German defenders were forced to fall back. Hill after hill was stormed or flanked in bitter fighting. Our big attack was at Jabel Tahit, Hill 609. It was the main enemy position. On April 28 and 29, the enemy laid down a heavy mortar fire and we replied with artillery as we attempted to storm the heights. The going was rough. Day one, we took Hill 609. The plan for victory in the northern tip of Tunisia had been likened to a cylinder, a machine to compress the enemy until he was destroyed. The compression was about to show results. Swiftly, one by one, the towns on the road to Tunis and Bezerte fell, mature, massa cold, fairy veal. There was no stopping the allied push now. The enemy found themselves forced into a pocket from which there was no escape. On May 7, 1943, the Germans were surprised by the allied arrival outside Tunis. There was no organized resistance. The Tunis was turned into a carnival. The streets were so full of crowds and celebrations, traffic could hardly move. The same hour, we ended Bezerte. The reception here was not so jubilant to the last cartridge, but there was no fight to the finish. Still found of parades and brass bands they marched in. Total wholesale surrender. Among the 267,000 prisoners taken were 14 German and four Italian generals. There were 250 enemy tanks and 2,330 aircraft. Air Marshal Teder launched a furious assault upon Italian islands off the Tunisian coast. By June 13, the last ones were taken. The conquest of North Africa was complete. It was safe. Africa was liberated. And from there came re-echoing the phrase that would be fulfilled in the invasion of Italy, D-Day, V-E-Day, unconditional surrender. El Alamein had been the end of the beginning. For the Axis Powers, it was now the beginning of the end. The big picture is an official report for the armed forces and the American people. Produced by the Army Pictorial Center. Presented by the Department of the Army in cooperation with this station.