What was the codename for the Allied invasion of North Africa in 1942?

The codename for the Allied invasion of North Africa in 1942 was Operation Torch. The campaign began on 8 November 1942, when American and British forces landed in French Morocco and Algeria, then governed by Vichy France.

The operation was a compromise between Allied strategists. The United States favored a direct assault on German-occupied Europe, while Britain argued that North Africa offered a more achievable target and could help secure the Mediterranean. The landings targeted Casablanca, Oran, and Algiers in three coordinated task forces.

French forces initially resisted in some locations, but fighting ended after a short period and the Allies established control. Torch also placed Axis forces in a difficult position, contributing to the eventual defeat of German and Italian troops in Tunisia in 1943.

A common mix-up is Operation Overlord, the 1944 invasion of Normandy. Operation Avalanche was the 1943 Allied landing at Salerno, Italy, while Operation Husky was the invasion of Sicily.