West Africa Campaign (World War II)
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| West Africa Campaign | |||||||
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| Part of World War II | |||||||
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| Combatants | |||||||
 United Kingdom Australia Free France Netherlands |
 Vichy France |
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| Commanders | |||||||
| Andrew Cunningham Charles De Gaulle |
Pierre François Boisson Marcel Tetu |
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| West Africa Campaign |
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| Dakar - Gabon |
The name West African campaign refers to two battles during World War II: the Battle of Dakar (also known as Operation Menace) and the Battle of Gabon, both of which were in late 1940. The actions involved Allied forces attacking Vichy French forces in French overseas territories in West Africa.
Following the capture of Gabon, Free French forces controlled French Equatorial Africa, while French West Africa remained under Vichy control, until the Allied landings in North Africa in November 1942.
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[edit] Course of the campaign
Anti-British sentiment in Africa had run high after the French battleship Richelieu had been hit in the port of Dakar, Senegal, in French West Africa on July 10.[1] In August, General De Gaulle had suggested an overland campaign, landing at Conakry, French Guinea and building popular support in a drive on Dakar, but was overruled by British desires to move swiftly.
On September 18, three French light cruisers, the Georges Leygues, Gloire, and Montcalm were intercepted en route to Libreville by Allied ships, including the heavy cruiser HMAS Australia, and forced to retreat.
[edit] Battle of Dakar
Vichy resistance stiffened as a result of the attacks on the French ships. When the Battle of Dakar was fought on September 23–25, 1940, Allied attempts to persuade defenders by means of propaganda to peacefully enter the city failed, and the attempt to take it by force of arms ended in defeat. Hopes to take French West Africa were put aside, and strategic considerations shifted to French Equatorial Africa instead.
[edit] Battle of Gabon
This battle, fought between November 8–12, resulted in the capture of Libreville and the liberation of French Equatorial Africa from Vichy control.
[edit] Outcome
Free French Forces consolidated their gains in French Equatorial Africa, and were able to assist in other campaigns, including the East African and North African Campaigns. However, French West Africa did not capitulate or join the Allied cause until the November 1942 landings of Operation Torch.
[edit] External links
- http://users.swing.be/baten/bat/910.html
- http://www.ahoy.tk-jk.net/macslog/OperationMenace.September.html
- http://history1900s.about.com/library/prm/blwaugh2.htm
- http://www.navy.gov.au/spc/history/ships/australia2.htm
- http://stonebooks.com/archives/960425.shtml
[edit] References
- ^ The Second World War in the French Overseas Empire. Retrieved on February 27, 2006.
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