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North Africa (general region)

 Subject
Subject Source: Local sources

Found in 296 Collections and/or Records:

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(Untitled), 28 May 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/75/97-98
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt: informs Roosevelt that he is sending a report of his conversations with Vyacheslav Molotov [Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs] covering "Bolero" [codename for build-up of United States forces in Britain for invasion of Europe], "Sledgehammer" [codename for plan to attack coast of France in 1942] and "Super Round- up" [codename for the liberation of France in 1943, later Overlord]; comments on talks with United...
Dates: 28 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 29 May 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/75/114-116
Scope and Contents Telegram from the Minister of State in the Middle East [Richard Casey] to WSC marked "most secret" commenting on the difficulties of increasing the proportion of fighting manpower within the total strength of the army in the Middle East: states that the matter has already received considerable attention; comments on problems of geography, lack of industrial development and distance from sources of production which necessitate large support services; discusses the possibility of diluting...
Dates: 29 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 09 Jun 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/76/65-66
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] marked "most secret and personal" informing him of decision to divert the 8th Armoured Division and the 44th Division from South Africa to the Middle East, and commenting on reasons why these troops are no longer required in Australia or India.

Dates: 09 Jun 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 07 Jul 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/77/79
Scope and Contents Telegram from General Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] to WSC marked "most secret and personal": comments on "heartening" news from Middle East and predicts successful counter stroke; comments on difficulties facing General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander in Chief Middle East] as he advances; expresses anxiety to accelerate movement of South African Brigade Group from Madagascar to Middle East; expresses admiration for the way WSC has handled "parliamentary situation" [vote of...
Dates: 07 Jul 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The Churchill Papers are made available to researchers using Churchill Archives Centre and worldwide in digital format. The digital edition of the Churchill Papers is published by Bloomsbury Academic and is available online to subscribing institutions at churchillarchive.com. The Churchill archive is freely available in our reading rooms and onsite at Churchill College (via the Churchill College wireless network). Researchers can download images of documents directly from churchillarchive.com and so are encouraged to consider bringing a laptop or other device for this purpose. For conservation reasons, the fragile originals are no longer issued to researchers. This digital edition is open to researchers unless otherwise marked in the catalogue. Some material has been closed by the Cabinet Office or by Churchill Archives Centre in accordance with data protection legislation.
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(Untitled), 08 Jul 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/77/97-98
Scope and Contents Telegram from Minister of State in the Middle East [Richard Casey] to WSC marked "most secret and personal" regarding the fate of the French fleet at Alexandria [Egypt]: Outlines concerns voiced by Admiral Henry Harwood [Commander in Chief Mediterranean] about repercussions that would follow on the sinking of the French ships; Suggests that Harwood be allowed to offer Admiral Rene Godfrey the alternative of sailing through the Suez Canal to Portugese East Africa or Martinique where fleet...
Dates: 08 Jul 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The Churchill Papers are made available to researchers using Churchill Archives Centre and worldwide in digital format. The digital edition of the Churchill Papers is published by Bloomsbury Academic and is available online to subscribing institutions at churchillarchive.com. The Churchill archive is freely available in our reading rooms and onsite at Churchill College (via the Churchill College wireless network). Researchers can download images of documents directly from churchillarchive.com and so are encouraged to consider bringing a laptop or other device for this purpose. For conservation reasons, the fragile originals are no longer issued to researchers. This digital edition is open to researchers unless otherwise marked in the catalogue. Some material has been closed by the Cabinet Office or by Churchill Archives Centre in accordance with data protection legislation.
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(Untitled), 18 Jan 1943

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/93A/52
Scope and Contents

Letter from WSC (Anfa Camp, Casablanca, Morocco) to Lieutenant-General Brehon Somervell [Commanding General of the Services of Supply, United States Army] marked "Secret" regarding the monthly figures for the loss rates of dry cargo ships for 1942, stressing that these figures included the heavy losses of Torch [Allied Invasion of French North Africa] and estimated that the rate for the next four months would be about two percent Signed in typescript.

Dates: 18 Jan 1943
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 28 Mar 1943

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/93B/110-111
Scope and Contents Letter from WSC to Sir Alexander Hardinge [King's Private Secretary] marked "Secret" stating: that he had heard that General Dwight Eisenhower [Commander in Chief of North African Theatre of Operations, United States Army] was "rather hurt" that King George VI's message to the troops before the battle had not gone through him and that WSC took responsibility for this; that Torch [Allied Invasion of West North Africa] which was supposed to be a United States operation had now fallen into the...
Dates: 28 Mar 1943
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 06 Nov 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/44/123-124
Scope and Contents

Telegrams from Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC explaining operation [Crusader, major British operation in North Africa] postponed for 3 days due to need for training of South African division in desert warfare.

Dates: 06 Nov 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 06 Nov 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/44/125
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Minister of State, Middle East [Oliver Lyttelton, later 1st Lord Chandos] to WSC explaining the reasons of Major- General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East], with which he personally disagrees, for delaying the attack [Crusader, major British operation in North Africa].

Dates: 06 Nov 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 15 Nov 1941 - 16 Nov 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/45/21-22
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] with a message of confidence from King George VI to all ranks participating in the coming battle [Crusader, codename for major British operation in North Africa]; includes Ministry of Defence note on copying the telegram.

Dates: 15 Nov 1941 - 16 Nov 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 18 Nov 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/45/29-30
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] advising that upon success of Crusader [codename for major British operation in North Africa] an operation could mounted to move 2 and a half divisions into Tunis [Tunisia], Algiers [Algeria] or Morocco at French invitation.

Dates: 18 Nov 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 18 Nov 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/45/32
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC "no definite news of progress" of Crusader [codename for major British operation in North Africa].

Dates: 18 Nov 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 19 Nov 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/45/37
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander- in-Chief, Middle East] and Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder [Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC: Crusader [codename for major British operation in North Africa] satisfactory despite bad weather; they believe Field Marshal Erwin Rommel does not yet appreciate scale of operations.

Dates: 19 Nov 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 20 Nov 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/45/41-42
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] on state of offensive in Libya; essential to success to retain General Maxime Weygand [Governor-General of Algeria and Delegate-General of Vichy Government in French Africa], or not to have pro-German, as leader of Vichy France in Africa.

Dates: 20 Nov 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 09 Dec 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/46/60
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Canada [Mackenzie King], the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin], Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] and Prime Minister of South Africa [General Jan Smuts] with statement on the battle of Libya for House of Commons.

Dates: 09 Dec 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 09 Dec 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/46/63-64
Scope and Contents

Telegrams from Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC on battle in Libyan desert, Crusader [codename for major British operation in North Africa]; "Enemy is apparently in full retreat towards the west".

Dates: 09 Dec 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 12 Dec 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/46/95-98
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] and the Minister of State, Middle East [Oliver Lyttelton, later 1st Lord Chandos] advising that 18th Division has been diverted to Bombay [India] but Crusader, Acrobat and Gymnast [codenames for major British operation in North Africa, the operation against Tripoli, Libya, and for the plans for the British occupation of North West Africa] should continue; General Sir Archibald Wavell [Commander-in-...
Dates: 12 Dec 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 13 Dec 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/47/6
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck Commander- in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC on battle in Libyan desert, Crusader [codename for major British operation in North Africa].

Dates: 13 Dec 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 08 Aug 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/52/82
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC agreeing to advance start date of Torch [codename of the Allied invasion of North West Africa] and the announcement of General Dwight Eisenhower's command [as Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces in North Africa].

Dates: 08 Aug 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 16 Nov 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/54C/221
Scope and Contents

Letter from WSC to Major-General Noel Holmes [Director of Movements, War Office] congratulating him and his staff on the planning and execution of operation Torch [codename for Allied invasion of North West Africa].

Dates: 16 Nov 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 18 Feb 1942 - 16 May 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/62/96-103
Scope and Contents Memorandum by Major Orde Wingate on the reconnaissance of Tibesti [Libya] as the first step in the conquest of North Africa, recommending the use of a native army, [including map, at CHAR 20/62/115]; forwarded to WSC and Lieutenant-General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to WSC] by Randolph Churchill; with note from Ismay to WSC commenting on the unfeasibility of the plan, and forwarding note from John Peck [Assistant Private Secretary to WSC] to Lieutenant-Commander M Knott [Private...
Dates: 18 Feb 1942 - 16 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 16 Oct 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/20/40-42
Scope and Contents

Letter from WSC to General [Claude] Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief Middle East] criticising [Air Marshal Sir Arthur] Tedder's [Air Officer Commanding in Chief, RAF, Middle East] estimate of strength; looking forward to receiving news of Operation Crusader as "the whole immediate future of the war" depends on it; and suggesting that although troops are preparing for Norway they could easily be diverted to Africa if necessary. [copy].

Dates: 16 Oct 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 20 Oct 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/20/43-57
Scope and Contents Letter from WSC to President [Franklin Roosevelt] outlining various plans and proposals concerning: attacking the German and Italian armies in Libya; French North Africa; Norway; British contributions to the Soviet war effort; defending Great Britain from a possible German invasion; placing United States forces in Northern Ireland [Ulster]; the command structure in the Middle East and the roles of the Air Force and Navy; the effect of victory in Libya on Italy and Turkey; landing tanks; the...
Dates: 20 Oct 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 26 Oct 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/20/58-60
Scope and Contents

Letter from WSC to Max, [1st] Lord Beaverbrook [earlier Sir Max Aitken, Minister of Supply] on efforts to conceal "Crusader" [British North African operation] and let "Ajax" [a planned landing at Trondheim, Norway] become public; refuses to allow him to resign from the Defence Committee. [carbon, annotated by WSC].

Dates: 26 Oct 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 30 Oct 1941

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/22C/222-225
Scope and Contents Letter from WSC to Lieutenant-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] discussing many topics: an unnamed campaign which is being kept secret from the Soviet Union, the United States and domestic enquirers but which it was hoped would bring military success [? "Crusader", operation in North Africa]; hoping to acquire Bizerta [Tunisia]; regretting having to give up operation "Whipcord" [codename for a British plan for the invasion of Sicily] as "a task beyond the...
Dates: 30 Oct 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open