North Africa (general region)
Subject
Subject Source: Local sources
Found in 296 Collections and/or Records:
Item
(Untitled), 12 Feb 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/70/22-23
Scope and Contents
Letter from H Freeman Matthews [Counsellor, United States Embassy, London] to WSC reciting texts of two telegrams from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC, on the actions of the French Vichy Government in supplying the axis powers in North Africa, enclosing the text of a telegram sent to Marshal Philippe Petain [Prime Minister of France] and also concerning changes at ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] Command, requesting a delay in the announcement...
Dates:
12 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 15 Mar 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/71B/164
Scope and Contents
Telegram from WSC to General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief, Middle East: comments on the implications of delaying an attack, particularly for Malta and North Africa and on comparative allied and enemy tank numbers; states that he is sending Sir Stafford Cripps [Lord Privy Seal] to India via Cairo [Egypt] to put across the views of the War Cabinet, accompanied by Lieutenant-General Archibald Nye [Vice-Chief of the Imperial General Staff].
Dates:
15 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 15 May 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/75/39-40
Scope and Contents
Telegram from the Minister of State in the Middle East [Richard Casey] to WSC reporting on his first ten days in Egypt and the impressions he has gained: includes comments on the harmonious working of the army and air force; the administrative work of Lieutenant-General Thomas Riddell- Webster [Lieutenant General in charge of Administration Middle East]; organisation of supplies in the Middle East; the situation in Syria and Egypt; relations with United States forces; the use of Spitfires...
Dates:
15 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 20 May 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/75/62-63
Scope and Contents
Telegram from WSC to General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief Middle East] marked "most secret" regarding impending battle in North Africa: states that "We feel that the time has come for a trial of strength in Cyrenaica [Libya] and that the survival of Malta is involved"; comments on the need to prevent newspaper speculation; expresses his confidence in Auchinleck and the army but urges him to assume direct command; asks whether the New Zealand Division ought to be nearer the...
Dates:
20 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 22 May 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/75/71-72
Scope and Contents
Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander- in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC marked "most secret" regarding the impending battle in North Africa: states that "I am now absolutely clear as to my task and I will do my utmost to accomplish it to your satisfaction"; thanks WSC for arrangements regarding publicity and for his expression of confidence; comments on his own decision not to take command personally in Libya; comments on his own decision not to move the New Zealand Division...
Dates:
22 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 26 May 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/75/79-81
Scope and Contents
Telegram from Field Marshal Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] to WSC marked "most secret and personal" reporting his conclusions on general strategy based upon his visit to the Middle East: comments on the situation in Libya and states that he considers "conclusive operations in Libyan bulge essential for our real victory"; comments on the importance of holding a Middle East block, including Iran, Iraq, India, Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] and the Indian Ocean, from both German and...
Dates:
26 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 28 May 1942
Item
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
Item
(Untitled), 29 May 1942
Item
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
Item
(Untitled), 09 Jun 1942
Item
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
Item
(Untitled), 16 Jun 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/76/122
Scope and Contents
Telegram from WSC to Field Marshal Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] marked "personal and secret" reciting the text of a draft message that WSC prepared for General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] but did not send [see CHAR 20/76/121] and commenting on the chance afforded to the Eighth Army by the enemy attack of delivering a "preconceived rupturing counter-stroke".
Dates:
16 Jun 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 18 Jun 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/76/137
Scope and Contents
Telegram from Field Marshal Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] to WSC marked "most secret and personal" commenting on the battle in the Libyan desert: agrees with the text of WSC's draft message to General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] and comments on the "defensive spirit" of "our Commands"; comments on the implications of an initiative by General Erwin Rommel [Commander of the German Afrika Korps]; states that "Position at moment looks grave.".
Dates:
18 Jun 1942
Conditions Governing Access:
From the File:
Open
Item
(Untitled), 24 Jun 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/77/19-20
Scope and Contents
Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander in Chief Middle East] to WSC marked "personal and most secret" regarding the situation in North Africa: deeply regrets "this severe blow" and comments on advantages to enemy of capture of Tobruk [Libya]; comments on "untenable" position of continuing resistance at the Salum frontier and describes build up of forces at Matruh [Egypt]; comments on risks of drawing too many troops from rest of Middle East theatre. [see also CHAR...
Dates:
24 Jun 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.
Item
(Untitled), 28 Jun 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/77/34-36
Scope and Contents
Telegram from the Minister of State in the Middle East [Richard Casey] to WSC marked "personal and most secret" reporting on the battle in North Africa: States that General Claude Auchinleck [Commander in Chief Middle East] is telegraphing him directly and regularly from Eighth Army Headquarters; comments on Auchinleck's plan of campaign ; states that the battle will be a mobile one fought between Matruh [Egypt] and El Alamein [Egypt] and southwards to the Qattara depression [Egypt];...
Dates:
28 Jun 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.
Item
(Untitled), 30 Jun 1942 - 01 Jul 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/77/49
Scope and Contents
Telegram from General Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] to WSC suggesting that the Royal Air Force concentrate its maximum bombing force against the German army and ports in North Africa instead of bombing towns in Germany.
Dates:
30 Jun 1942 - 01 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.
Item
(Untitled), 04 Jul 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/77/63-64
Scope and Contents
Telegram from WSC to General Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] marked "most secret and personal": states that he has "been so much harried by the weaker brethren in the House of Commons since my return from America last week" and offers condolences for cruel losses to South African Divisions; comments on reverses in Middle East over last three weeks and lists reinforcements being sent to the area; comments on plans to strike at Japan through Burma [later Myanmar]. Annotated in red...
Dates:
04 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.
Item
(Untitled), 05 Jul 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/77/71
Scope and Contents
Telegram from Air Marshal Arthur Tedder [Air Officer Commander in Chief Mediterranean] to WSC marked "personal" thanking him for his inspiring message: "All of us are determined to do our utmost and more to help the Army to clear the enemy out of Africa.".
Dates:
05 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.
Item
(Untitled), 07 Jul 1942
Item
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.
Item
(Untitled), 08 Jul 1942
Item
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.
Item
(Untitled), 13 Jul 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/77/124
Scope and Contents
Telegram from General Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] to WSC, and repeated to General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander in Chief Middle East] warning of the dangers that would arise from the enemy fortifying the gap between El Alamein and the Qattara depression [Egypt].
Dates:
13 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.
Item
(Untitled), 13 Jul 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/77/126
Scope and Contents
Telegram from General Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] to WSC marked "most secret and personal" regarding the position of the French warships at Alexandria [Egypt], commenting on the implications of threat by Pierre Laval [Head of the government, Vichy France] to declare war if the ships are tampered with, and urging that the ships are only sunk as a last resort.
Dates:
13 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.
Item
(Untitled), 11 Oct 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/81/41-43
Scope and Contents
Telegram from Minister of State in the Middle East [Richard Casey] to WSC marked "personal" presenting a general review of his work. Comments on: the arrival of Lord Moyne [earlier Walter Guinness, Deputy Minister of State in the Middle East], Duncan Sandys [later Lord Duncan-Sandys, Financial Secretary to the War Office] and Field Marshal Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa]; liaison with Commanders in Chief and Services; relations with United States personnel and Free French forces;...
Dates:
11 Oct 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.
Item
(Untitled), 24 Oct 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/81/91
Scope and Contents
Telegram from President Roosevelt to WSC marked "most secret" regarding WSC's proposal for an interchange of destroyers, and stating that the detailed plans for the use of American destroyers in "Torch" [code name for Anglo-American invasion of French north west Africa] make it impossible to substitute British destroyers in the time available. Comments on the possibility of an exchange immediately after the assault phase.
Dates:
24 Oct 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.
Item
(Untitled), 24 Oct 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/81/102-103
Scope and Contents
Telegram from WSC to President Roosevelt marked "most secret and personal" explaining that he does not want to omit the reference to the participation of British forces in "Torch" [codename for Anglo-American occupation of French North West Africa] from the British message to the Spanish and Portuguese governments "if only to remove any suspicions about the object of our own concentrations at Gibraltar and to lend force to the assurances we are giving them".
Dates:
24 Oct 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.
Item
(Untitled), 27 Oct 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/81/105-106
Scope and Contents
Telegram from President Roosevelt to WSC marked "most secret" reciting text of press release for issue to the United States press immediately following the American landings in French North West Africa [Codename "Torch"].
Dates:
27 Oct 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.
Item
(Untitled), 27 Oct 1942
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/81/107
Scope and Contents
Telegram from President Roosevelt to WSC marked "most secret" agreeing with WSC's suggestions of 26 Oct regarding the British messages to General Franco [President of Spain] and Dr Antonio Salazar [Prime Minister of Portugal] [about Anglo-American occupation of French North West Africa] but expressing the hope that he "will stress the fact that the expedition is under American command".
Dates:
27 Oct 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.