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Operation "Torch" - Action in the Event of Last Minute Hostility from Spain. Note by Secretary

1 Aug 1942

The Germans would quickly realise that our landing in Portugal involved large forces, and that an attack in strength on the French coast was therefore unlikely. Consequently, they would probably be prepared to intervene with their mobile reserves in France. At present the maximum forces which the Germans might make available are some five divisions, including 1 Panzer and 2 motorised divisions. These reserves would be quickly available for action in co-operation with the Spaniards. The Germans might, at the expense of the Western and Mediterranean areas, make available a force of some 300400 aircraft.
france gibraltar portugal germany air power international relations public opinion spain second world war contingency planning military operations military intelligence military dispositions joint intelligence staff joint intelligence sub-committee chiefs of staff denis capel-dunn operations planning axis strategy german army military strength invasion threat spanish neutrality predicting enemy intentions spanish armed forces geographic intelligence invasion of french north africa german air force german strategy operation torch assessing enemy strength portuguese neutrality portuguese foreign policy
Collection ID
CAB81
Conflict
Second World War
Countries
France Germany Gibraltar Portugal Spain
Document Reference
CAB 81/110/72
Document Types
Memorandum Correspondence
File Reference
CAB 81/110
Identifier
10.1080/swwf.cab81.0110.072
Keywords
Operation Torch Operations Planning Military Operations Contingency Planning Spanish Neutrality Predicting Enemy Intentions Portuguese Neutrality Public Opinion Portuguese Foreign Policy Invasion Threat Spanish Armed Forces Assessing Enemy Strength Military Strength Geographic Intelligence Military Dispositions German Strategy Axis Strategy German Army German Air Force Air Power Invasion Of French North Africa
Languages
English
Organizations
Chiefs of Staff Joint Intelligence Sub-Committee Joint Intelligence Staff
Pages
3
Persons Discussed
Denis Capel-Dunn
Published in
United Kingdom
Series
War Cabinet Joint Intelligence Sub-Committee Memoranda. August - October 1942. Papers Numbers. JIC 321-406. Volume XX
Themes
Military Intelligence International Relations

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