Illustration
A map depicting the strategic situation in Europe and the Mediterranean in early November 1942, as World War II reached a critical turning point. Axis expansion had begun to reverse, while the Allies launched major offensives in North Africa and the Soviet Union, shifting the momentum of the war in their favor.
By early November 1942, the Axis powers—primarily Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy—still held vast swaths of Europe, but their dominance was beginning to crack. On November 8, the Allies launched Operation Torch, landing in French North Africa in their first large-scale Western offensive, aiming to push Axis forces out of Africa and secure control over the Mediterranean.
Meanwhile, on the Eastern Front, the Soviet Union had launched a fierce counteroffensive around Stalingrad, encircling Germany’s 6th Army and marking the beginning of a major strategic shift. The Axis no longer held the clear upper hand. In response to the Allied landings, Germany and Italy swiftly enacted Operation Anton, occupying Vichy France, including the Italian takeover of southeastern France and Corsica.
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Cite This Work
APA Style
Netchev, S. (2024, March 11). World War Two in Europe, November 1942. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/18673/world-war-two-in-europe-november-1942/
Chicago Style
Netchev, Simeon. "World War Two in Europe, November 1942." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified March 11, 2024. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/18673/world-war-two-in-europe-november-1942/.
MLA Style
Netchev, Simeon. "World War Two in Europe, November 1942." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 11 Mar 2024. Web. 29 Mar 2025.
