Churchill’s Secret Invasion: Britain’s First Large Scale Combined Operations Offensive 1942

by John Grehan

In the spring of 1942 Britain's far-flung empire was in the greatest peril. North Africa was being overrun by the German Afrika Korps and in south-east Asia the forces of Imperial Japan had captured Singapore and were threatening India. Only the most urgent reinforcement of both war fronts could prevent disaster. But Britain's shipping routes to Egypt and India passed the island of Madagascar. If the Japanese Navy, operating out of Madagascar, could severe Britain's communications with Cairo and Delhi, then the whole of North Africa and the Indian sub-continent would be at the mercy of the Axis Powers. In a desperate race against time, and under conditions of the utmost secrecy, at Churchill's instigation Britain planned to seize Madagascar, the fourth largest island in the world, before the Japanese could strike. An overwhelming force was assembled and despatched as part of the largest convoy ever to have left Britain's shores. Yet the expedition's commanders were faced with not just military but also political obstacles, because the forces occupying the island were not those her enemy's but those of her former ally - France. The Secret Invasion is the first book to examine in detail this crucial campaign which was Britain's largest amphibious assault since the First World War and the first large-scale combined air, sea and land operation Britain had attempted.

Genres: History

224 pages, Hardcover

First published September 19, 2013

Reviews

[JD · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well researched and written book about the Battle of Madagascar during World War 2. I knew about this truly forgotten campaign in the Indian Ocean as there was involvement by South African forces and it has been mentioned in a few books I have read, but this covers everything about this interesting piece of World War 2 history.

The invasion of this Vichy French island was seen as an important operation after Japan entered the war and there was much concern that they would occupy the island and threaten the Indian Ocean sea lanes that the Allies so desperately needed as the Mediterranean was closed by the Axis threats there. Even a small force of Japanese could have made it very costly and near impossible to take control of the island and would an Axis base of operations could have been disastrous for Allied aims throughout the near and far east. So with this background the operation was set in motion and was the first combined operations invasion of the war for the Allies where many lessons were learnt and the fighting was much harder and longer that expected against the French and their colonial troops. The capture of Diego Suarez in the north was over in days, yet the campaign to take over the whole island would drag on for the next six months against a determined and cunning foe, where there were more casualties from disease than from the fighting itself.

Highly recommended reading for any World War 2 enthusiast. As an interesting side note, tons of graphite that was used in the development of the atomic bombs used to force the Japanese surrender came from the island after it's capture which is ironic seeing as the Japanese could have captured it easily had they been keen.

[Nishant Pappireddi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short, but still great, account of the British invasion of Madagascar.