Destination Casablanca: Exile, Espionage, and the Battle for North Africa in World War II

by Meredith Hindley

In November 1942, as a part of Operation Torch, 33,000 American soldiers sailed undetected across the Atlantic and stormed the beaches of French Morocco. Seventy-four hours later, the Americans controlled the country and one of the most valuable wartime ports: Casablanca.

In the years preceding, Casablanca had evolved from an exotic travel destination to a key military target after France's surrender to Germany. Jewish refugees from Europe poured in, hoping to obtain visas and passage to the United States and beyond. Nazi agents and collaborators infiltrated the city in search of power and loyalty. The resistance was not far behind, as shopkeepers, celebrities, former French Foreign Legionnaires, and disgruntled bureaucrats formed a network of Allied spies. But once in American hands, Casablanca became a crucial logistical hub in the fight against Germany--and the site of Roosevelt and Churchill's demand for "unconditional surrender."

Rife with rogue soldiers, power grabs, and diplomatic intrigue, Destination Casablanca is the riveting and untold story of this glamorous city--memorialized in the classic film that was rush-released in 1942 to capitalize on the drama that was unfolding in North Africa at the heart of World War II.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, Africa, War, Morocco, Espionage

512 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Meredith Hindley is a writer and historian living in Washington, D.C. Her work has appeared in Humanities, New York Times, Salon, Longreads, and Barnes and Noble Review. She found her way to the nation’s capital after growing up in Colorado and attending the University of Wyoming. As a student at Laramie, she studied English and history, while also learning the importance of Polar Fleece.

Hindley ventured east to attend American University, where she earned a master’s degree in history. A year working as a legal assistant failed to deter her from plunging back into academia, and she returned to American University to earn a Ph.D. If pressed, she will confess that one of the great things about being a historian of World War II is having a reason to visit London, Paris, and Casablanca.

Along with a deep love of history, she also confesses to being a fan of classic movies, lipstick, well-plotted mysteries, and the Washington Capitals. And, yes, she still owns a pair of cowboy boots. Black.

Reviews

[Mark Mortensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In WWII those loyal to France were divided into a three legged stool with the Vichy and former WWI leader Henri-Philippe Petain in France distant from Paris collaborating with the Germans, de Gaulle exiled from France in England with a Free French movement and the French North Africans surrounding Casablanca with their own vision for France’s future.

Prior to World War II the North African Moroccan French colonial seaport called Casablanca encompassed an ethnic potpourri of Europeans and Arabs, with Christians, Muslims, Jews and others striving to maintain daily life, while acknowledging the difficulty of coexistence. Casablanca plays a most interesting role in November 1942 during the British/American invasion called Operation Torch. One must read the book to discover the extent of French resistance to America. I found the rift between French and American military leadership involving big egos and power struggles quite interesting. I view Petain as a self-serving WWII leader, which lends me to further comprehend his botched WWI armistice that led to so many deaths 24 years prior on November 11, 1918.

Congratulations to Meredith Hindley on her fine research and final product. It’s refreshing to see another qualified woman record military history. I really liked the concise 65 chapter format that kept the story flowing and provided easy moments to pause and reflect. She wraps up the book with a chapter in connection to one of my favorite movies, Academy Award winning “Casablanca” staring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, interestingly released during the November 1942 invasion.

[victor harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Allied invasion of North Africa which was to be a staging point for further advances into southern Europe was an immensely complex operation and this efficiently untangles many of the pitfalls and cast of characters. One of the major problems was the divided loyalties of the French. Many were still committed to maintaining their links to the Petain-led Vichy government in the homeland while others resented Vichy and its German affiliation. It would require a fairly robust military engagement before the French were subdued and the Allies asserted control. Again that part was covered in a straightforward manner. Once the Allies established their presence they had to deal with the likes of DeGaulle, Giraud, and Nogues, all of whom had different notions about the future French role and who should be recognized as the official leader. This would prove exasperating for Churchill, Roosevelt, and Eisenhower. For those who like the minutiae of the meetings and deal-making, they will probably enjoy the intrigues. At a certain point I thought it created a drag in the reading. My only other major criticism is that too much attention was given to who was driving around where, what they ate, and what time a rooster crowed. Probably could have shaved fifty pages from the book eliminating some of the nuisance details. Good closing chapter comparing the actual history with the famous movie " Casablanca", which obviously was a commercial venture and made no pretense of historical verisimilitude.

[Charles Inglin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The city of Casablanca, Morocco, became known to Americans as the westernmost of the three objectives of Operation Torch, in November 1942. By coincidence, Warner Brothers had just filmed a movie set in Casablanca, and released under the title "Casablanca." Originally scheduled for release in the spring of 1943 it was released earlier to take advantage of the publicity. The author of "Destination: Casablanca" looks at the real story of Casablanca during WWII, a story worthy of a Hollywood movie. Morocco at the time was a French protectorate. It was under the control of French officials, some loyal to the pro-German Vichy regime, others leaning towards the allies, and others straddling the fence. The city was a magnet for refugees as a place out of direct German control and a stepping stone towards Lisbon, the transit point for the Americas. The Germans eyed Morocco as a bas for submarines and aircraft while the French administrators worked to prevent the Germans from having an excuse to take it over. A fascinating story

[Hermien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and an aspect of WWII that was new to me.

[Mike Nesemann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subtitle says it all, “Exile, espionage, and the battle for north Africa in WWII.” It was a remarkable place in a remarkable time and she does a good job weaving together the various strands; from almost hopeless refugees to the top political and military figures. From Josephine Baker’s amazing story (“flitting off to Spain and Portugal with bits of intelligence pinned inside her bra or written on sheet music…”) to the exploits of Mark Clark. Imagine! He was Eisenhower’s deputy and knew all the details of the upcoming invasion of N. Africa. Yet he and other senior staff landed on a hostile shore in a small boat from a submarine to meet senior French and resistance leaders. At one point they had to hide in the cellar when police came by the villa they were in. Later he had to go out a window and run, barefoot, to the beach!

Well told. I had hoped for more background on how the Moroccans were involved but she limited her discussion to the highest echelons. Also, as usual, I quibble with details. She avers that Hitler read DeGaule’s book on tank warfare, which I have not seen mentioned elsewhere and I couldn’t follow up with the cited reference. Then there was the claim that the battleship New York carried 36,400 troops to Casablanca. Given that its regular compliment was 1,042 officers and men, and their accommodations were hardly spacious in those days, I doubt she carried many troops. I suspect she escorted the convoy that carried the troops, which is what the Wikipedia notation says. Regardless, a well written piece of history that captures the human elements of the times. PS I do not recommend Casablanca as a tourist destination. I visited once on for business. It’s a commercial port and not a lot of charm – think Newark with palm trees.

[Gg]

A great read, well written! The events and people who were involved in the Allied landing of troops in Morocco is told like an unfolding mystery. A lot of history to cover from background campaigns to the planning of the invasion from American, British, Russian, and French viewpoints. A must read for WWII history buffs.

[John Purvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Destination Casablanca" eBook was published in 2017 and was written by Meredith Hindley (https://meredithhindley.com). Ms. Hindley is a Historian living in Washington, D.C. This is her first book.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this book as ‘G’. The book tells the story of Casablanca from just prior to the onset of World War II until shortly after the war ends.

This is an historical look at the the major figures in Casablanca during this period. Many fled from the Germans as they engulfed Europe, and found themselves stranded in Casablanca. The French had mixed sentiments. They wanted to insure their continued hold on Casablanca and North African assets, while throwing off the control of the Germans. Many French leaders, particularly military, felt the need to maintain the honor of their word to the Vichy French government.

The Allied invasion of North Africa brought many of these issues into focus, with several French military leaders siding with the Allies, but opposing them because of their commitments to the Vichy government. This led to a few days of very bitter fighting between US and French forces. 

I found the 13.5 hours spent reading this 465 page history interesting. As most non-fiction histories, this was a little dry, but it was interesting enough to keep me reading. I certainly learned much about the Allied invasion of North Africa and the political entanglement they suffered through with the French. The cover art is OK. I give this book a 4 out of 5.

Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book to learn more about the role Morocco played in WWII, wondering if this history would have anything to contribute to my upcoming trip. I've decided that I'll have a greater appreciation for the plight of 1940s war refugees during our final dinner at "Rick's Cafe" (built for tourists AFTER the celebrated movie), but for the most part nothing is left from the war years.

BUT... I learned a lot about World War II that I never knew I didn't know! I had made incorrect assumptions about attitudes toward Vichy France; I had no idea that from 1940 to 1943 the collaborationist government controlled the French Protectorate of Morocco, and that this was a time of intense conflict within the French military. I also didn't realize that when American troops first landed in North Africa they were fighting AGAINST the French. It only took 4 days for the Vichy capitulation in Morocco and Algiers, but American lives were lost and much of the French navy destroyed before the Allies could start chasing Rommel. It was also interesting to see the balancing act for the American officers -- how to promote ideas of freedom and democracy while tacitly approving continued European colonialism in Africa? I never before appreciated the complexities of our alliance with the Brits and French during WWII.

While I learned a lot from Destination Casablanca, I feel it could be strengthened by a little tighter editing. Aside from many typos, there were transitions that could have been smoothed and sections clarified (multiple times I had to search through past paragraphs to determine who we were now talking about). Overall, 3.5 stars.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free Kindle copy of Destination Casablanca by Meredith Hindley courtesy of Net Galley and Perseus Books, the publisher. It was with the understanding that I would post a review to Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and my history book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Google Plus pages.

I requested this book as I have read a great deal about World War II, but very little about the war in northern Africa. It is the first book by the Meredith Hindley that I have read. This book is well written and researched. Hindley has a writing style that is informative and engaging.

This book is nothing like the movie Casablanca except at the beginning where individuals are trying to escape to go to Britian or the United States. The main theme of the book is the role that Morocco and Casablanca played in World WarII in the conflict in nothern Africa.  The author does spend time on many different individuals that were either stationed in or passed through Casablanca.

Hindley does a very good job of laying out the demise of France and the development of Vichy France and the Free French movement and the roles that they played as part of the intrigue of Casablanca. At other times it seems like some of the material is filler to make the book longer. The only drawback from my perspective is that it really shouldn't have taken 500 pages and innumerable chapters to cover the subject. 

I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in World War II and in particular the conflict in north Africa.

[Mich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This historical recounting of the invasion of North Africa by the US starts with a brief history of Morocco, with the first part emphasizing the frenetic efforts by refugees in 1939-40 streaming out of France and the rest of Europe to obtain exit visas as the Vichy took hold of Morocco. My first hand knowledge, having been born in Casablanca at that time, was brought back as my family was able to exit via Lisbon to the US.
Fearing that the French fleet would fall into German hands and with the Vichy refusing to scuttle the ships , the British had no choice but to bomb the ships wherever they lay, resulting in hundreds of French sailors dying. The Vichy set up its government in Morocco and passed the same antisemitic and other repressive laws as existed in occupied France, though fortunately the Sultan, Sidi Mohammed Ben Yusef, only implemented the less draconian ones.
The same French administration refused to cooperate with the resistance who was working with the Americans in planning Operation Torch. Eventually, the French fought the Americans resulting in hundreds of casualties on both sides.
Hindley brings much color to the story by describing not just major characters like Robert Murphy, Patton, Clark, Eisenhower, Churchill but also Arthur Koestler and Josephine Baker, as well as others.
Great book!

[Lynda Lippin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really excited to get this book, as the Moroccan theatre in WWII is basically unknown to me. It is a huge gap in my history knowledge.

This book captured me from the beginning, with a brief history of pre-1942 Morocco, which grew from under 100,000 residents to 350,000 under the French governor. Then there are three sections - the first covers the personalities in Casablanca, starting with Josephine Baker and Maurice Chevalier; the second discusses the American invasion and takeover from the Vichy French; and the third covers life in Casablanca after. What I like the most is that each chapter is a slightly different story, and they are all interesting.

If you are a history need like me, or are just into so e great stories about an interesting place, you need this book!

[Peter Goodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Destination Casablsnce: Exile, Espionage, and the Battle for North Africa in World War II,” by Meredith Hindley (Public Affairs, 2017). It turns out that “Casablanca” the movie was not far from fact. Hindley provides a solid history of the city itself, and its odd autonomous existence within the French Empire. She traces a series of characters, Americans, Brits and French, who were in and around the city before the war and then became involved in spying, plotting, trying to push the city one way or the other, toward or away from the Axis, toward or away from loyalty to Vichy, cooperation or resistance to the Allies. Sometimes the detail is thoroughlyu confusing. But the events are perfect for a whole series of movies. Before the North Africa invasion got under way, the Americans tried to develop alliances among the French (no way the French would ever deal with the British, especially after the attacks on the French navy). French colonial officers were torn between supporting the invaders or remaining loyal to Vichy and especially to Marshal Petain. Charles de Gaulle? He was not even in the game, a completely obscure colonel in England while the major participants were in Vichy or North Africa. He even tried an invasion of North Africa that was laughable. But he was the guy in London while all the rest were qusrreling among themselves. The invasions were quick but not easy. And the movie itself? Several of the actors themselves had been trapped in Casablanca. I guess that maks the movie “meta.” Tremendous work of scholarship results in a very interesting book.

https://meredithhindley.com/

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I hadn't gone to the author's talk on this book last month, I'm not sure I could have gotten past the beginning, which is densely packed with information about Morocco and colonial north Africa. It got a bit confusing as so many characters were introduced. Some of the politics got a bit mind-bending as officials sympathized with (and sometimes covertly worked for) the various factions with interests in Morocco. All of this lays the groundwork for the battle of Casablanca, which allowed the US to get a toehold in north Africa. Along the way, Hindley relates lots of those little incidents that never make it into history books in school, but are the kinds of stories that bring history alive to us today. And of course, she has to mention the movie "Casablanca", which got released ahead of schedule to take advantage of the real place being in the news headlines just then. The book is well-researched and well-written (but should have been proofed better - too many inverted words, missing articles and prepositions - three of those on P. 421) I think it's greatest appeal is to military historians and/or WWII buffs. Others may want to dip in and out of chapters according to their interests.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally published at Book of Bogan.

Destination Casablanca is a look at the shenanigans went on in Casablanca in particular, and North Africa in general, during the Second World War, as the competing countries and interests clashed. In some ways this felt like a sort of lower deck episode, to borrow a phrase from Star Trek. While the events of the war are discussed, and at times discussed in great detail, this is the story of the smaller people who were having to live their lives in the shadow of this great conflict.

I was actually surprised at how much I enjoyed this book, given that it was a different look on war compared to some of the more descriptive books that are out there. With that said, there were plenty of descriptive action scenes, involving ship to ship and aerial combat, but that is not the main focus of the book.

Destination Casablanca is a thoroughly enjoying read, for those looking to expand their knowledge, and perhaps their mind, about the events of the second world war.


I received a review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Jeffrey Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent first book for the author, Meredith Hindley, which was read with gusto by Matthew Waterson. The book gives historical background into the city of Casablanca, as well as Morocco in general, goes into detail regarding the roles played by U.S. Legation staff, the OSS, the refugees, the Moroccans, the Vichy and Free French, and Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of No. Africa in which the taking of Casablanca played a crucial role. The author's description of the primary characters involved is vivid and illuminating, and brings a lot of color to the book. Of course it goes without saying that the film "Casablanca" is itself woven into the book, which would have been disappointing if it wasn't. The film turned out to be surprisingly accurate, capturing the desperate plight of the European refugees, French and German officials, and those bent on taking advantage of the situation. Interesting that there were only about 150 Americans in total in Morocco at the start of WWII, and only one Black man, and no, it wasn't Sam. Really looking forward to Ms. Hindley's next book, given the level of historical detail she brought to this one.

[Pat Sakovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little known expedition to North Africa . The goal was to gather information pre-invasion of the German army plans for using North Africa as a springboard to the total domination of Europe . Eisenhower were ready to land in France , but Mark Clark and officers from other nations saw this would be a strategic mistake . It would have left a vulnerability if The German army was not shut out of North Africa . The Mediterranean had to be free from a southern invasion . Actually this mission was only successful because the Americans bypassed the French army ( loyal to The Germans ) and thru secret missions and meetings were able to get Rommel out of Africa .
This book was carefully researched and at this was sometimes difficult to follow but the clandestine operation resulted in the demise of Italian and German forces in Africa . Exciting , and a part of history I never knew .

[Quinby6696 Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absorbing account of the strategic military and political importance of Casablanca and by extension the Protectorate of Morocco during World War II. Happily, Hindley states that with a few discrepancies the portrayal of Casablanca in the famous film keeps close to the truth, but the author greatly expands her story to give a global perspective. Swarming with refugees from all parts of Europe, spies of all stripes, leaders of the Vichy government, an assortment of American operatives, and various politicians with opposing agendas, the city was the jumping off point for anyone trying to get out of Europe. Lively writing including fascinating accounts of the many and varied individuals playing parts in this run-up to Operation Torch and the Allied landings in North Africa.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

The native Moroccan Arabs are never in this book. Even the King is treated as window dressing in his own country. I was unaware until I read this book that Josephine Baker spent so much time in Morocco. As a Californian, Patton's reflections are often interesting. Author notes that on a drive between Casablanca and Rabaat Patton felt the country was classic tanker country. Having done the same drive I have seen the gentle rolling hills he is referring. But, how about his reflections on the people of Morocco which was not flattering. Patton's threat to blast Casablanca into rubble luckily was never fulfilled.

[Bookwoman67 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covering an area of World War II history that I only knew from the movie, Hindley's narrative kept me eagerly looking ahead for the next development. I knew the Vichy regime was responsible for collaborating with the Germans in France, but didn't realize French soldiers and sailors actually fought the Allies in North Africa. The French politicians and military leaders come across as utterly despicable here, responsible for bloodshed, headache, and heartbreak. Patton does nothing to redeem his repugnant reputation either. These are balanced by an array of interesting, resourceful Americans, Moroccans, French, and other Europeans. A great roundup of the usual, and many unusual, suspects.

[Shauna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hated this book. It was Insanely long. I did learn about Casablanca, though, & why the French were not just poor hostages during it. I hate that I learned anything interesting. I’ve been reading less lately, personal stuff, but it was at least partially because I hated this book. I wish I would have quit this book early on, but the Sunk Cost Fallacy kept me going. It was very disjointed. It was hard to remember where one winding tale took off and another began. Extremely disjointed. It’s flow is horrible. The best non-fiction has great flow and is cohesive - this is the opposite of that.

[Brandon Gries · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super information packed book. I read this book while on vacation in Morocco. It added an entirely new depth to my experience of Morocco while I was in country. My wife and I only spent two days in Casablanca and we spent most of the rest of the time in the interior of the country. Nonetheless, it gave so much interesting context to the importance of northern Africa in World War II that was lost on me prior to this book. The book does have a lot of information. In fact, the book may have too many characters to follow. This can make it a very slow read.

[Youness · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an American who is half European Jew (my mothers side hid out in Luxembourg during WWII) and half-Moroccan ( my father was born in Casablanca in 1941 and still resides there to this day) this book feels like it was directly written for me.

While I have had a vague understanding of operation Torch in the past and Casablanca and North Africa in general’s significance during WWII I had no idea the depth of that significance and how interesting the history that enfolded here during WWII was until I read this phenomenal book!

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot both about the city and the movie. After a rocky start (in which the author or her sloppy editor seems to imply that the Arab name for the city is completely different from the European name, without mentioning that the one is just a direct translation of the other) I got pulled into the story and the vast cast of characters from Josephine Baker to the Sultan to Charles De Gaulle. I

[John Keeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Learned So Much From This Book

If you love history you will enjoy this book. We all know about D-Day but how many of us know much about North Africa during World War II? I am embarrassed to say I knew very little. This is not a book bogged down with minute battle plans and maps but a book about the people who were caught up in this world both known and unknown. This is a well researched, beautifully written book - well documented. I am so glad I discovered it.

[Jake Tanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read with a variety of perspectives on a unique aspect of World War 2.

It doesn't read like a textbook because it's not dry at all. Instead, it gives us a timeline as the Germans move into France and her colonies and then as the war progresses.

My favorite aspect of this book is the way it jumps from storyline to storyline, giving a broad view of the various people and their experiences throughout the decade or so surrounding the second world war.

[Gordon Down · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a very pleasant surprise. I only discovered it and bought it on a whim because I read a quote from the movie and was Googling the actual events.
It's essentially the first part of WWII through the lens of one city. The depth of her research is what sets this apart first as unequivocally authentic (100 pages of references at the back), and secondly because her research allowed her to get inside the heads of so many key players. She references quite a few personal journals, which gives us insights into peoples fears and hopes and prejudices that perhaps not even their friends would have known at the time. I was very engaged with the plot line and the action, even though it is all at one level just a string of historical facts. It doesn't do it justice to call it a documentary.

At one level I am deeply grateful to have lived more than half a century without seeing war. However part of me is very envious of the incredible adventures these men and women had - the cloak and dagger, intrigue, trust and betrayal, the dying of old empires and the dawning of new ones, and seas of humanity on the move. It's no wonder that so many movies and books focus on war.

However I was also aware through her pages of how differently the lives of the generals and special agents played out compared to the poor and the desperate, the prostitution, the internment camps, and so many meaningless deaths. It reminds me of the ancient Chinese curse "may you live in interesting times!"

[Peter L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Destination Casablanca Relates Casablanca’s History in WWII

A fascinating account of Morocco & it’s most famous city that many of us only know from the movie of the same name. The story tells the tale by weaving the many fascinating characters who resided there or visited there into the city’s complex happenings.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to give 5 stars to this book; and the content and writing style are worth it; the early years of WWII fascinate me; especially stories of refugees and their struggles to gain freedom from NAZI Germany; however, there are too many editorial type errors for me to excuse; eg, ‘loses’ instead of ‘losses’ which occurs twice that I remember; and other similar errors; so, it gets 4 stars.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this foray into the intrigue and high stakes of Casablanca politics and espionage. I know my Dad was briefly in North Africa but believe this timeframe predates his landing (maybe Tunisia?) Learned more than I ever knew about the Vichy government, DeGaulle, and the tightrope walk of the French Colonies during the German occupation of mainland France. Absorbing!

[Text Addict · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid narrative of the parts and aspects of World War II that Casablanca was involved with. Light on analysis, heavy on military and biographical details - the focus on people besides the generals was welcome, especially the OSS activities and the story of Josephine Baker's roles in espionage, morale building, and fundraising.