New online: Operation Torch: Observer's Report

HyperWar: TORCH--Observer Report

Report on the utilization and mis-utilization of tank destroyers in this operation, and complaints about the lack of "hate" in the US troops.

 

A rather dismal report on the readiness of American troops to fight. While I had nowhere near the specifics of this report, I found similar information in Atkinson's books, especially The Day of Battle. It was pointed out numerous times, by many officers, that American troops didn't have sufficient "hate" to conduct the war. It seems to have begun to build during the Italian campaign, but there were always examples of the innate sense of "fair play" and "let's get this over with and go home" attitudes.

I can't say I know much about tactical issues, but the complaints here are echoed in several books I have come across. There was, it seems, a disconnect between theory and practice. I don't think training at any level was sufficient to prepare for what the troops actually faced. In addition, the Germans had 2 years of practice in refining their strategies, while the Americans were kind of making it up as they went along.

In the end, the "hatred" built enough, and production advantages and skills had improved enough to emerge victorious. The cost, however, was probably higher than it should have been.

 

I've done the odd bit of research into GI attitudes during the war. I found that the "war without mercy" concept is rather exaggerated and mostly found in post-war works.

After reading a Ph.D. thesis based on the shape of the nails used to construct a "freedman" colony in rural Florida after the ACW I have concluded that ANYTHING can get published.

 

I'm not quite sure what you mean by this. The Atkinson book just pointed out that American attitudes, especially in North Africa, led to a less than stellar performance. The grunts had too much respect for their opponents, while their superiors couldn't adapt to changing conditions. It seems to me that GI attitudes changed as they got more experienced and they built up a considerable disregard for the well-being of their enemy. Obviously, this report, made during the war, seems to point out the same thing. That Americans were unprepared for the brutality of combat seems to go without saying.

 

It's simple, really. First, I'm a veteran, 20 years in the Navy. In all that time I knew very few troops who "hated" the "enemy" as a group. Certain of them were hated, of course, but as a nation/race/political unit they were simply the opposition.

Second, the "war without mercy" concept is an artifact, not a reality. It comes from the PC '80s and Hollywood far more than it comes from the troops. The propaganda aimed at the troops on the line was of a different nature than that intended for "home" consumption. The boots on the ground didn't have much respect for the "Japanese as a monkey" posters, because they knew better.