WWII, episode 9: North Africa

Italy & France had colonies in North Africa when World War II started in Europe, and so the war crossed the Mediterranean Sea, drawing in first the British -- coming to protect their investment in the Suez Canal -- and then later the Germans, who came to bolster their Italian allies. And, once Japan brought the US into WWII after the bombing of Pearl Harbor (with Hitler inexplicably declaring war, dragging the US into the European war), the United States found itself using the crucible of the North African front to learn how to fight, lose, regroup, improve, and finally, how to win. North Africa, I contend, was a necessary step for the American G.I. and for the American brass to learn how to win WWII. The US would take lessons learned in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy into their invasion of France, where the fate of the free world would be determined.