A challenge for RetLT: Invasion of Spain

[wulfir]

BACKGROUND:

Following a British initiative designed to flank Festung Europa – an operation aimed against Spain is born. It is given the name Operation OXCART. The Americans have little interest in the sideshow effort they consider OXCART to be and while they provide some crucial forces to the operation it is really only made possible thanks to scraping the barrel for Commonwealth reinforcements. During the end of 43, start of 44 – the forces are slowly built up in French North Africa.

The idea is to stage an invasion from French North Africa against Spain and in doing so draw German forces from France into Spain weakening the crucial French sectors before Operation OVERLORD and ANVIL/DRAGON.

It is believed that the Spanish armed forces will only put up token resistance against an invasion and relatively quickly fold.

Much publicity is given to the build up of the British First Army in French North Africa in an effort draw attention away from France. This means the invasion has few chances of achieving surprise. Limited infrastructure in North Africa and shortage of allied landing craft, naval transport and surface escorts make the invasion impossible before OVERLORD – which is launched on June 6, 1944.

While the reason for OXCART is essentially over with OVERLORD being launched it is surprisingly still given the green light. Limited naval resources are provided in order to make a landing in Spain before OPERATION DRAGON is launched.

The forces assembled for OXCART look impressive on paper but many of the Commonwealth divisions are understrength due to manpower shortages.