57 pages • 1 hour read
An Army at Dawn
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
An Army at Dawn is a nonfiction military history book published in 2002 by American author and journalist Rick Atkinson. Subtitled The War in North Africa, 1942-1943, the book chronicles the successful Allied invasion of North Africa during World War II. The first installment of Atkinson's Liberation Trilogy, An Army at Dawn received the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for History.
This study guide refers to the 2002 edition published by Henry Holt and Company.
Plot Summary
On September 1, 1939, Adolf Hitler initiates World War II by leading Nazi Germany in an invasion of Poland. Poland's allies, Great Britain and France, proceed to declare war on Nazi Germany. In 1940, a French armistice with Germany allows France to remain in control of some of its territory, which includes colonies in Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco. As the newly-established Vichy state, France is expected to collaborate with Germany and its Axis allies, Italy and Japan.
Upon formally entering the war following the 1941 Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States partners with Great Britain to prepare for Operation TORCH, an Allied invasion of France’s North African colonies. Operation TORCH, along with the rest of the Allies’ operations in North Africa, will be overseen by American General Unlock all 57 pages of this Study Guide Plus, gain access to 8,900+ more expert-written Study Guides. Including features:
