Prof. Greg Jackson

The world is shocked and dismayed by this arrangement, or the Darlan deal, as it comes to be known.

See, François Darlan is a notoriously shameless Nazi collaborator.

In France, he has a hand in mass arrests of anti-Vichy citizens and the persecution of French Jews.

To make matters worse, he also directly provided Erwin Rommel's troops with supplies.

Now in Africa, the admiral continues to uphold anti-Semitic laws and imprisons many who aided the Allied invasion.

To most, he's a willing Nazi collaborator, an opportunist at best, and the circumstances of this flip to the Allies doesn't lessen that image.

Summarizing the sentiments of many among continental government leaders in exile in London, American journalist Edward R. Murrow asks, What the hell is this all about?

Are we fighting Nazis or sleeping with them?

Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt feel a sense of embarrassment, though both support Ike's strategic play, calling the move justified by the stress of battle.

but the Nazi collaborator doesn't get to enjoy his position as High Commissioner for long.

On December 24th, an Algerian-born Frenchman, that is, a pied noir, 20-year-old anti-Vichy, Ferdinand Bournier de la Chapelle, puts two bullets in François Dalland, one in the head and one in the chest.

I can't say the Allied leaders are too upset.

A diplomat bursts into Deputy Commander Mark Clark's office, exclaiming, they shot the little son of a bitch.

Marx sees Francois' death, quote, like the lancing of a troublesome boil, close quote.

Well then, as for Supreme Commander Dwight Eisenhower, he simply pivots back to Henri Giraud, making him the new High Commissioner.

Ike then returns his energy to the next goal in this North African invasion, defeating Erwin Rommel's Nazi forces.

And for that, as 1942 turns into 1943, it's time to head farther east, toward Nazi-held territory in the French protectorate of Tunisia.

It's just before 2.45 p.m., February 15, 1943.

we're at a brand new American M4 Sherman tank approaching the town of Sidi Bouzine in western French Tunisia.

29-year-old Lieutenant Colonel James D. Alger is leading a battalion of wet-behind-the-ears American tank crews on a counterattack, chasing Nazi soldiers back toward town.