A Strange Campaign: The Battle for Madagascar
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Madagascar provided the stunning backdrop for one of the strangest conflicts of the Second World War - when Britain went head to head against one of its closest allies.
When British forces landed on the island in 1942¸ the enemy they faced wasn't German¸ Japanese or even Italian¸ this time the opposing forces were French.
Concerned that Japan might use Madagascar as a strategic base to disrupt the supply line to India¸ Britain was keen to take control of the island. However¸ the Vichy forces were keen to defend the French colony and prevent it becoming part of the British Empire.
A Strange Campaign: The Battle for Madagascar gives a detailed account of this fascinating but little-known period of military history. Even at the time¸ the conflict was a controversial one¸ pitting two colonial empires against each other.
However¸ it was also ground-breaking as it was the first time Allied forces had staged a major amphibious invasion. The lessons learned on the shores of Madagascar would prove to be invaluable two years later during the D-day landings in Normandy.
Military historian Russell Phillips examines the tactics used in the battle for Madagascar which included secret agents¸ dummy paratroopers and attempted bribery.
But just how did the British finally break down months of resistance by the French? And how did a tug-of-war over an island in the middle of the Indian ocean influence the rest of the Second World War?
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