Traveling Tuesday: Casablanca During WWII

Traveling Tuesday: Casablanca During WWII

Most of us have watched Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid trade barbs and suspicions in the 1942 movie Casablanca, but what was Morocco’s largest city really like during the war? How much of the film was accurate and how much was speculation?

Casablanca (literally “white house”) is located on the Atlantic Coast in the central western part of Morocco, a country slightly larger than California. A French protectorate in 1939, Morocco was under the control of Vichy France during until after the success of the Allies in North Africa in the fall of 1942. Intriguingly, Northern Morocco declared itself neutral during the war. Southern Morocco was loyal to the Vichy regime.

Many Europeans fled to Morocco prior to the war but ended up living in poverty. The Jewish population was crammed into crowded areas known as mellahs (Arabic for salt or saline area). By 1940, laws were implemented by Vichy France that prohibited Jews from certain professions. As a result, nearly 8,000 unsuccessfully attempted to flee to the US or Palestine, instead, being sent to detention and labor camps.

As the largest port in North Africa, Casablanca was of great strategic importance. After the Allied

victory became a key part of the Allies’ supply lines. By all reports, the city was a major center of espionage and intelligence. America’s Office of Strategic Services and Britain’s Special Operations Executive had more than a few agents stationed in Casablanca. Singer-spy Josephine Baker often arranged her tours to pass through the city.

In addition to spies, including double agents, codebreakers set up residence, working to decipher the encrypted radio traffic. Diplomats from both Allied and Axis powers also remained in the city making backroom deals. Several reports indicate Casablanca was a major hub for the French Resistance active in collecting intelligence and helping refugees escape Europe’s holocaust.

With a population of nearly 500,000, Casablanca was bustling and bursting at the seams. In many ways, life for the rich and well-to-do didn’t change with the arrival of the war. Bars and restaurants, much like “Rick’s Café Américain,” continued to provide liquor and entertainment, as well as a location to exchange information. However, as described in Meredith Hinsley’s Destination Casablanca “danger lurked just below the surface various factions, including diplomats, military figures, and spies, converged to pursue their agendas.”

Apparently, Hollywood got it right.

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The American World War II Home Front in 29 Objects

Unlike Europe the American mainland escaped physical devastation during World War II as it was not subjected to full-scale invasions. However, that didn’t mean the United States wasn’t impacted by the war. The ramifications of large economic, cultural, and societal changes forced Americans to reconsider entrenched beliefs and traditions.

Artifacts collected from across the nation tell the stories of the American people whose lives were shaped by this second “war to end all wars,” World War II.

Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/47pLxR

Photo Credits:

Casablanca Movie Poster: By Bill Gold - https://www.hometheaterseattle.com/Casablanca-1942-Movie-Poster_p_160.html, Public Domain.

Casablanca Port: Pixabay/Amajou Abdou

Casablanca Mosque: Pixabay/Thiago Assana