In this time line: Lets say American shipping losses are higher OR american liaisons are unluckily arrested visiting French North Africa or an American division is diverted to the mid east, or a Pacific setback or for whatever reason Torch is delayed 1 month to December 8th.
Things have changed vs OTL:
a) Soviet counter attack and encirclement at Stalingrad has happened.
b) British have liberated Benghazi
c) Allies have won Guadalcanal Naval battles
What do this mean:
a) Could there be no French resistance? (obvious Axis is losing)
b) Could French fleet at Toulon try to sail to join Allies?
c) Does having Darlan back in France change things?
c) Heavily engaged elsewhere could Axis just evacuate North Africa and not try.
d) Could the Germans rescue Stalingrad? (1st SS Panzer could be sent east instead of occupying Southern France)
Things have changed vs OTL:
a) Soviet counter attack and encirclement at Stalingrad has happened.
b) British have liberated Benghazi
c) Allies have won Guadalcanal Naval battles
What do this mean:
a) Could there be no French resistance? (obvious Axis is losing)
b) Could French fleet at Toulon try to sail to join Allies?
c) Does having Darlan back in France change things?
c) Heavily engaged elsewhere could Axis just evacuate North Africa and not try.
d) Could the Germans rescue Stalingrad? (1st SS Panzer could be sent east instead of occupying Southern France)