The Casablanca Conference was a pivotal high-level meeting during World War II held in January 1943. It brought together U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Casablanca, Morocco. Its primary aim was to plan the Allied European strategy for the next phase of the war. A key outcome of the conference was the declaration of the “unconditional surrender” doctrine, demanding complete capitulation from the Axis powers.
The significance of this meeting lies in its establishment of clear Allied war aims and its impact on the direction of the conflict. The unconditional surrender policy, while intended to demoralize the enemy and prevent a negotiated peace that might leave them with some territorial gains, has been debated by historians for its potential to prolong the war. The conference also addressed logistical concerns, resource allocation, and future military operations in the Mediterranean theater, demonstrating a commitment to a coordinated Allied effort.
