{{Short description|World War II operation plan}} {{About-distinguish|Operation Orient|North African Campaign}} 400x400px|thumb|right|German troops were to advance through southern Russia and Africa, and Japanese troops would advance through India and ultimately link up near the proposed demarcation line at 70° E although it was never specified. '''Operation Orient''' (German: ''Fall Orient'') was the code name given to the operation that envisioned Nazi Germany linking up with the Empire of Japan mainly through the Middle East. Not to be confused with the North African campaign, which was highlighted in ''Führer-Directive Nr. 32'' and gave large priority to capturing Tobruk and ultimately securing North Africa.
Operation Orient focused on securing the Middle East and its oil fields and linking up with Japanese forces after the defeat of the Soviet Union, while also was projected an invasion and possible conquest of British India, collapsing the British Empire.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Macksey |first=Kenneth |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eZx8DAAAQBAJ&pg=PT66 |title=The Hitler Options: Alternate Decisions of World War II |date=2015-02-19 |publisher=Frontline Books |isbn=978-1-4738-4247-2 |language=en}}</ref>{{Pn|date=August 2024}}
The operation was planned since February 17 of 1941 by order of Hitler to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, having the official codename of "OKW/WEStb/L No. 44180/41 gk".<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Malhotra |first=Iqbal Chand |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Iu1WEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT90 |title=Dark Secrets: Politics, Intrigue and Proxy Wars in Kashmir |date=2022-01-28 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-93-5435-545-5 |language=en}}</ref>{{Pn|date=August 2024}}
The operation was to be initiated after Germany had captured the Caucasus, secured the territories in North Africa, and finally overcome resistance by the Soviets. German armies would launch attacks from Libya through Egypt and from Bulgaria through Turkey, conquering British Palestine and occupying French Syria-Lebanon. These armies would then link up in Middle East<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> and then march through Iran and Iraq as an assembled force finally convening in India on the 70th meridian east, where they would seal their final victory over Britain.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Englund |first=Peter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5xyUEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT138 |title=La svolta: Novembre 1942. I giorni che cambiarono il destino del mondo |date=2022-10-25 |publisher=Marsilio Editori spa |isbn=978-88-297-1776-7 |language=it}}</ref>{{Pn|date=August 2024}}
Due to Operation Barbarossa, all the Axis planned offensives against British Empire were suspended. Furthermore, the defeats at the Stalingrad and the El Alamein in late 1942 and early 1943 cancelled the planned operation.
==See also== * Axis powers negotiations on the division of Asia * Case Blue * Erich Raeder's "Mediterranean plan" * Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:1942 in Germany Orient Category:North African campaign Orient Orient Category:Cancelled or proposed invasions of British India Category:Cancelled or proposed invasions of Iraq Category:Cancelled or proposed invasions of Syria Category:Cancelled or proposed invasions of Lebanon Category:Cancelled or proposed invasions of Iran Category:Cancelled or proposed invasions of Afghanistan Category:Cancelled or proposed invasions of Palestine