“Nulli Expugnabilis Hosti or conquered by no enemy” is Gibraltar’s national motto and the motto was proved very much true in second world war . The islands were codenamed as Felix by Hitler’s planning division. The island occupies a very strategic position on the world map. By occupying the territory German forces would have been able to control Western Mediterranean nations. The mission to seize Gibraltar was called “Operation Felix”. Fuhrer’s planning division was activated and an elaborate strategy was chalked out to take control of the islands. The strategy included the plans to conquer the Morocco and Canary Islands also as it would have enabled Germans to use their ports for military purposes.
Two divisions were prepared to attack the islands from different fronts with the help of air force bombers. It was deemed necessary to seek the co-operation of Spain. Meanwhile a previous meeting between Hitler and Spain’s leader Franco on the subject had been a futile attempt to pull Spain into the war and Hitler remarked after the meeting were “I would rather have four teeth pulled out than go through that again!”
As the planning got further Hitler in a meeting with his high commend decided to ask Franco to give permission to its army to cross Spain’s territory. Franco was unmoved and clearly stated his fear that the adventure would lead Spain to a widespread famine.
As the efforts failed Hitler was left with no choice but to cancel Operation Felix. Hitler’s desperation was clear as he said in one of his later statement’s that Franco had made a mistake that would haunt him for his life. The troops dedicated for the operation were dispatched on other warfronts.
Operation Felix
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