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 * For the naval battle of 1811, see Battle of Tamatave.

The Battle of Madagascar (or Operation Ironclad) was the Allied campaign to capture Vichy French-controlled Madagascar during World War II. It began on 5 May, 1942. Fighting did not cease until 6 November.

Background

 * Battle of France
 * Fall of France, creation of Vichy and Free French forces, which colonies sided with which?
 * Anglo-Free French relations. DeGaulle and Churchill, destruction of French Fleet at Mers-El-Kebir, Dakar, attempts to sideline Free French
 * Fears of Japanese advances into Indian Ocean, Madagascar being used as a port to prey on Allied shipping

Order of Battle
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Aftermath
Free French General Paul Legentilhomme was appointed High Commissioner for Madagascar. French control of the island was not to last much longer though as, like many colonies, Madagascar sought its independence following the war. In 1947, the island experienced the Malagasy Uprising, a costly revolution that was crushed in 1948. It was not until 14 October 1958, about ten years later, that the Malagasy Republic successfully proclaimed its independence from France.