World War II: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill conclude a conference in Casablanca.
The Casablanca Conference, held from January 14 to January 24, 1943, in Casablanca, Morocco, was a pivotal meeting during World War II between U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. This summit aimed to solidify Allied strategy against the Axis powers. Key outcomes included the decision to demand unconditional surrender from Axis nations, ensuring they would have no leverage to negotiate peace terms. This policy was intended to prevent a repeat of the perceived mistakes of World War I. The conference also laid the groundwork for the invasion of Italy, solidified plans for the cross-Channel invasion (D-Day), and provided support for Charles de Gaulle as a leader of Free France, despite tensions with other French factions. Stalin was invited but did not attend, citing the ongoing Battle of Stalingrad. The meeting underscored Allied unity and strengthened their resolve to achieve complete victory.