Operation Orient

{{Short description|World War II operation plan}}

{{About-distinguish|Operation Orient|North African Campaign}}

File:German and Japanese spheres of influence at greatest extent World War II 1942.jpg

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.{{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}}{{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".{{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}}{{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 occupyng French Syria-Lebanon. These armies would then link up in Middle East 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.{{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}}{{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.