Operation Theseus (ii)

(Greek mythological king of Athens)

'Theseus' (ii) was a German unrealised plan for the seizure of French North Africa and French West Africa, as well as the Portuguese Cape Verde islands group (summer 1942).

The 'Theseus' (ii) scheme was the logical successor to 'Felix-Heinrich', and was designed to deny the British any western access to the Mediterranean as well as providing the German navy and air force with bases ideally situated for the prosecution of the war against British maritime communications across the South Atlantic and round the Cape of Good Hope. The rationale of this plan was first expressed in Adolf Hitler’s Führerweisung Nr 32, issued on 11 June 1941 and looking to a period of continued German expansion the period after the successful implementation of 'Barbarossa' against the USSR.