North African Campaign: September, 1940
The western Allies considered North Africa to be a “key strategic backdoor into Europe” for them. To the Axis Powers, north Africa offered the Suez Canal, which was a pathway to the oilfields in the Middle East. If the Germans had gained control of this passage, they could cut off Britain’s, and the other Allies’, relations with India, as well as their oil supply. This was a very strategic plan, as Britain would have to sail all the way around Africa to get to India.
On September 13th, 1940, Italy invaded British-occupied Egypt from their bases in Cyrenaica, Libya. The Italians pushed 80km forward to Sidi Barrani, and further attacked on September 16th. After this attack, the British began to strengthen their army. They then attacked the Italians on December 9th, 1940.
The British re-acquired Sidi Barrani on December 11th, 1940. They continued to travel west, and seized Bardia, a “heavily garrisoned” port on January 5th, 1941. The British also took, on January 22nd, the fortress of Tobruk. As the British trekked farther west, they trapped retreating Italians at Beda Fomm, Libya. About 190,000 prisoners were captured there.
On February 9th, 1941, the British troops halted at El Agheila, Libya. On the same day, the German General, Erwin Rommel, arrived in Tripoli, in western Libya. He also brought with him the Afrika Korps, the German army force in Africa.
On March 24th, 1941, Rommel’s tanks drove through the meekly held El Agheila front. The British quickly retreated, but still managed to retain Tobruk. On April 15th, 1941, the Axis had fought their way back to Salum, a place very close to the Libyan-Egyptian border. After attacking the British several times later in April, Rommel and the Afrika Korps failed to take back Tobruk. The Germans then counter-attacked in May and June, from Egypt, and defeated the British. The stalemate that came after lasted for four months. The British re-organized their forces into the 8th Army, and Rommel was denied more reinforcements from Germany.
On November 18th,1941, the newly formed 8th Army attacked to the west, but the Germans counter attacked the British. The Afrika Korps struck deep into the rear of the 8th Army, and almost succeeded in defeating their British foes. Many more weeks of battling followed. Eventually, Rommel admitted defeat, although reluctantly, and his Afrika Korps left and went westward.
The 8th Army then tried to trap the retreating Axis forces at Beda Fomm. To achieve this, the 8th Army tried cutting across the Libyan desert. Rommel blocked this attack, and established a strong, defence line. He left the coastal corridor open. Later on, the Axis were pushed back, and then retreated past Agedabia. On December 30, 1941, they reached El Agheila. The garrisons at Bardia and Sollum that the Axis held were able to withstand until January, 1942. Rommel’s counter-attack was staed on January 5th, 1942, when an Axis convoy arrived at Tripoli.
On January 21st, 1942, Rommel pushed back, and drove the British back to Gazala. The battle then paused, as both sides rebuilt their armies. On May 28th, the Afrika Korps closed in on the left flank of the 8th Army and crushed them. Rommel re-gained the fortress of Tobruk, and took 30 000 Allied prisoners. He continued to charge forward deep into Egypt, and reached El Alamein on July 1st, 1942. The Allies tried to fight back, and this stalled the Axis. These battles became known as the First Battle of El Alamein. Later, General Bernard Montgomery, of the 8th Army, launched an attack on October 23rd, 1942. This was renamed to the Second Battle of El Alamein.
After fighting intensely for 12 days, Rommel began retreating westward on November 4th, 1942. The 8th Army followed them, and re-acquired Tripoli, Libya on January 23rd, 1943. They had entered Tunisia on February 4th. On November 8th, 1942, the Allied forces had arrived in Casablanca, Morocco, Oran and Algiers, all in Algeria. The Vichy French forces quickly surrendered in Morocco and Algeria. On November 12th, the Axis landed in Tunisia, and began moving forward quickly. This advancement stopped the Allies from moving forward. The Allies had been 20km away from the capital of Tunisia, Tunis.
On February 14th, 1943, Rommel launched a major attack at the Kasserine Pass. Rommel was ordered to go north, but he was stopped by Allied reinforcements. He then had to order his Afrika Korps out of Kasserine on February 22nd, 1943.
From March 20th to 26th, the 8th Army attacked the Axis army on the Mareth line and pushed them north. At the same time, the Allies also attacked the Axis from the west. This cornered the Axis into a small piece of land around Tunis and Bizerte. The Allies launched the final attack on May 3rd, 1943. They entered Tunis on May 7th, and then Bizerte on May 9th.
On May 13th, 1943, the Allies had won the battle, and took 275 000 prisoners. The primary objective of this war was to gain control of the Suez canal. The secondary objective was for the Allies to use North Africa to attack Italy.
On September 13th, 1940, Italy invaded British-occupied Egypt from their bases in Cyrenaica, Libya. The Italians pushed 80km forward to Sidi Barrani, and further attacked on September 16th. After this attack, the British began to strengthen their army. They then attacked the Italians on December 9th, 1940.
The British re-acquired Sidi Barrani on December 11th, 1940. They continued to travel west, and seized Bardia, a “heavily garrisoned” port on January 5th, 1941. The British also took, on January 22nd, the fortress of Tobruk. As the British trekked farther west, they trapped retreating Italians at Beda Fomm, Libya. About 190,000 prisoners were captured there.
On February 9th, 1941, the British troops halted at El Agheila, Libya. On the same day, the German General, Erwin Rommel, arrived in Tripoli, in western Libya. He also brought with him the Afrika Korps, the German army force in Africa.
On March 24th, 1941, Rommel’s tanks drove through the meekly held El Agheila front. The British quickly retreated, but still managed to retain Tobruk. On April 15th, 1941, the Axis had fought their way back to Salum, a place very close to the Libyan-Egyptian border. After attacking the British several times later in April, Rommel and the Afrika Korps failed to take back Tobruk. The Germans then counter-attacked in May and June, from Egypt, and defeated the British. The stalemate that came after lasted for four months. The British re-organized their forces into the 8th Army, and Rommel was denied more reinforcements from Germany.
On November 18th,1941, the newly formed 8th Army attacked to the west, but the Germans counter attacked the British. The Afrika Korps struck deep into the rear of the 8th Army, and almost succeeded in defeating their British foes. Many more weeks of battling followed. Eventually, Rommel admitted defeat, although reluctantly, and his Afrika Korps left and went westward.
The 8th Army then tried to trap the retreating Axis forces at Beda Fomm. To achieve this, the 8th Army tried cutting across the Libyan desert. Rommel blocked this attack, and established a strong, defence line. He left the coastal corridor open. Later on, the Axis were pushed back, and then retreated past Agedabia. On December 30, 1941, they reached El Agheila. The garrisons at Bardia and Sollum that the Axis held were able to withstand until January, 1942. Rommel’s counter-attack was staed on January 5th, 1942, when an Axis convoy arrived at Tripoli.
On January 21st, 1942, Rommel pushed back, and drove the British back to Gazala. The battle then paused, as both sides rebuilt their armies. On May 28th, the Afrika Korps closed in on the left flank of the 8th Army and crushed them. Rommel re-gained the fortress of Tobruk, and took 30 000 Allied prisoners. He continued to charge forward deep into Egypt, and reached El Alamein on July 1st, 1942. The Allies tried to fight back, and this stalled the Axis. These battles became known as the First Battle of El Alamein. Later, General Bernard Montgomery, of the 8th Army, launched an attack on October 23rd, 1942. This was renamed to the Second Battle of El Alamein.
After fighting intensely for 12 days, Rommel began retreating westward on November 4th, 1942. The 8th Army followed them, and re-acquired Tripoli, Libya on January 23rd, 1943. They had entered Tunisia on February 4th. On November 8th, 1942, the Allied forces had arrived in Casablanca, Morocco, Oran and Algiers, all in Algeria. The Vichy French forces quickly surrendered in Morocco and Algeria. On November 12th, the Axis landed in Tunisia, and began moving forward quickly. This advancement stopped the Allies from moving forward. The Allies had been 20km away from the capital of Tunisia, Tunis.
On February 14th, 1943, Rommel launched a major attack at the Kasserine Pass. Rommel was ordered to go north, but he was stopped by Allied reinforcements. He then had to order his Afrika Korps out of Kasserine on February 22nd, 1943.
From March 20th to 26th, the 8th Army attacked the Axis army on the Mareth line and pushed them north. At the same time, the Allies also attacked the Axis from the west. This cornered the Axis into a small piece of land around Tunis and Bizerte. The Allies launched the final attack on May 3rd, 1943. They entered Tunis on May 7th, and then Bizerte on May 9th.
On May 13th, 1943, the Allies had won the battle, and took 275 000 prisoners. The primary objective of this war was to gain control of the Suez canal. The secondary objective was for the Allies to use North Africa to attack Italy.