North African Campaign
The battle in the North African desert during World War II from 1940-1943. It is also known as the Desert War.The fighting in this region began with Italian attacks on British occupied areas. The German Afrika Korps came to the assistance of the Italian forces but were unable to defeat the British Eighth Army. Following Allied landings in West Africa the Axis were driven out.
During the period from 1940-1943 this was the only theatre in which the Western Allies were able to engage German and Italian ground forces.
Graziani's Axis offensive
On June 11th 1940, the day after Italy declared war on the Allies, Italy and the British forces stationed in Egypt began a series of raids on each other. The Libyan Governor-General, Marshal Italo Balbo was killed soon after in a friendly fire incident.
Benito Mussolini, anxious to link Libya with Italian East Africa and to capture the Suez Canal and the Arabian oilfields, ordered Rodolfo Graziani to invade Egypt on August 8th.
On September 13th, 1940, Italian forces numbering five Italian divisions and 200 tanks invaded Egypt from their Libyan base in Cyrenaica, digging in around Sidi Barrani on September 16th.
O'Connor's Allied offense
The British then launched the counter-attack Operation Compass on December 9th. It was a considerable success and pushed Italian forces back to El Agheila by February 9th.
After this disastrous defeat, Hitler ordered German reinforcements to prevent total Italian collapse and sent in the newly formed Deutsches Afrika Korps, commanded by Erwin Rommel.
Rommel's first Axis offense
Rommel quickly defeated the British forces at El Agheila on March 24th. He then launched an offensive which, by April 15th, had pushed the British back to Salum, capturing all but Tobruk which was encircled and besieged.
In the stalemate that followed, British forces reorganised and the 8th Army was formed.
After victory in the North African Campaign, the stage was set for the Italian Campaign to begin.
Auchinleck's Allied offense
The British managed to push back, recapturing all territory gained by Rommel with the exception of garrisons at Bardia and Sallum. The front line was again set at El Agheila.Rommel's second Axis offense
After being resupplied from Tripoli, Rommel pressed his assault against the British anew. His push was only halted by the First Battle of El Alamein.Montgomery's Allied offense
General Bernard Montgomery took over as commander in North Africa and after victory in the Second Battle of El Alamein began to the push the Axis forces back, going as far as capturing Tripoli.Operation Torch
During this time, Operation Torch had commenced and American forces now occupied positions East of Rommel's forces, effectively pincering him.The Eastern Desert
Although the majority of combat took place west of El Alamein, to the east the British and Italians fought in a second front of the Desert War.End of the campaign
Though Rommel did manage to stall the allies, most notably with the Battle of the Kasserine Pass, he was flanked, outmanned and outgunned. After shattering his defense at the Mareth Line, the allies managed to squeeze Axis forces to a retreat into Sicily.See also
Major battles
Operations
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