%20%20%20Download%20high%20resolution%20version%20(1332x792%2C%20335%20KB)Shaded%20relief%20of%20the%20Mediterranean%20Sea%2C%20created%20in%201982%20by%20the%20Central%20Intelligence%20Agency.%20%20%20...

%20%20%20Download%20high%20resolution%20version%20(1332x792%2C%20335%20KB)Shaded%20relief%20of%20the%20Mediterranean%20Sea%2C%20created%20in%201982%20by%20the%20Central%20Intelligence%20Agency.%20%20%20...

The Mediterranean region.

The Mediterranean Theatre of World War II encompassed naval, land and air campaigns involving %20%20In%20general%2C%20allies%20are%20people%20or%20groups%20that%20have%20joined%20an%20alliance%20and%20are%20working%20together%20to%20achieve%20some%20common%20purpose.%20... Allied and %20%20%20The%20word%20axis%20has%20several%20meanings%3A%20%20In%20geometry%2C%20it%20may%20refer%20to%3A%20%20An%20axis%20of%20rotation%20A%20coordinate%20axis%20An%20axis%20of%20symmetry%20%20%20%20%20In%20anatomy%2C%20the%20axis%20is%20the%20second%20cervical%20vertebra.%20%20%20... Axis forces, between %20%20%20June%2011%20is%20the%20162nd%20day%20of%20the%20year%20in%20the%20Gregorian%20Calendar%20(163rd%20in%20leap%20years)%2C%20with%20203%20days%20remaining.%20%20%20%20... June 11, %20%20%201940%20was%20a%20%20%20leap%20year%20starting%20on%20Monday%20(link%20will%20take%20you%20to%20calendar).%20%20%20... 1940 and %20%20%20May%208%20is%20the%20128th%20day%20of%20the%20year%20in%20the%20%20%20Gregorian%20Calendar%20(129th%20in%20%20%20leap%20years).%20... May 8, %20%20%20%201945%20was%20a%20%20%20common%20year%20starting%20on%20Monday%20(link%20will%20take%20you%20to%20calendar).%20%20%20... 1945.

Overview

The Mediterranean Theatre can be considered to include the naval %20%20%20%20%20%20%20Battle%20of%20Mediterranean%20%20%20Conflict%20%20%20World%20War%20II%20%20%20Date%20%20%20%20Place%20%20%20Mediterranean%20Sea%20%20%20Result%20Allied%20victory%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20The%20Naval%20Battle%20of%20the%20Mediterranean%20was%20waged%20during%20%20%20World%20War%20II%2C%20to%20attack%20and%20keep%20open%20the%20respective%20supply%20lines%20of%20%20%20Allied%20and%20%20%20Axis%20armies%2C%20and%20to%20destroy%20the%20opposing%20side%5Cs%20ability%20to%20wage... Battle of the Mediterranean, the %20%20%20The%20battle%20in%20the%20North%20African%20desert%20during%20World%20War%20II%20from%201940-1943.%20... North African Campaign, the %20%20%20The%20Balkans%20Campaign%20was%20the%20Italian%20and%20German%20invasion%20of%20the%20Yugoslavia%2C%20Greece%20during%20the%20Second%20World%20War.%20%20%20... Greek campaign, the %20%20Yugoslavia%20(Jugoslavija%20in%20all%20south%20Slavic%20languages)%20is%20a%20term%20used%20for%20three%20separate%20but%20successive%20political%20entities%20that%20existed%20during%20most%20of%20the%2020th%20century%20on%20the%20Balkan%20Peninsula%20in%20Europe.%20... Yugoslavian campaign, the Middle East Campaign, and the %20%20The%20Italian%20Campaign%20of%20World%20War%20II%20was%20the%20name%20of%20Allied%20operations%20in%20and%20around%20Italy%2C%20from%201943%20to%20the%20end%20of%20the%20war.%20... Italian campaign. Conflict in the theatre concluded with the surrender of %20%20%20Nazi%20Germany%2C%20or%20the%20Third%20Reich%2C%20commonly%20refers%20to%20Germany%20in%20the%20years%201933%26%238211%3B1945%2C%20when%20it%20was%20under%20the%20firm%20control%20of%20the%20totalitarian%20and%20fascist%20ideology%20of%20the%20Nazi%20Party%2C%20with%20the%20F%5CxFChrer%20Adolf%20Hitler%20as%20dictator.%20... German forces in the %20%20%20The%20Alps%20is%20the%20collective%20name%20for%20one%20of%20the%20great%20%20%20mountain%20range%20systems%20of%20%20%20Europe%2C%20stretching%20from%20%20%20Austria%20in%20the%20east%2C%20%20%20Slovenia%2C%20%20%20Italy%2C%20%20%20Switzerland%2C%20%20%20Liechtenstein%20and%20%20%20Germany%2C%20through%20to%20%20%20France%20in%20the%20west.%20... Alps, in 1945.

The theatre encompasses the %20%20%20The%20armed%20forces%20of%20the%20United%20States%20of%20America%20consist%20of%20the%20%20United%20States%20Army%20United%20States%20Navy%20United%20States%20Air%20Force%20United%20States%20Marine%20Corps%20United%20States%20Coast%20Guard%20%20%20Note%3A%20The%20United%20States%20Coast%20Guard%20has%20both%20military%20and%20law%20enforcement%20functions.%20... United States military's %20%20%20The%20Mediterranean%20Theater%20of%20Operations%20(MTO)%20was%20originally%20called%20North%20African%20Theater%20of%20Operations%20(NATO)%20and%20is%20an%20American%20term%20for%20the%20conflict%20that%20took%20place%20between%20the%20Allies%20and%20Axis%20powers%20in%20North%20Africa%20and%20Italy%20during%20World%20War%20II.%20... Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), the US term for operations in North Africa and Italy during %20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Mushroom%20cloud%20from%20the%20%20%20nuclear%20explosion%20over%20%20%20Nagasaki%20rising%2018%20km%20(60%2C000%20ft)%20into%20the%20air.%20%20%20... World War II. The US originally termed this the North African Theater of Operations (NATO), when US forces entered the region, during %20%20%201942%20was%20a%20%20%20common%20year%20starting%20on%20Thursday%20(link%20will%20take%20you%20to%20calendar).%20%20%20... 1942.

Command structure

Allies

• %20%20%20During%20%20%20World%20War%20II%20The%20British%20Middle%20East%20Command%20was%20based%20in%20%20%20Cairo%20with%20responsibility%20for%20the%20Middle%20East%20theatre%20which%20included%20North%20Africa%2C%20East%20Africa%2C%20%20%20Persia%2C%20the%20Middle%20East%2C%20and%20the%20British%20forces%20in%20the%20Balkans%20and%20%20%20Greece.%20... Middle East Command
• %20%20%20Allied%20Forces%20Headquarters%20was%20the%20headquarters%20that%20controlled%20all%20Allied%20forces%20in%20the%20Mediterranean%20theatre%20from%20late%201943%20to%20the%20end%20of%20the%20war.%20... Allied Force Headquarters (AFHQ)
• British Mediterranean Naval Command

Axis

Campaigns

The first major actions began immediately after %20%20%20%20%20%20Benito%20Mussolini%20and%20Adolf%20Hitler%20%20%20Fascism%20(in%20Italian%2C%20fascismo)%2C%20capitalized%2C%20refers%20to%20the%20right-wing%20authoritarian%20political%20movement%20which%20ruled%20Italy%20from%201922%20to%201943%20under%20the%20leadership%20of%20Benito%20Mussolini.%20... Fascist Italy's entry into the war on June 11, 1940, including the siege of Malta. This was followed by naval engagements, including the %20%20%20%20%20%20%20Mers-el-Kebir%20%20%20Conflict%20World%20War%20II%20%20%20Date%20July%203%2C%201940%20%20%20Place%20Mers-el-Kebir%2C%20French%20North%20Africa%20%20%20Result%20Decisive%20British%20victory%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20The%20Destruction%20of%20the%20French%20Fleet%20at%20Mers-el-Kebir%2C%20French%20North%20Africa%20(now%20Algeria)%2C%20by%20the%20British%20Royal%20Navy%20took%20place%20on%20July%203%2C%201940.%20... Destruction of the French Fleet at Mers-el-Kebir on %20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20July%203%20-%20Wikipedia%20%2F**%2F%20%20%40import%20%5C%2Fskins%2Fmonobook%2FIE50Fixes.... July 3, %20%20%201940%20was%20a%20%20%20leap%20year%20starting%20on%20Monday%20(link%20will%20take%20you%20to%20calendar).%20%20%20... 1940 and the defeat of the Italian %20%20%20The%20Royal%20Italian%20Navy%2C%20Regia%20Marina%2C%20was%20created%20after%20the%20Italian%20unification.%20... Regia Marina in the %20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Battle%20of%20Taranto%20%20%20Conflict%20World%20War%20II%20%20%20Date%20November%2012%2C%201940%20%20%20Place%20Taranto%2C%20Italy%20%20%20Result%20Allied%20victory%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20The%20Battle%20of%20Taranto%20was%20a%20naval%20battle%20that%20occurred%20on%20the%20night%20of%2011%20%26%238211%3B%20November%2012%2C%201940%20during%20World%20War%20II.%20... Battle of Taranto on %20%20%20November%2011%20is%20the%20315th%20day%20of%20the%20year%20(316th%20in%20%20%20leap%20years)%20in%20the%20%20%20Gregorian%20Calendar%2C%20with%2050%20days%20remaining.%20%20%20%20... November 11, %20%20%201940%20was%20a%20%20%20leap%20year%20starting%20on%20Monday%20(link%20will%20take%20you%20to%20calendar).%20%20%20... 1940.

These were followed on land from late 1940 by actions on land involving the forces of the %20%20%20The%20United%20Kingdom%20of%20Great%20Britain%20and%20Northern%20Ireland%20is%20a%20%20%20country%20in%20%20%20western%20Europe%2C%20and%20a%20member%20of%20the%20%20%20British%20Commonwealth%20and%20%20%20European%20Union.%20... British %20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20The%20British%20Empire%20in%201897%2C%20marked%20in%20pink%2C%20the%20traditional%20colour%20for%20Imperial%20British%20dominions%20on%20maps.%20%20%20... Emipre and Dominions, under General %20%20Archibald%20Percival%20Wavell%2C%201st%20Earl%20Wavell%20(May%205%2C%201883%20_%20May%2024%2C%201950)%20was%20a%20British%20General%20and%20the%20commander%20of%20British%20Army%20forces%20in%20the%20Middle%20East%20during%20World%20War%20II.%20... Archibald Wavell against the %20%20%20The%20%20%20Italian%20Army%20has%20recently%20become%20a%20professional%20all-volunteer%20force%20of%20some%20112%2C000%20%20%20active%20duty%20personnel%2C%20around%2070%25%20male%2C%2030%25%20female.%20... Italian Army, in North Africa and the Balkans. When Italian forces were repelled, they were supported by the German %20%20%20The%20Wehrmacht%20(literally%20defence%20force%20or%20means%2Fpower%20of%20resistance)%20was%20the%20name%20of%20the%20armed%20forces%20of%20Germany%20from%201935%20to%201945.%20... Wehrmacht, beginning in %20%20%20Greece%2C%20formally%20called%20the%20Hellenic%20Republic%20(%20%20Greek%3A%20%26%23917%3B%26%23955%3B%26%23955%3B%26%23951%3B%26%23957%3B%26%23953%3B%26%23954%3B%26%23942%3B%20%26%23916%3B%26%23951%3B%26%23956%3B%26%23959%3B%26%23954%3B%26%23961%3B%26%23945%3B%26%23964%3B%26%23943%3B%26%23945%3B)%2C%20is%20a%20country%20in%20the%20southeast%20of%20%20%20Europe%20on%20the%20southern%20tip%20of%20the%20%20%20Balkan%20peninsula.%20... Greece. The Axis then triumphed in that campaign, including the %20%20%20The%20Battle%20of%20Crete%20began%20on%20the%20morning%20of%20May%2020%2C%201941%2C%20during%20World%20War%20II%2C%20when%20Germany%20launched%20an%20airborne%20invasion%20under%20the%20code%20name%20Operation%20Merkur%2C%20or%20Operation%20Mercury.%20... Battle of Crete, and drove the Allies out of southern Europe, except for %20%20%20Yugoslavia%20(Jugoslavija%20in%20all%20south%20Slavic%20languages)%20is%20a%20term%20used%20for%20three%20separate%20but%20successive%20political%20entities%20that%20existed%20during%20most%20of%20the%2020th%20century%20on%20the%20Balkan%20Peninsula%20in%20Europe.%20... Yugoslavia, where %20%20%20Partisan%20may%20refer%20to%3A%20%20A%20member%20of%20a%20lightly-equipped%20irregular%20military%20force%20formed%20to%20oppose%20control%20of%20an%20area%20by%20a%20foreign%20power%20or%20by%20an%20army%20of%20occupation.%20... partisans under %20%20%20Josip%20Broz%20Tito%20(May%207%2C%201892%20-%20May%204%2C%201980)%20was%20the%20ruler%20of%20Yugoslavia%20between%20the%20end%20of%20World%20War%20II%20and%20his%20death%20in%201980.%20%20%20... Joseph Tito waged a highly successful %20%20%20Guerrilla%20(also%20called%20a%20partisan)%20is%20a%20term%20borrowed%20from%20Spanish%20(from%20%5Cguerra%5C%20meaning%20war)%20used%20to%20describe%20small%20combat%20groups.%20... guerilla campaign.

Meanwhile %20%20%20%20%20%20Flag%20of%20the%20Commonwealth%20of%20Nations%20%20%20The%20Commonwealth%20of%20Nations%20is%20a%20voluntary%20association%20of%20independent%20sovereign%20states%2C%20most%20of%20which%20were%20once%20governed%20by%20the%20United%20Kingdom%20and%20are%20its%20former%20colonies.%20... British Commonwealth forces had secured the Allies' eastern flanks in the Middle East campaign of 1941. German forces including the %20%20The%20Deutsches%20Afrikakorps%20(often%20just%20Afrika%20Korps%20or%20DAK)%20was%20the%20corps_level%20headquarters%20controlling%20the%20German%20Panzer%20divisions%20in%20Libya%20and%20Egypt%5Cs%20Western%20Desert%20during%20the%20North%20African%20Campaign%20of%20World%20War%20II.%20... Afrika Korps, under General %20%20%20%20%20%20%20Field%20Marshal%20Erwin%20Rommel%20%20%20Erwin%20Johannes%20Eugen%20Rommel%20(November%2015%2C%201891%26%238211%3BOctober%2014%2C%201944)%20was%20one%20of%20the%20most%20distinguished%20German%20Field%20Marshals%20and%20commander%20of%20the%20Deutsches%20Afrika%20Korps%20in%20World%20War%20II.%20... Erwin Rommel, joined the fray in North Africa (known in the US as the %20%20%20The%20Egypt-Libya%20Campaign%20was%20an%20American%20campaign%20in%20North%20Africa%20during%20World%20War%20II.%20... Egypt-Libya Campaign) and the Axis enoyed successes such as victory the second %20%20%20%20%20%20%20Siege%20of%20Tobruk%20%20%20Conflict%20World%20War%20II%20%20%20Date%20March%2031%2C%201941%20%26%238211%3B%20November%2027%2C%201941%20%20%20Place%20Tobruk%2C%20Libya%20%20%20Result%20Allied%20victory%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20The%20Siege%20of%20Tobruk%20was%20a%20lengthy%20confrontation%20between%20Axis%20and%20Allied%20forces%20in%20the%20North%20African%20Campaign%20of%20World%20War%20II.%20%20... siege of Tobruk.

By that time, United States ground forces had entered the war and the theatre, beginning with amphibious landings in northwest Africa, on %20%20%20November%208%20is%20the%20312th%20day%20of%20the%20year%20(313th%20in%20%20%20leap%20years)%20in%20the%20%20%20Gregorian%20Calendar%2C%20with%2053%20days%20remaining.%20%20%20%20... November 8, %20%20%201942%20was%20a%20%20%20common%20year%20starting%20on%20Thursday%20(link%20will%20take%20you%20to%20calendar).%20%20%20... 1942, in %20%20%20Operation%20Torch%20(from%20November%208%2C%201942)%20was%20the%20Anglo-American%20invasion%20of%20French%20North%20Africa%20in%20World%20War%20II%20during%20the%20North%20African%20Campaign.%20... Operation Torch, under General %20%20%20%20%20%20Order%3A%2034th%20President%20%20%20Vice%26%23160%3BPresident%3A%20%20%20Richard%20Nixon%20%20%20Term%26%23160%3Bof%26%23160%3Boffice%3A%20%20%20January%2020%2C%20%20%201953%20%26%238211%3B%20%20%20January%2020%2C%20%20%201961%20%20%20Preceded%26%23160%3Bby%3A%20%20%20Harry%20S.%20... Dwight D. Eisenhower

Commonwealth forces, under General %20%20%20%20%20%20Bernard%20Law%20Montgomery%20%20%20Field%20Marshal%20Bernard%20Law%20Montgomery%2C%201st%20Viscount%20Montgomery%20of%20Alamein%20(November%2017%2C%201887%20-%20March%2024%2C%201976)%20was%20a%20British%20military%20officer%20during%20World%20War%20II%20often%20referred%20to%20as%20%5CMonty.%5C%20... Bernard Montgomery eventually turned the tide in %20%20%20%20%20%20The%20Arab%20Republic%20of%20Egypt%2C%20commonly%20known%20as%20Egypt%2C%20(in%20Arabic%3A%20%26%231605%3B%26%231589%3B%26%231585%3B%2C%20romanized%20Mi%26%23351%3Br%20or%20Ma%26%23351%3Br%2C%20in%20Egyptian%20dialect)%20is%20a%20republic%20mostly%20located%20in%20northeastern%20Africa.%20... Egypt in %20%20%201943%20is%20a%20%20%20common%20year%20starting%20on%20Friday.%20%20%20%20... 1943, at the %20%20%20The%20First%20Battle%20of%20El%20Alamein%201%26%238211%3BJuly%2031%2C%201942%20was%20a%20battle%20of%20the%20Western%20Desert%20Campaign%20of%20World%20War%20II%2C%20fought%20between%20the%20German%26%238211%3BItalian%20Afrikakorps%20commanded%20by%20Erwin%20Rommel%20and%20the%20British%20Eighth%20Army%2C%20commanded%20by%20Claude%20Auchinleck.%20... first and the %20%20%20The%20Battle%20of%20Alamein%2C%20or%20more%20correctly%20the%20Second%20Battle%20of%20El%20Alamein%2C%20marked%20a%20significant%20turning%20point%20in%20the%20Western%20Desert%20Campaign%20of%20World%20War%20II%20and%20was%20the%20first%20major%20victory%20by%20an%20Allied%20force%20over%20the%20Wehrmacht.%20... second battles of Alamein.

Allied victory in North Africa later that year was followed by the %20%20%20Husky%20was%20also%20the%20codename%20of%20Australian%20military%20support%20to%20Sierra%20Leone%20ending%20in%20February%202003.%20%20... Allied invasion of Sicily, followed by assaults on the Italian mainland. Setbacks and frustration were encountred by the Allies in the %20%20%20Operation%20Shingle%20(January%2022%2C%201944)%2C%20during%20the%20Italian%20Campaign%20of%20World%20War%20II%2C%20was%20an%20Allied%20amphibious%20landing%20against%20Axis%20forces%20in%20the%20area%20of%20Anzio%20and%20Nettuno%2C%20Italy.%20... amphibious landing at Anzio and in attempts to breach the %20%20%20The%20Winter%20Line%20was%20a%20series%20of%20German%20military%20fortifications%20in%20Italy%2C%20constructed%20during%20World%20War%20II%20by%20Organisation%20Todt.%20... Winter Line, including the %20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Battle%20of%20Monte%20Cassino%20%20%20Conflict%20World%20War%20II%2C%20Italian%20Campaign%20%20%20Date%20January%2017%2C%201944-May%2019%2C%201944%20%20%20Place%20Monte%20Cassino%2C%20Italy%20%20%20Result%20Allied%20victory%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20The%20strategic%20position%20of%20Monte%20Cassino%20has%20made%20it%20the%20repeated%20scene%20of%20battles%20and%20sieges%20from%20antiquity.%20... Battle of Monte Cassino.

In late %20%20%201944%20was%20a%20%20%20leap%20year%20starting%20on%20Saturday%20(link%20will%20take%20you%20to%20calendar).%20%20%20... 1944, Allied forces from the Mediteranean theatre also made landings in the south of France, in %20%20%20During%20World%20War%202%2C%20Operation%20Dragoon%20(Allies%2C%201944)%20was%20the%20invasion%20of%20southern%20France%20between%20Toulon%20and%20Cannes%20executed%20on%2015%20August%201944.%20... Operation Dragoon.

During 1945, as more and more German forces were diverted to the %20%20%20Eastern%20Front%20usually%20refers%20to%20either%20%20Eastern%20Front%20(WWI)%20Eastern%20Front%20(WWII)%20%20This%20is%20a%20disambiguation%20page%20%26%238212%3B%20a%20navigational%20aid%20which%20lists%20other%20pages%20that%20might%20otherwise%20share%20the%20same%20title.%20... Eastern Front and north west Europe, the Allies gained ground in the south, eventually penetrating the borders of the %20%20%20Nazi%20Germany%2C%20or%20the%20Third%20Reich%2C%20commonly%20refers%20to%20Germany%20in%20the%20years%201933%26%238211%3B1945%2C%20when%20it%20was%20under%20the%20firm%20control%20of%20the%20totalitarian%20and%20fascist%20ideology%20of%20the%20Nazi%20Party%2C%20with%20the%20F%5CxFChrer%20Adolf%20Hitler%20as%20dictator.%20... Third Reich, in %20%20%20The%20Republic%20of%20Austria%20(%20%20German%3A%20Republik%20%26%23214%3Bsterreich)%20is%20a%20%20%20landlocked%20country%20in%20%20%20Central%20Europe.%20... Austria.

On %20%20%20May%201%20is%20the%20121st%20day%20of%20the%20year%20in%20the%20Gregorian%20calendar%20(122nd%20in%20leap%20years).%20... May 1, %20%20%20%20For%20other%20uses%20of%20the%20abbreviation%20SS%2C%20see%20SS%20(disambiguation)%20The%20Schutzstaffel%20(Protective%20Squadron)%2C%20or%20SS%2C%20was%20a%20large%20paramilitary%20organization%20that%20belonged%20to%20the%20Nazi%20party.%20... SS General %20%20%20%20%20%20%20Karl%20Wolff%20(right)%20with%20Benito%20Mussolini%20%20%20Karl%20Wolff%20(May%2013%2C%201900%20-%20July%2017%2C%201984)%20was%20a%20high-ranking%20member%20of%20the%20Nazi%20SS.%20... Karl Wolff, after prolonged and unauthorised negotiations with the Allies, and the %20%20Commander-in-Chief%20(in%20%20%20NATO-lingo%20often%20C-in-C%20or%20CINC%20pronounced%20%5Csink%5C)%20is%20the%20commander%20of%20all%20the%20%20%20military%20forces%20within%20a%20particular%20region%20or%20of%20all%20the%20military%20forces%20of%20a%20state.%20... Commander-in-Chief of the German 10th Army, General %20%20%20Heinrich%20von%20Vietinghoff%2C%20during%20World%20War%20II%2C%20was%20a%20General%20of%20the%20German%20Wehrmacht%20who%20commanded%20the%20German%2010th%20Army%20in%20Italy.%20... Heinrich von Vietinghoff, ordered German armed forces in Italy to cease hostilities and signed a surrender document which stipulated that all German forces in Italy were to surrender unconditional to the Allies on %20%20%20May%202%20is%20the%20122nd%20day%20of%20the%20year%20in%20the%20%20%20Gregorian%20calendar%20(123rd%20in%20%20%20leap%20years).%20... May 2.