Western Desert Campaign
Part of World War II, North African Campaign
Date 11 June 1940 to 4 February 1943 Location Egypt and Libya Result Allied victory
Combatants
Australia Free France  New Zealand  Poland South Africa  United Kingdom India	Italy Germany
Commanders
to June 22 1941: Archibald Wavell to August 8 1942: Claude Auchinleck to February 1943: Harold Alexander	Ugo Cavallero Rodolfo Graziani Erwin Rommel

The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War was the initial stage of the North African Campaign of The Second World War. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... During World War II, the North African Campaign, also known as the Desert War, took place in the North African desert from September 13, 1940 to May 13, 1943. ... is the 162nd day of the year (163rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Free_France_1940-1944. ... Flag De Jure territory Capital Paris Capital-in-exile London, Algiers Government Republic Leader Charles de Gaulle Historical era World War II  - de Gaulles appeal June 18, 1940  - Liberation of Paris August, 1944 The Free French Forces (French: , FFL) were French fighters in World War II, who decided to... Image File history File links Flag_of_New_Zealand. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Poland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Africa_1928-1994. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Imperial-India-Blue-Ensign. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy_(1861-1946)_crowned. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany_1933. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Field Marshal Archibald Percival Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell, GCB, GCSI, GCIE, CMG, MC, PC (May 5, 1883 – May 24, 1950) was a British field marshal and the commander of British Army forces in the Middle East during World War II. He led British forces to victory over the Italians, only... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Field Marshal Sir Claude John Eyre Auchinleck, GCB, GCIE, CSI, DSO, OBE (June 21, 1884 - March 23, 1981), nicknamed The Auk, was a British army commander during World War II. // Born in Aldershot, he grew up in impoverished circumstances, but was able through hard work and scholarships to graduate from... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Field Marshal Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis, KG, OM, GCB, GCSI, GCMG, GCVO, DSO, MC, LL.D, PC (10 December 1891 - 16 June 1969) was a British military commander and field marshal, notably during the Second World War as the commander of the 15th Army... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy_(1861-1946)_crowned. ... Ugo Cavallero Conte Ugo Cavallero (September 20, 1880 – September 13, 1943) was a prominent Italian military commander before and during World War II. Born in Piemonte, Italy, Cavallero had a privileged childhood as a member of the Italian nobility. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy_(1861-1946)_crowned. ... Rodolfo Graziani, Marchese di Neghelli (August 11, 1882—January 11, 1955), was an Italian military officer who led expeditions in Africa before and during World War II and a war criminal responsible for thousands of Libyan and Ethiopian civilian deaths. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany_1933. ... Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel ( ) (15 November 1891 – 14 October 1944) was one of the most famous German field marshals of World War II. He was the commander of the Deutsches Afrika Korps and also became known by the nickname “The Desert Fox” (Wüstenfuchs,  ) for the skillful military campaigns he... Combatants Western Desert Force United Kingdom Indian Empire Australia Italian Tenth Army Commanders Richard OConnor Rodolfo Graziani Pietro Maletti † Annibale Bergonzoli Strength 31,000 soldiers(december 1940 250,000)[1] 120 artillery pieces 275 tanks 60 Armoured cars 150,000 soldiers 1,600 guns 600 tanks Casualties 500 dead... During World War II. Operation Sonnenblume (German for sunflower) was the deployment of German troops (the “Afrika Korps”) to the North African Campaign in February, 1941. ... Combatants Australia United Kingdom South Africa Poland Czechoslovakia Germany Italy Commanders Leslie Morshead Erwin Rommel Strength 14,000 35,000? Casualties Britain: 9009 killed 941 captured estimated 12,000 total 8,000 The Siege of Tobruk was a lengthy confrontation between Axis and Allied forces, mostly Australian, in the North... Combatants Germany Italy  United Kingdom Commanders Erwin Rommel Archibald Wavell Noel Beresford-Peirse Strength Afrika Korps: German 5th Light Division German 15th Panzer Division Italian 132nd Armored Division Ariete Italian 27 Infantry Division Brescia Italian 102 Motorised Division Trento XIII Corps: British 7th Armoured Division Indian 4th Infantry Division 20... Combatants Panzer Army Africa British XIII Corps Commanders Erwin Rommel Archibald Wavell Noel Beresford-Peirse Strength 13,000 infantry 150-200 tanks[1] 20,000+ infantry[2] 200 tanks[3] Casualties 685 Germans, 592 Italians[4] 12 tanks[5] 10 aircraft[6] 960 (122 killed[7]) 91 tanks[8] 36... Combatants United Kingdom Australia New Zealand Poland Germany Italy Commanders Claude Auchinleck Alan Gordon Cunningham Neil Ritchie Erwin Rommel Ludwig Crüwell Strength 8th Army comprising XIII Corps, XXX Corps and 70th Division. ... Combatants Panzer Army Afrika Italian Army Eighth Army Commanders Erwin Rommel Claude Auchinleck Neil Ritchie Strength 80,000 390 tanks 175,000 949 tanks Casualties 32,000 dead, wounded, or captured 114 tanks destroyed 98,000 dead, wounded, or captured 540 tanks destroyed The Battle of Gazala was an important... Combatants Free French Forces Afrika Korps Commanders Marie Pierre Koenig Erwin Rommel Strength 3703  ? Casualties 140 Dead, 229 Wounded, 814 Captured 3300 Dead and Wounded, 277 Captured The Battle of Bir Hakeim (May 26, 1942 - June 11, 1942) is a World War II battle following the Afrika Korps 1942 campaign. ... During the siege of Bir Hakeim, and north of it, was a parallel complementary siege. ... Combatants Allies (mostly British Empire forces) Axis Commanders Claude Auchinleck Erwin Rommel Strength 150,000 troops in 3 army corps, 7 infantry and 3 armoured divisions 1,114 tanks, over 1,000 artillery and over 1,500 planes 96,000 troops (including 56,000 Italians) 8 infantry and 4 armoured... Combatants Allies: United Kingdom New Zealand Axis: Germany Italy Commanders Bernard Montgomery Erwin Rommel Strength XIII Corps (Eighth Army): 4 Divisions Panzer Armee Afrika: 6 Divisions Casualties 1750 killed, wounded or captured 67 tanks 67 aircraft[1] 2930 killed, wounded or captured 49 tanks 36 aircraft 395 other vehicles The... During World War II, Operation Agreement consisted of ground and amphibious attacks by British, Rhodesian and New Zealand forces on German- and Italian-held Tobruk (Operation Daffodil), Benghazi (Operation Snowdrop), Jalo oasis (Operation Tulip) and Barce (Operation Hyacinth) launched on 13 September 1942. ... Combatants British Eighth Army: United Kingdom Australia Free French Greece India New Zealand South Africa Panzer Army Africa: Germany Italy Commanders Harold Alexander Bernard Montgomery Erwin Rommel Georg Stumme Ettore Bastico Strength 220,000 men 1,100 tanks[1] 750 aircraft (530 serviceable) 116,000 men[1] 559 tanks[2... During World War II, the North African Campaign, also known as the Desert War, took place in the North African desert from September 13, 1940 to May 13, 1943. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

It was continuous back-and-forth struggle with the first major move initiated in late 1940 by Italian forces in Libya against Commonwealth forces stationed in Egypt. This attack was quickly halted and countered, resulting in massive losses (primarily as prisoners of war) for the Italian forces. To prevent total collapse, the Italian's Axis partner, Germany, provided a contingent of land and air forces which soon became the dominant partner. Axis forces would twice more launch large-scale assaults against their Allied opponents, each time pushing Allied forces back to Egypt; both times though, the Allies retaliated and regained lost ground. On the last such assault, in early 1943, the Allies managed to drive Axis forces west out of Libya and into Tunisia, setting up the following Tunisia Campaign. The Commonwealth of Nations as of 2007 Headquarters Marlborough House, London, UK Official languages English Membership 53 sovereign states Leaders  -  Queen Elizabeth II  -  Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma Appointed 24 November 2007 Establishment  -  Balfour Declaration 18 November 1926   -  Statute of Westminster 11 December 1931   -  London Declaration 28 April 1949  Area  -  Total... This article is about the independent states that comprised the Axis powers. ... This article is about the independent states that comprised the Allies. ... Combatants United Kingdom United States France Germany Italy Commanders Dwight D. Eisenhower Harold Alexander Keneth Anderson Bernard Montgomery Albert Kesselring Erwin Rommel Hans-Jürgen von Arnim Giovanni Messe The Tunisia Campaign (also known as the Battle of Tunisia), was a series of World War II battles that took place...

The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allies, operating from Malta to interdict Axis convoys was critical, denying the German commander, Rommel, fuel and reinforcements at critical moments.

In early 1942, the United States supplied a small US air force bomber contingent in support of the campaign, referring to it as the Egypt-Libya Campaign. The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) was the aviation component of the United States Army primarily during World War II. The title of Army Air Forces succeeded the prior name of Army Air Corps in June 1941 during preparation for expected combat in what came to be known as... The Egypt-Libya Campaign was an American campaign in North Africa during World War II. It is the name used by the United States military to describe the support that US force gave the British Commonwealth fighting the Axis forces in the Western Desert Campaign and was part of the...

Pre-War

Northern Africa before the start of the offensive.

The United Kingdom had had forces in Egypt since 1884, but much reduced as a result of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936. The relatively modest forces were primarily to protect the Suez Canal, which was vital to Britain's communications with her Far Eastern and Indian Ocean territories. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 555 pixelsFull resolution‎ (4,200 × 2,916 pixels, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 555 pixelsFull resolution‎ (4,200 × 2,916 pixels, file size: 1. ... In 1936 a treaty between Britain and Egypt was signed which became known as the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936. ... For other uses, see Suez (disambiguation). ...

However, since 1938, they had included "Mobile Force (Egypt)", one of the two British armoured training formations, under Major General Percy Hobart. On the outbreak of war this was renamed Armoured Division (Egypt) and then 7th Armoured Division (later to become known as the "Desert Rats") and served as the principal force defending the Egypt-Libya border at the start of the war. Major-General Sir Percy Cleghorn Stanley Hobart (14 June 1885-19 February 1957) was a British military engineer and commander of the 79th Armoured Division during World War II. He was responsible for many of the specialised armoured vehicles (Hobarts Funnies) that took part in the invasion of Normandy. ... Armoured Division (Egypt) was an interim name for British 7th Armoured Division in late 1939 and early 1940. ... The 7th Armoured Division (known as the Desert Rats) of the British Army was the most famous unit of its type in British service during World War II. It was a regular division in the Middle East, designated the Mobile Division at first, renamed the Armoured Division (Egypt) in September...

Libya had been an Italian colony since its conquest from the Ottoman Empire in 1911-1912. The principal force on the border there was Tenth Army at the outbreak of war. The Italian land and air forces greatly outnumbered the British in all respects. The British, however, had an advantage in better quality. Ottoman redirects here. ... The Italian Tenth Army consisted of ten divisions when it attacked Egypt on September 13, 1940. ...

Raids

On 11 June 1940, the day after Italy declared war on the Allies, Italian and Commonwealth forces stationed in Egypt began a series of raids on each other. Among the more notable achievements of this were the capture of Fort Capuzzo by the British Army's 11th Hussars and the death of Libyan Governor-General, Marshal Italo Balbo, in a friendly fire incident. Sixty-three Italians were taken prisoner on 12 June. is the 162nd day of the year (163rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs a declaration of war against the Empire of Japan on December 8, 1941, one day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. ... Look up ally in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Fort Capuzzo, at the beginning of World War II, was an Italian fort in Libya, Africa. ... The 11th Hussars (Prince Alberts Own) was a British Army cavalry regiment. ... Governor-General (or Governor General) is a term used both historically and currently to designate the appointed representative of a head of state or their government for a particular territory, historically in a colonial context, but no longer necessarily in that form. ... Air Marshal Italo Balbo Italo Balbo (June 6, 1896 - June 28, 1940) was an Italian aviator, blackshirt leader and possible successor of Mussolini. ... For other uses, see Friendly Fire (disambiguation). ... is the 163rd day of the year (164th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Italian invasion of Egypt

Graziani's advance and Wavell's offensive — September 13, 1940 - February 7, 1941

Benito Mussolini, anxious to link Libya with Italian East Africa and to capture the Suez Canal and the Arabian oilfields, ordered the invasion of Egypt on August 8. On 13 September 1940, Italian forces under the command of General Rodolfo Graziani, consisting of eighteen Italian divisions with 23,200 tanks and four Libyan infantry divisions and two Libyan motorized regiments (some 550,000 men), invaded Egypt from their base in Cyrenaica. Sollum was taken, but after two weeks Graziani halted the advance, citing supply problems. Despite Mussolini urging Graziani to continue the advance, the Italians dug in at Sidi Barrani and established several fortified camps (represented on the adjacent map as small red circles). Graziani was now 20 miles west of the British defences at Mersa Matruh and he planned to return to the offensive after his troops had been resupplied. Download high resolution version (1202x451, 128 KB)Grazianis advance and Wavells offensive -- September 13, 1940 - February 7, 1941 Source: US ARMY License: US Government document. ... Download high resolution version (1202x451, 128 KB)Grazianis advance and Wavells offensive -- September 13, 1940 - February 7, 1941 Source: US ARMY License: US Government document. ... is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1941 (disambiguation). ... Mussolini redirects here. ... Map of Italian East Africa Italian East Africa or Empire of Italian East Africa (Italian: Africa Orientale Italiana, AOI) was a short-lived (1936-1941) Italian colony in Africa consisting of Ethiopia (recently occupied after the Second Italo-Abyssinian War) and the colonies of Italian Somaliland and Eritrea. ... For other uses, see Suez (disambiguation). ... is the 220th day of the year (221st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Rodolfo Graziani, Marchese di Neghelli (August 11, 1882—January 11, 1955), was an Italian military officer who led expeditions in Africa before and during World War II and a war criminal responsible for thousands of Libyan and Ethiopian civilian deaths. ... The Roman Empire ca. ... Salum may be: Salum, harbour city in Egypt, near the border to Libya, significant during the Western Desert Campaign of World War II Saloum, a city in Senegal Category: ... Mussolini redirects here. ... Sidi Barrani is a village in Egypt, ~95km from the border with Libya, and ~240km from Tobruk. ... Mersa Matruh is a seaport in Egypt, Africa. ...

Allied offensive

Main article: Operation Compass

The Allied Western Desert Force, under Lieutenant General Richard O'Connor and his Commander-in-Chief Middle East Command, General Sir Archibald Wavell, numbered around 280,000 men — including portions of the Indian 4th Division and the British 7th Armoured Division — launched their counter-attack (Operation Compass) on 9 December. The Italians were caught completely off-guard and, by 10 December, the Allies had taken 6,000 prisoners. The following day, the Allies then struck against Sollum, shelling it from ships of the Mediterranean Fleet; Sidi Barrani fell on the same day. Combatants Western Desert Force United Kingdom Indian Empire Australia Italian Tenth Army Commanders Richard OConnor Rodolfo Graziani Pietro Maletti † Annibale Bergonzoli Strength 31,000 soldiers(december 1940 250,000)[1] 120 artillery pieces 275 tanks 60 Armoured cars 150,000 soldiers 1,600 guns 600 tanks Casualties 500 dead... The Western Desert Force, during World War II, was a British Commonwealth Army unit stationed in Egypt. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... During World War II The British Middle East Command was based in Cairo with responsibility for the Middle East theatre which included North Africa, East Africa, Persia, the Middle East, and the British forces in the Balkans and Greece. ... Field Marshal Archibald Percival Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell, GCB, GCSI, GCIE, CMG, MC, PC (May 5, 1883 – May 24, 1950) was a British field marshal and the commander of British Army forces in the Middle East during World War II. He led British forces to victory over the Italians, only... The 4th Indian Division, of the Indian Army, is an infantry division dating back to before independence. ... The 7th Armoured Division (known as the Desert Rats) of the British Army was the most famous unit of its type in British service during World War II. It was a regular division in the Middle East, designated the Mobile Division at first, renamed the Armoured Division (Egypt) in September... Combatants Western Desert Force United Kingdom Indian Empire Australia Italian Tenth Army Commanders Richard OConnor Rodolfo Graziani Pietro Maletti † Annibale Bergonzoli Strength 31,000 soldiers(december 1940 250,000)[1] 120 artillery pieces 275 tanks 60 Armoured cars 150,000 soldiers 1,600 guns 600 tanks Casualties 500 dead... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 344th day of the year (345th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. ...

To O'Connor's shock, Wavell replaced the experienced 4th Indian (who were immediately rushed to Port Sudan - see East African Campaign) with the newly arrived Australian 6th Division. They then pressed on to capture Bardia and Tobruk, although with heavy opposition. In early February, the Italians stopped their retreat along the coast, and stopped the the Australians. O'Connor ordered the 7th Armoured to advance overland through Mechili to Beda Fomm and cut-off the Italian's line off from El Agheila. It was a close-run thing and the Allies unsuccessfully did so. All through this operation, the Italians had convinced themselves that they were heavily outnumbered, when the reverse was the case. Swift action by the British lead to the capture of 10,000 Italians at a cost of 4,000 British casualties. The remaining Italian forces retreated to El Agheila by 9 February 1941. Combatants United Kingdom Anglo-Egyptian Sudan British Somaliland British East Africa British India Gold Coast Nigeria N. Rhodesia S. Rhodesia Union of S. Africa Belgium Belgian Congo Free France Ethiopian irregulars Italy Italian East Africa German Motorized Company Commanders Archibald Wavell William Platt Alan Cunningham Duke of Aosta Guglielmo Nasi... The most well-known 6th Division in the Australian Army was a unit in the Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) during World War II. (The 6th Division name was previously used for a short-lived World War I unit, formed from First Australian Imperial Force troops in England, in... Bardiya or Bardia is a seaport in eastern Libya. ... Tobruk is on the Mediterranean Sea in northeastern Libya. ... The Italian Offensive and Operation Compass September 13, 1940 - February 7, 1941 (Click to enlarge) Beda Fomm is a small coastal town in southwestern Cyrenaica, Libya located between the much larger port city Bengazi to its north and the larger town of El Agheila further to the southwest. ... Operation Crusader November 18, 1941 - December 31, 1941 El Agheila is on the lower left (Click to enlarge) El Agheila is a coastal city on the Gulf of Sidra in far southwestern Cyrenaica, Libya. ... is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1941 (disambiguation). ...

During the course of this battle, the Western Desert Force had been renamed as XIII Corps. The Western Desert Force, during World War II, was a British Commonwealth Army unit stationed in Egypt. ...

Rommel's first Axis offensive

Further information: Siege of Tobruk

After this Allied offensive, the military position was reversed. Wavell ordered a significant portion of O'Connor's corps to support Greece. Hitler responded to the Allied advance and ordered Operation Sonnenblume, the deployment of the newly formed Deutsches Afrikakorps as reinforcements. The Germans were fresh troops with better equipment and a charismatic general, Erwin Rommel. Mussolini ordered 280,000 more Italians under Garanzinii Corodozii to Libya. Combatants Australia United Kingdom South Africa Poland Czechoslovakia Germany Italy Commanders Leslie Morshead Erwin Rommel Strength 14,000 35,000? Casualties Britain: 9009 killed 941 captured estimated 12,000 total 8,000 The Siege of Tobruk was a lengthy confrontation between Axis and Allied forces, mostly Australian, in the North... During World War II, Operation Lustre was the dispatch of British, Australian, New Zealand and Polish troops from Egypt to Greece in March and April 1941, in response to the failed Italian invasion and the new German threat revealed through Ultra. ... Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945, standard German pronunciation in the IPA) was the Führer (leader) of the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi Party) and of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. ... During World War II. Operation Sonnenblume (German for sunflower) was the deployment of German troops (the “Afrika Korps”) to the North African Campaign in February, 1941. ... The Deutsches Afrikakorps (often just Afrika Korps or DAK) was the corps-level headquarters controlling the German Panzer divisions in Libya and Egypts Western Desert during the North African Campaign of World War II. Since there was little turnover in the units attached to the corps the term is... Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel ( ) (15 November 1891 – 14 October 1944) was one of the most famous German field marshals of World War II. He was the commander of the Deutsches Afrika Korps and also became known by the nickname “The Desert Fox” (Wüstenfuchs,  ) for the skillful military campaigns he...

Rommel's first offensive -- March 24, 1941 - June 15, 1941

When Rommel and Corodozii arrived in North Africa, their orders were to assume a defensive posture and hold the front-line. Finding that the British defenses were thin, they quickly defeated the Allied forces at El Agheila on March 24. they then launched an offensive which, by 15 April, had pushed the British back to the border at Sollum, recapturing all of Libya except for Tobruk which was encircled and besieged. During this drive, XIII Corps' new field commander, Lieutenant General Philip Neame, and O'Connor himself, who had been recalled to assist, were captured as was Major-General Michael Gambier-Parry, commander of the newly arrived British 2nd Armoured Division. Download high resolution version (1202x446, 105 KB)Rommels first offensive -- March 24, 1941 - June 15, 1941 Source: US ARMY License: US Government document. ... Download high resolution version (1202x446, 105 KB)Rommels first offensive -- March 24, 1941 - June 15, 1941 Source: US ARMY License: US Government document. ... is the 83rd day of the year (84th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1941 (disambiguation). ... is the 166th day of the year (167th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1941 (disambiguation). ... is the 83rd day of the year (84th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 105th day of the year (106th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Australia United Kingdom South Africa Poland Czechoslovakia Germany Italy Commanders Leslie Morshead Erwin Rommel Strength 14,000 35,000? Casualties Britain: 9009 killed 941 captured estimated 12,000 total 8,000 The Siege of Tobruk was a lengthy confrontation between Axis and Allied forces, mostly Australian, in the North... Philip Neame (VC, KBE, CB, DSO, Chevalier, Legion dHonneur and Croix de Guerre (France), Croix de Guerre (Belgium)) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. ... The 2nd Armoured Division was a Second World War British Army formation, created on 15 December 1939 and disbanded on 10 May 1941 after most of the division was captured at Mechili in Libya by German forces. ...

Several attempts to seize Tobruk failed and the front lines stabilised at the border.

The siege of Tobruk

Main articles: Operation Brevity and Operation Battleaxe

XIII Corps made two attempts to relieve Tobruk from the Axis siege, in Operations Brevity and Battleaxe. After both of these operations failed, Wavell was replaced by Claude Auchinleck as Commander in Chief, Middle East and XXX Corps reinforced the British forces. Combatants Germany Italy  United Kingdom Commanders Erwin Rommel Archibald Wavell Noel Beresford-Peirse Strength Afrika Korps: German 5th Light Division German 15th Panzer Division Italian 132nd Armored Division Ariete Italian 27 Infantry Division Brescia Italian 102 Motorised Division Trento XIII Corps: British 7th Armoured Division Indian 4th Infantry Division 20... Combatants Panzer Army Africa British XIII Corps Commanders Erwin Rommel Archibald Wavell Noel Beresford-Peirse Strength 13,000 infantry 150-200 tanks[1] 20,000+ infantry[2] 200 tanks[3] Casualties 685 Germans, 592 Italians[4] 12 tanks[5] 10 aircraft[6] 960 (122 killed[7]) 91 tanks[8] 36... Combatants Germany Italy  United Kingdom Commanders Erwin Rommel Archibald Wavell Noel Beresford-Peirse Strength Afrika Korps: German 5th Light Division German 15th Panzer Division Italian 132nd Armored Division Ariete Italian 27 Infantry Division Brescia Italian 102 Motorised Division Trento XIII Corps: British 7th Armoured Division Indian 4th Infantry Division 20... Combatants Panzer Army Africa British XIII Corps Commanders Erwin Rommel Archibald Wavell Noel Beresford-Peirse Strength 13,000 infantry 150-200 tanks[1] 20,000+ infantry[2] 200 tanks[3] Casualties 685 Germans, 592 Italians[4] 12 tanks[5] 10 aircraft[6] 960 (122 killed[7]) 91 tanks[8] 36... Field Marshal Sir Claude John Eyre Auchinleck, GCB, GCIE, CSI, DSO, OBE (June 21, 1884 - March 23, 1981), nicknamed The Auk, was a British army commander during World War II. // Born in Aldershot, he grew up in impoverished circumstances, but was able through hard work and scholarships to graduate from... The XXX Corps was an infantry corps in the British Army. ...

The overall Allied field command now became British Eighth Army, formed from units from many countries, including 9th Division and 18th brigade from the Australian Army and the Indian Army, but also including divisions of South Africans, New Zealanders, a brigade of Free French under Marie-Pierre Koenig and the Polish Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade. The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations in World War II, fighting in the campaigns in North Africa and Italy. ... The Australian Army is Australias military land force. ... This article is about the post-independence Indian Army. ... The Free French Forces (Forces Françaises Libres in French) were French fighters who decided to go on fighting against Germany after the Fall of France and German occupation and to fight against Vichy France in World War II. General Charles de Gaulle was a member of the French Cabinet... Marie Pierre Koenig (October 10, 1898—September 2, 1970) was a French general. ... The Carpathian Brigade started on offensive activity towards Derna (December 12, 1941) Polish Independent Carpathian Brigade (Polish Samodzielna Brygada Strzelców Karpackich, SBSK) was a Polish military unit formed in 1940 in French Syria of the Polish soldiers exiled after the Invasion of Poland in 1939. ...

Operation Crusader

Main article: Operation Crusader

Auchinleck's offensive -- November 18, 1941 - December 31, 1941

Eighth Army, under the command of Lieutenant-General Alan Cunningham launched Operation Crusader on November 18, 1941. Although the Axis achieved several tactical successes (which caused a disagreement between the British army commanders and led to Auchinleck replacing Cunningham with Major-General Neil Ritchie), it was in the end forced to retreat and all the territory gained by Rommel and Corodozii in March and April was recaptured, with the exception of garrisons at Bardia and Sollum. Most significantly the Axis siege of Tobruk was relieved. The front line was again set at El Agheila. Combatants United Kingdom Australia New Zealand Poland Germany Italy Commanders Claude Auchinleck Alan Gordon Cunningham Neil Ritchie Erwin Rommel Ludwig Crüwell Strength 8th Army comprising XIII Corps, XXX Corps and 70th Division. ... Download high resolution version (1203x450, 120 KB)Auchinlecks offensive -- November 18, 1941 - December 31, 1941 Source: US ARMY License: US Government document. ... Download high resolution version (1203x450, 120 KB)Auchinlecks offensive -- November 18, 1941 - December 31, 1941 Source: US ARMY License: US Government document. ... is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1941 (disambiguation). ... is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1941 (disambiguation). ... Alan Cunningham, British Army Officer Sir Alan Gordon Cunningham (1st May 1887 _ 30th January 1983) was a British Army officer noted for victories over Italian forces in the East African Campaign during World War II. He was the younger brother of the renowned Admiral Andrew Cunningham. ... Combatants United Kingdom Australia New Zealand Poland Germany Italy Commanders Claude Auchinleck Alan Gordon Cunningham Neil Ritchie Erwin Rommel Ludwig Crüwell Strength 8th Army comprising XIII Corps, XXX Corps and 70th Division. ... is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1941 (disambiguation). ... General Ritchie as commander of XII Corps in France General Sir Neil Ritchie GBE, KCB, DSO, MC (July 29, 1897 - December 11, 1983) was a British commanding officer during the Second World War. ...

Rommel's second offensive

Rommel's second offensive -- January 21, 1942 - July 7, 1942

After the Empire of Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, the Australian forces were withdrawn from the Western Desert to the Pacific theater, while the 7th Armoured Division was withdrawn^{[citation needed]} and 7th Armoured Brigade was transferred to Burma. Download high resolution version (1204x447, 98 KB)Rommels second offensive -- January 21, 1942 - July 7, 1942 Source: US ARMY License: US Government document. ... Download high resolution version (1204x447, 98 KB)Rommels second offensive -- January 21, 1942 - July 7, 1942 Source: US ARMY License: US Government document. ... is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Anthem Kimi ga Yo Imperial Reign Capital Tokyo Government Constitutional monarchy Emperor  - 1868–1912 Emperor Meiji  - 1912–1926 Emperor Taishō  - 1926–1989 Emperor Shōwa Prime Minister  - 1885-1888, 1892-1896, 1898, 1900-1901 Itō Hirobumi  - 1888-1889 Kuroda Kiyotaka  - 1889-1891 Yamagata Aritomo  - 1906-1908, 1911-1912 Saionji Kinmochi... This article is about the actual attack. ... is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The 7th Armoured Brigade is a formation of the British Army. ...

The relatively inexperienced British 1st Armoured Division formed the principal defence around El Agheila, and Rommel's Afrika Korps was easily able to force it back across the Cyrenaican bulge once replacements and resupply had arrived in January 1942. The British 1st Armoured Division is the title of an armoured division of the British Army. ...

From February to May 1942, the front line settled down at the Gazala line, just west of Tobruk, with both armies preparing an offensive. Combatants Panzer Army Afrika Eighth Army Commanders Erwin Rommel Claude Auchinleck Neil Ritchie Strength 80,000 560 tanks[1] 175,000 843 tanks[1] Casualties 32,000 dead, wounded, or captured 114 tanks destroyed 98,000 dead, wounded, or captured 540 tanks destroyed The Battle of Gazala was an important...

Rommel and Corodozii managed to get their offensive off first in June 1942. After a lengthy armoured battle, known as "the Cauldron", they defeated the Allies in the Battle of Gazala and captured Tobruk. Auchinleck fired Ritchie and took personal command of Eighth Army, halting the Axis at the Alamein Line only a handful of miles from Alexandria in the First Battle of El Alamein. Combatants Panzer Army Afrika Italian Army Eighth Army Commanders Erwin Rommel Claude Auchinleck Neil Ritchie Strength 80,000 390 tanks 175,000 949 tanks Casualties 32,000 dead, wounded, or captured 114 tanks destroyed 98,000 dead, wounded, or captured 540 tanks destroyed The Battle of Gazala was an important... Combatants Allies (mostly British Empire forces) Axis Commanders Claude Auchinleck Erwin Rommel Strength 150,000 troops in 3 army corps, 7 infantry and 3 armoured divisions 1,114 tanks, over 1,000 artillery and over 1,500 planes 96,000 troops (including 56,000 Italians) 8 infantry and 4 armoured...

Montgomery's Allied offensive

Montgomery's Allied offense -- November 1942 - February 1943

Churchill had, despite the circumstances, become disenchanted with Auchinleck. He was replaced by General Harold Alexander as Commander in Chief Middle East Command and Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery, who became commander of the Eighth Army. In this way, the new army commander was free of responsibilities stretching from Cyprus to the Sudan and eastwards to Syria. Alexander was also an effective buffer against political interventions from London. Download high resolution version (1199x449, 122 KB)Montgomerys Allied offense -- November 1942 - February 1943 Source: US ARMY License: US Government document. ... Download high resolution version (1199x449, 122 KB)Montgomerys Allied offense -- November 1942 - February 1943 Source: US ARMY License: US Government document. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Field Marshal Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis (December 10, 1891 - June 16, 1969) was a British military commander and Field Marshal, notably during World War II as the commander of the 15th Army Group. ... Bernard Law Montgomery Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (November 17, 1887 - March 24, 1976) was a British military officer during World War II often referred to as Monty. ...

Montgomery won a comprehensive defensive victory at the Battle of Alam Halfa in August 1942 and then built up the Allied forces before returning to the offensive in the Second Battle of El Alamein in October-November. It's notable that he had resources far in excess in quantity and quality to those of his predecessors. Second Alamein proved a decisive victory. In spite of a brilliant rearguard action by the Axis, the Allies retook Egypt and then advanced across Cyrenaica and Tripolitania, capturing Tripoli in February 1943 and entering Tunisia in March. Battle of Alam Halfa Conflict World War II Date August 30–September 6, 1942 Place El Alamein, Egypt Result Allied strategic victory Axis tactical victory The Battle of Alam el Halfa took place between August 30 and September 6, 1942 during the Western Desert Campaign of World War II... Combatants British Eighth Army: United Kingdom Australia Free French Greece India New Zealand South Africa Panzer Army Africa: Germany Italy Commanders Harold Alexander Bernard Montgomery Erwin Rommel Georg Stumme Ettore Bastico Strength 220,000 men 1,100 tanks[1] 750 aircraft (530 serviceable) 116,000 men[1] 559 tanks[2... Tripoli (Arabic: طرابلس Tarābulus) is the capital city of Libya. ...

An attempt to encircle the axis forces at Marsa Matruh was frustrated by rain and they escaped by 7 November. The coast road had been cut, but the Halfaya Pass was easily captured and Egypt was cleared. Tobruk was retaken on 13 November, again Rommel's and Corodozii's forces escaped the trap, and Benghazi on 20 November. These two port towns were essential to the resupply of the campaign and an opportunity to outflank Rommel and Corodozii at Agedabia was cautiously declined, in case of counter-attack. Egypt: Site of Marsa Matruh (top left). ... is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Halfaya Pass (Hellfire Pass) is located in North Africa. ... is the 317th day of the year (318th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Categories: Stub | Municipalities of Libya ...

The Germans and Italians retired to a prepared defence line at El Agheila. Axis supplies and reinforcements were now directed into Tunisia at Rommel's and Corodozii's expense: they were left with no capacity to counter-attack and were critically short of petrol. Hitler ordered that the El Agheila line should be held at all costs, whereas Rommel's, Corodozii's, and Mussolini's view was for a fighting retreat to Tunisia and a strong defensive position at the Gabès Gap. Permission was granted for a withdrawal to Buerat, 50 miles east of Sirte. An attempt to outflank El Agheila on 14th - 16th December once again failed to encircle the enemy. Operation Crusader November 18, 1941 - December 31, 1941 El Agheila is on the lower left (Click to enlarge) El Agheila is a coastal city on the Gulf of Sidra in far southwestern Cyrenaica, Libya. ... Hitler redirects here. ... Gabès (Arabic: قابس) is the capital city of the Gabès Governorate, a province of Tunisia. ... This article is about the municipality of Libya. ...

At this stage, the front was over 400 miles from the nearest usable port at Tobruk and the difficulties of supply now hampered Montgomery's ability to deploy his full strength. Allied pressure continued as the axis forces reached Buerat. This line was not strongly defended, however, and the pursuit continued. Tripoli was captured on 23 January 1943. The port was brought into use and, by mid-February 1943, nearly 3,000 tons of stores were landed daily. Tripoli (Arabic: طرابلس Tarābulus) is the capital city of Libya. ... is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Rommel's and Corodozii's retreat continued. On 4 February, allied units entered Tunisia. Soon after, Rommel was recalled to Germany, on health grounds, and Corodozii became supreme commander. is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Montgomery has been criticised for his perceived failure to trap the axis armies, bring them to a decisive battle and destroy them in Libya. His tactics have been seen as too cautious and too slow. The counter arguments point out the defensive skills of Axis forces generally and the Afrika Korps in particular, and Montgomery's need not to relapse into the "see-saw" warfare of previous north African campaigns. Warfare in the desert has been described as a "quarter-master's nightmare", given the conditions of desert warfare and the difficulties of supply. Montgomery is renowned for fighting "balanced campaigns" and husbanding his resources: no attack until his troops were prepared and properly supplied. 8th Army morale greatly improved under his command.

Conclusion

With the Axis forces driven out of Libya, they would soon find themselves pincered in the following Tunisia Campaign by Anglo-American forces to the west. Combatants United Kingdom United States France Germany Italy Commanders Dwight D. Eisenhower Harold Alexander Keneth Anderson Bernard Montgomery Albert Kesselring Erwin Rommel Hans-Jürgen von Arnim Giovanni Messe The Tunisia Campaign (also known as the Battle of Tunisia), was a series of World War II battles that took place...

References

• Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45
• von Mellenthin, Major General F. W. [1956] (1971). Panzer Battles: A Study of the Employment of Armor in the Second World War, First Edition, New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-24440-0. 

Panzerschlachten (Panzer Battles) is the German language title of Major General F. W. von Mellenthins autobiography of his service in the Panzer arm of the Heer during World War II. The most prominent English language version is Panzer Battles: A Study of the Employment of Armor in the Second... Ballantine Books, founded in 1952 by Ian Ballantine, is a major book publisher and is currently owned by Random House. ...

External links

• Grolier.com