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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. Following the terrible reverses suffered by the Italians, the
German Afrika Korps came to their assistance. Following a back-and-forth control of
Libya and parts of
Egypt,
British Commonwealth forces eventually pushed the
Axis back to
Tunisia. Anglo-American landings in North West Africa eventually pincered the Axis forces and drove them 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.
==East African Campaign==
:Main article
East African Campaign
On August 4th, Italian forces stationed in
Italian East Africa invaded
British Somaliland, taking the capital
Berbera on the 19th.
The success was short-lived however, as British forces counter-attacked from
Sudan in the north and
Kenya in the south. The attacks were of great success and resulted in total Italian defeat only 94 days after the initial invasion.
==Western Desert Campaign==
:Main article
Western Desert Campaign
On September 13th, Italian forces stationed in Libya launched a small invasion into British held Egypt and set up defensive forts at
Sidi Barrani.
Allied forces, though greatly outnumbered, launched the counter-attack
Operation Compass. It was more successful then planned and resulted in massive amounts of Italian prisoners and the advance of the Allied forces up to
El Agheila. This stunning defeat of Italian forces did not go unnoticed and soon the
Deutsches Afrikakorps, commanded by
Erwin Rommel were sent in to reinforce them.
Although ordered to simply hold the line, Rommel launched an offensive from El Agheila which, with the exception of
Tobruk, managed to press the Allies beyond
Salum, effectively putting both sides back at their approximate original positions.
During the following stalemate, the Allied forces reorganised as the
British Eighth Army, which was, in fact, largely comprised of units from many countries, especially from the
Australian Army and the
Indian Army, but including divisions of
South Africans and a brigade of
Free French under
Marie-Pierre Koenig. The new formation launched a new offensive and recaptured almost all of the territory recently aquired by Rommel, failing only to take the garrison forces at
Bardia and Salum. Once again, the
frontline was at El Agheila.
After receiving supplies from
Tripoli, Rommel again attacked. Defeating the Allies at
Gazala and capturing Tobruk, he drove them back to the border of Egypt where he was stopped by the
First Battle of El Alamein.
At this point General
Bernard Montgomery took over as commander of Allied forces in North Africa and, after victory in the battles of
Alam Halfa and
Second El Alamein, began to the push the Axis forces back, going as far as capturing Tripoli.
==Operation Torch==
:Main article
Operation Torch
In an attempt to pincer German forces,
American forces landed in
Vichy-held
French North Africa under the assumption that that there would be little to no resistance. Though there was more than anticipated, eventually the French forces agreed to cease armed hostilites and allow Allied forces access to
Tunisia.
==Tunisia Campaign==
:Main article
Tunisia Campaign
Though Rommel was now pincered between American and
British Commonwealth forces, he did manage to stall the allies with a series of defensive operations, most notably with the
Battle of the Kasserine Pass, but he was flanked, outmanned and outgunned. After shattering the Axis defense on the
Mareth Line, the allies managed to squeeze Axis forces unitl resistance in Africa ended with the surrender of over 275,000
prisoners of war.
==Conclusion==
After victory in the North African Campaign, the stage was set for the
Italian Campaign to begin.
==See also==
*
Military history of Germany during World War II
*
Military history of Britain during World War II
*
Military history of Italy during World War II
*
Military history of Egypt during World War II
==Major battles==
*
Siege of Tobruk
*
Battle of Gazala
*
First Battle of El Alamein
*
Second Battle of El Alamein
==External links==
*
BBC's flash video of the North African Campaign
*
Timeline of the North African Campaign
* General sites on the North African Campaign
[1][2][3][4]
*
Canadian World War 2 Online Newspaper Archives - The North African Campaigns, 1940-1943
{| id="toc"
|-
| style="background:#ccddcc" align="center" | '''Campaigns and Theatres of World War II'''
|-
| style="background:#ccccff" align="center" | '''Europe'''
|-
| align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" | Poland | Denmark & Norway | France and the Low Countries | Britain | Balkans & Greece| Eastern Front | Italy | Western Front
|-
| style="background:#ccccff" align="center" | '''Asia Pacific'''
|-
| align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" | South-East Asian Theatre | Pacific Theatre of Operations
|-
| style="background:#ccccff" align="center" | '''Middle East and East & North Africa'''
|-
| align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" | East African Campaign | Western Desert Campaign | Tunisia Campaign
|-
| style="background:#ccccff" align="center" | '''Other'''
|-
| align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" | Atlantic Ocean | Mediterranean Sea | Strategic Bombing
|-
| style="background:#ccddcc" align="center" | '''Contemporaneous Wars'''
|-
| align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" | Chinese Civil War | Sino-Japanese War | Winter War | Continuation War
|}
sl:Vojna v severni Afriki
