North African Campaign

The North African Campaign, also known as the Desert War, of World War II took place in the North African desert during 1940-1943.

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.

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British forces, though greatly outnumbered, 500,000 to 35,000 (of whom half were non-combatants), launched the counter-attack Operation Compass. It was more successful than 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.

Related Topics:
Operation Compass - El Agheila - Deutsches Afrikakorps - Erwin Rommel

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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.

Related Topics:
Tobruk - Salum

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During the following stalemate, the Allied forces reorganised as the Eighth Army, which was made up of units from the armies of several countries, especially the Australian Army and the Indian Army, but also including divisions from the South African Army, the New Zealand Army 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 acquired by Rommel, failing only to take the garrison forces at Bardia and Salum. Once again, the frontline was at El Agheila.

Related Topics:
Eighth Army - Australian Army - Indian Army - South African Army - New Zealand Army - Free French - Marie-Pierre Koenig - Bardia - Frontline

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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.

Related Topics:
Tripoli - Gazala - First Battle of El Alamein

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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.

Related Topics:
Bernard Montgomery - Alam Halfa - Second El Alamein

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