Post on 31-Oct-2014
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The North African
Campaign 1940 - 43
The North African CampaignWhy?
• Italy attempted to increase its empire in North Africa• Britain wanted to maintain control of Middle East
possessions, including Suez Canal, oilfields.• Germany saw it as a sideshow until too late.• Was Britain’s only chance to halt the Axis.
The North African Campaign
The Overall Picture
• Essentially a coastal war, fought with limited resources & troops.
• Mobility & supply lines crucial.• Main supplies needed: petrol, weapons & ammunition,
food & water.• Air power vital.• Both sides fought ‘within the rules’.• Cult of the ‘personality’ generals.
The North African CampaignStrategies & Tactics
• Ability to maneuver & outflank the enemy was paramount. This would allow him to be cut off from his supply lines.
• Supply reached N Africa mainly by sea. From ports, it reached the front via truck convoy or on a small scale by air.
• Both sides, but esp. the Allies used commando/special forces to make hit & run attacks on enemy supplies.
• Air power was crucial for scouting & attacking supply dumps.• Defensive lines were rare (since they could be outflanked -
except at El Alamein), but often protected by huge minefields & carefully placed anti-tank guns (AA guns were often used in this role).
• Main weapon was the tank, with armoured cars & halftracks in support – the terrain was too soft/sandy for trucks. Infantry rode to a jump-off point before taking part in an attack.
The North African Campaign
• Britain -v- Italy– Began with Italy’s entry into the war on June 11,
1940.– Light skirmishes only until September invasion of
British-held Egypt.– Oct-Nov: failed Italian invasion of Greece.– Dec 1940 to Feb 1941: Operation Compass, British
counter-attack forces Italians from Africa & halfway back to Tripoli, the capital of Libya (Italians lose 120,000 men)
– Jan to Nov 1941: Italian East Africa conquered.
The North African Campaign
• Enter Rommel- Jan 1941: Hitler announces that German forces (about
2 divs/20000 men) will support the Italians in N Africa.- Feb: General Erwin Rommel arrives with advance
troops of the Deutsches Afrika Korps.- Mar: British withdraw troops to reinforce Greece.- Mar to Apr: Rommel drives the British back into Egypt,
siege of Tobruk begins.- Apr to May: Axis conquer Greece & Crete.- May to June: Allied forces occupy Syria & Iraqi
oilfields.- June: British attack, Operation Battleaxe, fails badly,
Gen Wavell replaced by Gen Auchinleck.- June: Operation Barbarossa launched & the Eastern
Front receives first priority.
The North African Campaign
• Operation Crusader – the British counter-attack- August 1941: Allies invade
Iran.- Sept: British buildup now
complete. British have 8th Army (118,000 troops, 700+ tanks, 650 aircraft) against Panzerarmee Afrika (119,000 troops, 400 tanks - 1/3 of these obsolete Italian designs, 550 aircraft).
- Nov 1941 to Jan 1942: British relieve Tobruk & advance to a position similar to that of Mar 1941.
The North African Campaign
• Rommel Strikes Back- Jan 1942: Rommel’s attack forces the British back to
the Gazala Line, west of Tobruk.- Both sides halted & tried to build up their troop &
supply levels. British now have 839 tanks & 190 planes to 643 tanks & 497 planes.
- June: Rommel outflanked the British in a series of battles, who were forced to retreat all the way back to El Alamein, less than 100km from the port of Alexandria on the Nile Delta.
- July to Sept: Rommel made a series of desperate attacks but failed to break through.
- Aug: Gen Montgomery appointed to command the 8th Army. He refuses Churchill’s demands to attack because he believes the troops are not yet ready.
The North African Campaign• Oct 1942: The Battle of El-
Alamein– the battle begins with artillery
bombardment & an overwhelming Allied superiority (2:1 ratio in tanks, artillery & manpower).
– infantry assault to clear a path through the Axis minefields.
– described as a ‘WWI battle fought with modern weapons’
– lasted 12 days– ended with heavy Axis losses &
with Rommel in full retreat.
The North African Campaign
• After Alamein– Nov 1942 to Jan 1943: Rommel forced to retreat
through Libya into Tunisia.
• Operation Torch– Nov 1942: Allied landings in Vichy French N African
colonies of Morocco & Algeria. They attempt to cut off Rommel.
The North African Campaign
• The End– Feb 1943: Rommel defeats the Allies at Kasserine but
is forced to retreat.– Mar: Rommel leaves Africa.– May 7 1943: Axis troops in Africa surrender (60,000
dead & 240,000 POWs). A disaster comparable to Stalingrad.
The North African Campaign
• Why did the Allies win?– Hitler never considered Africa as more than a sideshow.
Rommel never got the supplies or troops he needed (although the Allies kept withdrawing troops at vital times).
– Spain stayed neutral: thus British were able to control the western Mediterranean.
– Malta survived: ‘the most bombed place on Earth’. Provided an air & naval base to disrupt Axis air & sea supply lines.
– Italian equipment not up to standard although they fought bravely.
– Allied air & naval power.– USA’s entry into the war.– Allied numerical superiority.– German codes broken.– the little things (food, water, medicine, etc).
The North African Campaign
• End of the Axis presence in North Africa:– Nov ’42: Allied landings
in Vichy N. Africa– Apr ’43: Tunisia falls– 240 000 Axis POWs
• Strategic importance:– Suez Canal is safe– oilfields of the Middle
East safe– threatens Italy, Balkans
• Morale booster
Significance of the outcome of the Battle of El-Alamein (1)
The North African Campaign
• Historians’ differences:– John Bierman/Colin Smith call
it a major ‘turning point’– Russian historians claim it was
small compared to the Eastern Front
• Churchill’s view:– ‘This is not the end. It is not
even the beginning of the end. But it is perhaps, the end of the beginning.’
– ‘Before Alamein, we never had a victory. After Alamein, we never had a defeat.’
Significance of the outcome of the Battle of El-Alamein (2)