Fezzan campaigns

Fezzan campaigns, incursions into, and then the crossing of, this Italian-held desert in Libya by de Gaulle's Free French forces commanded by Colonel Leclerc (see Map 30 ). These comprised Tirailleurs Sénégalais and Chad infantry, and the camel-mounted Groupe Nomade de Tibesti, supported by radio and navigational units of the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG); and, initially, by fourteen bombers of what later became the Lorraine Squadron. Their successes prevented the Italians from interfering with the Takoradi Air Route.

Chad, from which these campaigns were launched, was the only Free French territory adjacent to Axis soil (Italian-owned Libya). In de Gaulle's view, if the British were forced out of Egypt, which seemed likely in 1941, it could be of pivotal importance in defending the rest of colonial Africa, and he was therefore eager to take the offensive in the area. After Major Jean d'Ornano of the Chad garrison had been killed during the first Free French-LRDG raid into the Fezzan in January 1941, Leclerc replaced him. Based at Fort Lamy, he took Kufra in March 1941; raided Italian outposts around the Fezzan capital, Murzouk, the following February; and then in December 1942 sent in 3,250 men and 1,000 vehicles supported by twelve aircraft to destroy all Italian resistance around Murzouk, which was occupied on 12 January 1943. The force then overcame stiff opposition at Mizda, captured on 22 January, before entering Tripoli on 26 January, having covered 2,575 km. (1,600 mi.) since leaving Chad. Leclerc and his men then became part of Montgomery's Eighth Army and were known as ‘L’Force.