North African Campaigns

North African Campaigns (June 1940–May 1943) A series of military campaigns in Africa in World War II. When Italy declared war in June 1940, General WAVELL in Cairo with 36,000 Commonwealth troops attacked first, the Italians giving up Sidi Barrani, Tobruk, and Benghazi between September 1940 and January 1941. In July 1940 the Italians had occupied parts of the Sudan and British Somaliland, but in January 1941 the British counter-attacked and on 6 April 1941 Ethiopia and all of Italian East Africa surrendered, thus opening the way for Allied supplies and reinforcements to reach the Army of the Nile. In March 1941 General ROMMEL attacked, and the British withdrew, leaving TOBRUK besieged. Under General AUCHINLECK, an offensive (Operation Crusader) was planned. At first successful, the campaign swung back and forth across the desert, both German and British tank casualties being high. Tobruk fell in June 1942 and the British took up a defensive position at El ALAMEIN in July. From there in October the reinforced 8th Army of 230,000 men and 1230 tanks now under General MONTGOMERY launched their attack, and Rommel fell back to Tunisia. Meanwhile ‘Operation Torch’ was launched, an amphibious landing of US and British troops (8 November) under General EISENHOWER near Casablanca on the Atlantic and at Oran and Algiers in the Mediterranean. It was hoped to link up with FREE FRENCH forces in West Africa. The Vichy French troops of General DARLAN at first resisted, but after three days acquiesced. From November 1942 to May 1943 German armies, although reinforced, were being squeezed between the 8th Army advancing from the east and the Allied forces advancing from the west. On 7 May Tunis surrendered. Some 250,000 prisoners were taken, although Rommel skilfully succeeded in withdrawing the best troops of his Africa Korps to Sicily.