The North African Campaign

The North African Campaign Why? 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 Campaign Strategies & 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, –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 8 th 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 8 th 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 : 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 – 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)