The North African Campaign June 10,1940 – May 16, 1943

Causes Germany and Russia invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 thus beginning World War II Germany and Russia invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 thus beginning World War II After defeating Poland, Germany turned to the west and conquered France with some assistance from Italy After defeating Poland, Germany turned to the west and conquered France with some assistance from Italy German troops marching in Warsaw Poland.

Causes of North African Campaign Mussolini envisioned the Mediterranean as an Italian lake Mussolini envisioned the Mediterranean as an Italian lake He therefore sent an army to the Italian colony of Libya to commence the attack on the Allies He therefore sent an army to the Italian colony of Libya to commence the attack on the Allies

Strategic Importance Axis powers wanted control of Africa Axis powers wanted control of Africa Strike at the oil fields in Middle East Strike at the oil fields in Middle East Open a second front against the Soviet Union Open a second front against the Soviet Union Allies wanted to stop the Axis advance Allies wanted to stop the Axis advance Pull pressure off of the Soviet Union Pull pressure off of the Soviet Union Allow for the opening of a second Euro. front Allow for the opening of a second Euro. front

Armies Primary Allied Forces Primary Allied Forces British 8 th army British 8 th army 6 American divisions 6 American divisions Primary Axis Forces Primary Axis Forces German Afrika Korps German Afrika Korps Miscellaneous Italian forces Miscellaneous Italian forces

Allied Commanders American General Dwight E. Eisenhower American General Dwight E. Eisenhower American General George Patton American General George Patton British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery General EisenhowerGeneral Patton Field Marshal Montgomery

Axis Commander The primary commander of Axis forces in North Africa was Erwin Rommel Rommel was ordered to assist the Italians by Hitler (WWI) Due to his stunning military victories he was given the nickname the “Desert Fox” Killed himself after being implicated in a plot to kill Hitler Even to this day, he is still remembered as one of the greatest generals of all time Field Marshal Erwin Rommel

Timeline September Italians invade Egypt September Italians invade Egypt February British offensive stops after pushing the Italians back a third of the way into Libya February British offensive stops after pushing the Italians back a third of the way into Libya March Axis forces now under the command of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel counterattack and reach Egypt by April March Axis forces now under the command of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel counterattack and reach Egypt by April November The British 8 th army counterattacks and once again reaches El Agheila by January 1942 November The British 8 th army counterattacks and once again reaches El Agheila by January 1942

Timeline January The Axis retaliation forces the British back and the city of Tobruk, a British stronghold is captured on June 21 January The Axis retaliation forces the British back and the city of Tobruk, a British stronghold is captured on June 21 July - The Axis advance on Cairo is stopped at the First Battle of El Alamein July - The Axis advance on Cairo is stopped at the First Battle of El Alamein October – November 4, British forces crush the Germans and Italians at the Second Battle of El Alamein October – November 4, British forces crush the Germans and Italians at the Second Battle of El Alamein November - Operation Torch begins November - Operation Torch begins February Rommel inflicts heavy casualties on the Americans at the Battle of Kasserine Pass February Rommel inflicts heavy casualties on the Americans at the Battle of Kasserine Pass May Axis forces in Tunisia surrender, ending the campaign May Axis forces in Tunisia surrender, ending the campaign

Victory!! The Germans and Italians in North Africa surrendered on May 13, 1943 resulting in over a quarter of a million Prisoners of War being taken The Germans and Italians in North Africa surrendered on May 13, 1943 resulting in over a quarter of a million Prisoners of War being taken With allied sea and air power only about 600 Axis troops escaped With allied sea and air power only about 600 Axis troops escaped

Consequences The victory in North Africa resulted in the Suez canal remaining in Allied hands and the oil fields of the Middle East not falling into Axis hands The victory in North Africa resulted in the Suez canal remaining in Allied hands and the oil fields of the Middle East not falling into Axis hands The victory in North Africa allowed for the invasion of Italy which forced the Italian surrender and pulled German troops away from the Eastern front, helping the Soviet’s defense against the Germans The victory in North Africa allowed for the invasion of Italy which forced the Italian surrender and pulled German troops away from the Eastern front, helping the Soviet’s defense against the Germans

First Strike On the 13 th of September 1940, the 200,000 soldiers of the Italian 10 th army invaded British- Egypt from Libya On the 13 th of September 1940, the 200,000 soldiers of the Italian 10 th army invaded British- Egypt from Libya The Italian army advanced into Egypt and reached the town of Sidi Barrani, but halted due to lack of intelligence about the British army The Italian army advanced into Egypt and reached the town of Sidi Barrani, but halted due to lack of intelligence about the British army

Allied Retaliation After this, the British forces in the area, although they were 1/6 of the Italians size retaliated against the Italians in Operation Compass After this, the British forces in the area, although they were 1/6 of the Italians size retaliated against the Italians in Operation Compass The British forced the surrender of the entire 10 th army and were able to advance almost a third of the way into Libya The British forced the surrender of the entire 10 th army and were able to advance almost a third of the way into Libya

The Coming of the Fox Hitler sent the Afrika Korps under Field Marshal Erwin Rommel to assist the Italians against the British Hitler sent the Afrika Korps under Field Marshal Erwin Rommel to assist the Italians against the British Although ordered to prevent the British from advancing any farther… Although ordered to prevent the British from advancing any farther… Rommel took his troops on the offensive Rommel took his troops on the offensive Pushed the British back passed the Italian’s farthest point of advance Pushed the British back passed the Italian’s farthest point of advance

We’re Back to Where We Started! After reaching the city of Salum, both sides stopped and waited After reaching the city of Salum, both sides stopped and waited British to reorganize their forces into the 8 th Army British to reorganize their forces into the 8 th Army Rommel received few reinforcements Rommel received few reinforcements British counterattack and forced the Axis back to the city of El Agheila once again British counterattack and forced the Axis back to the city of El Agheila once again

Rommel’s Finest Hour An Axis convoy’s arrival allowed Rommel to counterattack on January 21, 1942 An Axis convoy’s arrival allowed Rommel to counterattack on January 21, 1942 En route to Egypt, the Afrika Korps finally recaptured the city of Tobruk on June 21, 1942 En route to Egypt, the Afrika Korps finally recaptured the city of Tobruk on June 21, 1942 Pushed the British back to the city of El Alamein and coming close to capturing Cairo itself Pushed the British back to the city of El Alamein and coming close to capturing Cairo itself Before the desperate British were able to halt them during the month of July in the First battle of El Alamein Before the desperate British were able to halt them during the month of July in the First battle of El Alamein

The Battle of El Alamein The battle opened with 20 minutes of artillery bombardment by about 900 guns The battle opened with 20 minutes of artillery bombardment by about 900 guns This was followed by infantry advance across the minefield to clear lanes for the tanks This was followed by infantry advance across the minefield to clear lanes for the tanks After the attack stalled out, a strike to the north front of that resulted in huge casualties on both sides After the attack stalled out, a strike to the north front of that resulted in huge casualties on both sides As a result, the British launched Operation Supercharge that decimated Rommel’s tank groups and forced them into retreat As a result, the British launched Operation Supercharge that decimated Rommel’s tank groups and forced them into retreat

Operation Torch British advancing rapidly against Rommel after the Battle of El Alamein British advancing rapidly against Rommel after the Battle of El Alamein Allies conducted landings on the W. Coast of Africa to surround the Axis Allies conducted landings on the W. Coast of Africa to surround the Axis General Eisenhower was chosen to command the invasion force General Eisenhower was chosen to command the invasion force Casualties were relatively light due to eventual Vichy French defection to the Allies Casualties were relatively light due to eventual Vichy French defection to the Allies

Map of Operation Torch

The Final Push By November 1942, the Germans and Italians had been pushed back to Tunisia By November 1942, the Germans and Italians had been pushed back to Tunisia After Rommel defeated the American Second Corps twice, George S. Patton was given command of the Corps After Rommel defeated the American Second Corps twice, George S. Patton was given command of the Corps Him and Montgomery: the Axis now had their backs to the sea with no room to maneuver and few supplies Him and Montgomery: the Axis now had their backs to the sea with no room to maneuver and few supplies Rommel was able to still inflict heavy casualties on the Americans at the Battle of Kasserine Pass while receiving few in return Rommel was able to still inflict heavy casualties on the Americans at the Battle of Kasserine Pass while receiving few in return