1. Actions in the African Theater

2. North Africa

3. Italian Presence in North Africa
Since before World War II, Italy had been occupying Libya and had over a million soldiers based there
In neighboring Egypt, the British Army had only 36,000 men guarding the Suez Canal and the Arabian oilfields
On Sept 13, 1940, the Italians advanced into Egypt but halted in front of the main British defenses at Mersa Matruh
On Dec 9, the British counterattacked and pushed the Italians back more than 500 miles, inflicting heavy casualties
British troops then moved along the coast and on Jan 22, 1941, they captured the port of Tobruk in Libya

5. Germany to the Rescue
Germany sent forces to Tripoli to support failing Italians
The Afrika Corps commanded by Erwin Rommel
Failure in North Africa and Greece could undermine efforts in Balkans and Mediterranean

8. Bernard Montgomery

11. https://www. theatlantic

12. German Response
Characteristically Rommel attacked and drove the British Commonwealth forces out of Libya except for Tobruk
With the situation in North Africa stabilized, Hitler turned his attention to shoring up Italy, leaving Rommel to deal with North Africa
One of Rommel’s biggest challenges would be his long, tenuous supply line
Between Oct and Nov the Allies sank nearly 80% of Axis supply ships crossing the Mediterranean

13. Rommel
Rommel pushed the British deep into Egypt but British General Bernard Montgomery stopped Rommel at El Alamein in July 1942

14. Operation Torch Objectives: Control Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia
Open Mediterranean to Allied shipping
Create launching point for further operations

15. Operation Torch
The Anglo-American forces landed at North Africa and moved on to Tunisia, scoring a naval victory at Casablanca

16. Operation Torch
Vichy French forces resisted, but eventually surrendered
Forces join French Resistance Army in support of Allies
Hitler began rushing troops to Tunis before the Allies could get there
Great cost- Waste of vital support
Admiral Francois Darlan surrendered the Vichy forces in North Africa

18. The Tide Turns
Presence of U.S. air support, tanks, and British Spitfires give Allies advantage
Second Battle of El Alamein
Allied attack against Axis lines
Air support and limited Axis attack potential (no supplies)
Turning point of the African Theater

23. Kasserine Pass Rommel was able to retreat across Egypt reach Tunisia
Plans to destroy the Allied supply dumps in eastern Algiers from S. Tunisia
Rommel attacked on February 14 and punched his way through the Kasserine Pass
Tactical, but incomplete victory for Germans
Rommel forced to withdraw

25. American soldiers enter Kasserine Pass
Germans Defeated
Rommel then turned south against the British who were arriving from Egypt
Montgomery dealt Rommel a stunning defeat and Rommel personally left Africa
The Axis position in North Africa steadily deteriorated and in early May the Allies controlled Tunisia
American soldiers enter Kasserine Pass

26. Results of North Africa
The Germans had wasted valuable resources in an indecisive theater
Mussolini was severely weakened domestically
The Americans learned from their poor performance and made the necessary changes
Supported decision to postpone invasion of France until Americans were properly prepared

27. American Participation
Inexperienced and poorly led
Air and artillery lack proper coordination
Retreats disorganized and orders from superiors ignored
Military changes
Fredendall replaced with George Patton as commanders of II Corps
New army created to improve coordination between divisions
Lloyd Fredendall, commander of the American II Corps