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North Africa

North Africa. Italians, Germans, Brits, and Yanks. Target is the Suez Canal. While the Battle of Britain rages the Italians attack from Libya and are 60 miles within Egypt. They then pause By Feb. 1941 the British had pushed the Italians back 500 miles through Libya

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North Africa

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  1. North Africa Italians, Germans, Brits, and Yanks

  2. Target is the Suez Canal • While the Battle of Britain rages the Italians attack from Libya and are 60 miles within Egypt. • They then pause • By Feb. 1941 the British had pushed the Italians back 500 miles through Libya • The Italians lost 300,000 men, mostly to surrender and nearly all of their equipment • Enter Rommel

  3. Rommel enters • Rommel arrives with 2 divisions in Jan. 1941 • Churchill sends troops from North Africa to Greece • Rommel outmaneuvers the British and traps units (Australian) in Tobruk • He pushes main British forces back to Egypt • British commander Wavell is replaced by Auchinleck July 1941 • Launches Operation Crusader

  4. Rommel leads from the front • Crusader is successful and Torbruk holds out for 8 months when Australians are relieved by South Africans – they surrender in 1 week • Rommel launches counter-offensive and pushes British back to Alemain – Jan to July 1942 • Churchill heads to Middle East and puts Montgomery in command of British forces • Rommel is short of supplies and must stop his offensive

  5. Battle of El Alamein • Battle lasted for ten days – Oct. 1942 • Montgomery had very detailed preparation and did not move until everything was perfect • Rommel inflicted heavy losses but was forced to retreat

  6. Operation Torch – arrival of the Americans

  7. Operation Torch – Nov, 1942 • Western Task Force- 35,000 men led by Patton • Central Task Force – 39,000 men led by Fredendall • Eastern task Force – 33,000 men led by Ryder • Troops met resistance for two days until Darlan Deal • Hitler takes over Vichy and sends 100,000 reinforcements to N. Africa • Rommel attacks Americans

  8. Landing in Algiers

  9. Battle of Kasserine Pass

  10. North African Campaign • Rommel attacks at Kasserine pass • US troops were inexperienced and Rommel pummels them • Hope to get into rear and disrupt US supplies and communications • Eisenhower puts Patton in charge -whips troops into shape -makes slashig attacks to the coast • Montgomery also attacks and pins Germans to the coast • May 1943 – 250,000 troops surrender along with irreplaceable amounts of supplies

  11. Operation Husky • Invasion of Sicily - July 10, 1943 • Allies – 160,000 men • Axis – 350,000 men (75,000 superb German infantry)

  12. Mistakes • Paratroopers were dropped far off their targets • Allied navy forces shot down gliders and aircraft on accident • High-quality German troops were allowed to escape to Italy on August 17 • July 1943 Mussolini is ousted from power • Sept. 1943 Italy sign peace agreement • Oct. 1943 Italy declares war on Germany

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