The North African Campaign

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

2. Causes • 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 German troops marching in Warsaw Poland.

3. Causes of North African Campaign • 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

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

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

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

7. 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

8. Timeline • September 1940- Italians invade Egypt • February 1941- British offensive stops after pushing the Italians back a third of the way into Libya • March 1941- Axis forces now under the command of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel counterattack and reach Egypt by April • November 1941- The British 8th army counterattacks and once again reaches El Agheila by January 1942

9. Timeline • January 1942 - 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 • October – November 4, 1942- British forces crush the Germans and Italians at the Second Battle of El Alamein • November - Operation Torch begins • February 1943 - Rommel inflicts heavy casualties on the Americans at the Battle of Kasserine Pass • May 1943 - Axis forces in Tunisia surrender, ending the campaign

10. 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 • With allied sea and air power only about 600 Axis troops escaped

11. 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 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

13. First Strike • On the 13th of September 1940, the 200,000 soldiers of the Italian 10th 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

14. 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 • The British forced the surrender of the entire 10th army and were able to advance almost a third of the way into Libya

15. The Coming of the Fox • 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… • Rommel took his troops on the offensive • Pushed the British back passed the Italian’s farthest point of advance

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

17. Rommel’s Finest Hour • 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 • 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

18. The Battle of El Alamein • 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 • 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

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

20. Map of Operation Torch

21. The Final Push • 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 • 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