North Africa & Italy

North Africa & Italy By: Dustin Alvarez Rory Erickson Alexandrea Gaetz Sefanit Habtom Emily Lunde Kristi Wilson

Interesting Facts • Operation Husky (Invasion of Sicily 1943) was the largest amphibious operation in WW2 • Operation Mincemeat was a deception plan carried out by Allied troops. An unknown corpse was dressed in an Allied uniform and sent to sea in Scotland. Attached to the corpse were many highly confidential army plans about an invasion in Sardinia instead of Sicily. The Germans found the corpse and believed the documents, sending many of their troops to Greece.

Intriguing Facts continued… • When the US Army landed in North Africa, among the equipment brought ashore were 3 complete Coca Cola bottling plants. • Gran Sasso, the highest point in Italy was where Mussolini was hiding when he surrendered to the Allies on Sept.9th, 1943. • No deportation of Jews occurred in Italy until Mussolini declared armistice.

More riveting, engrossing, facts….. • The last commander of the Afrika Corps, General Hans Cramer, was made a POW in Wales after the May 13th surrender of North Africa. He was very ill and was sent by train to London, he was allowed to see all the tanks and planes being sent off for D-day but he did not know where he was in England. When he went back to Germany, he told the troops they were in S.E. England and attacking Calais, adding to Allied propaganda.

Paper what?? • Just before the Battle of El-Alamein, the British army hired men to build an entire battalion of paper tanks and attached them to regular cars. These “tanks” were driven very far north and the Germans followed. This aided in the Allies defeat of German forces.

Important Battles Battle of Gazala • Was fought between May 26- June 21, 1942 • Fought around the port of Tobruk • Axis combatants consisted of German and Italian Units

Led by “Desert Fox” Colonel-General Erwin Rommel • Allied combatants consisted of the Eighth Army • Led of Major General Neil Ritchie and General-Sir Claude Auchinleck • Resulted in Tobruk being recaptured by Axis powers.

-Battle- • Rommel makes a flanking attack • Panzer Army Afrika retains the initiative in “the cauldron” • The British Armour is heavily defeated • Eighth Army withdraws from the Ganzala line • Tobruk falls, and is recaptured by the Axis forces.

Battle Of Alam El Halfa • Took place between August 30- September 5, 1942. • Last major Axis offensive of the Western Desert Campaign. • Rommel planned to defeat the British Eighth Army before Allied reinforcements • Would make Axis victory impossible.

-The Battle That Wasn’t- • British Eighth Army leader Montgomery was forewarned of Rommel’s intentions. • Deliberately left a gap in the southern sector at the front • Deployed bulk of his artillery and armor around Alam el Halfa, behind the front. • Rommel’s supply was precious, and his attacks were failing, causing him to withdraw. • Montgomery did not exploit this “defensive victory”. • Decided to save his troops for the upcoming Battle of El Alamein.

Battle of El Alamein • Was fought between October 23- November 4, 1942. • Product of “Operation Lightfoot” • Allie’s success in this battle turned the tides in the North Africa Campaign.

-Battle- • The Break-in • The Crumbling • The Counter • Operation Supercharge • The Break-Out

-Significance:- • Proved the power of the British artillery. • Proved effectiveness of British tanks in large numbers. • Allied victory ended Axis’s hope of occupying Egypt. • Marked the end of Axis expansion in Africa.

Turning Point Second Battle of El Alamein

The Second Battle of El Alamein was a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of World War II. This battle lasted from October 23rd to November 5th 1942. The success of this battle ended Axis hopes of occupying Egypt, gaining access to Middle Eastern oil fields and controlling access to the Suez Canal. The defeat of the Axis powers by Allied powers at El Alamein ended the Axis expansion in Africa.

Key Belligerents German Afrika Korps Axis Powers Italy Commanders

Specifically: Erwin Rommel (The Desert Fox) • In charge of Afrika Korps in North Africa. • Lead Afrika Korps to help shore up Italian forces. • On 24 March 1941 Rommel launched a limited offensive with only the 5th Light Division supported by two Italian divisions. • Wanted to expand into Africa and successfully pushed the bounds of Nazi control across the North African region.

Major Operations • Operation Compass (December 8, 1940 – February 9, 1941) • Allies move east and push through Libya, gaining a great portion of it • Operation Crusader (November 18 – December 31, 1941) • Allies first victory over Axis, relieved Tobruk, Libya • Operation Torch (November 8 – November 10, 1942) • Allies invasion of Algeria and Morocco

Major Personalities

Erwin Rommel ‘Desert Fox’ - Perhaps the most famous Field Marshal of the German Army- Commander of the Afrika Korps who were known for their skilful desert military campaigns- Later was in command of the Axis German forces opposing the Allies at their invasion in Normandy

Desert Fox - His success as a Marshal earned him success and praise not only from Hitler but from the Allies as well - He was known for treated Allied POW humanely and orders to kill Jewish POW and civilians were largely ignored- The Afrika Korps was not accused of any war crimes

Wüstenfuchs - Was accused of an attempted assassination of Hitler - on 14 October 1944. Burgdorf offered him a choice of either facing the People’s Court and committing suicide quietly. He chose the latter.- Hitler to cover this up set up a day of mourning and told the public that he had died from a heart attack

Claude Auchinleck - Led the British in the decisive turning point Second Battle of El Alamein. - After the win he was made commander of the forces in Italy and Northwest Europe- Led 21st Army Group in the invasion of Normandy

Monty • Although difficult he garnered admiration for his hard work and refusal to conform- Also was known for being humane and at the same time being able to inspire great loyalty from his soldiers

North Africa & Italy