The North African Campaign 1940 - 43

1. The North AfricanCampaign 1940 - 43

2. The North African Campaign Why? • Italy attempted to increase its empire in North Africa • Britain wanted to maintain control of Middle East possessions, including Suez Canal, oilfields. • Germany saw it as a sideshow until too late. • Was Britain’s only chance to halt the Axis.

3. The North African Campaign The Overall Picture • Essentially a coastal war, fought with limited resources & troops. • Mobility & supply lines crucial. • Main supplies needed: petrol, weapons & ammunition, food & water. • Air power vital. • Both sides fought ‘within the rules’. • Cult of the ‘personality’ generals.

4. The North African Campaign Strategies & Tactics Ability to maneuver & outflank the enemy was paramount. This would allow him to be cut off from his supply lines. Supply reached N Africa mainly by sea. From ports, it reached the front via truck convoy or on a small scale by air. Both sides, but esp. the Allies used commando/special forces to make hit & run attacks on enemy supplies. Air power was crucial for scouting & attacking supply dumps. Defensive lines were rare (since they could be outflanked - except at El Alamein), but often protected by huge minefields & carefully placed anti-tank guns (AA guns were often used in this role). Main weapon was the tank, with armoured cars & halftracks in support – the terrain was too soft/sandy for trucks. Infantry rode to a jump-off point before taking part in an attack.

5. The North African Campaign • Britain -v- Italy • Began with Italy’s entry into the war on June 11, 1940. • Light skirmishes only until September invasion of British-held Egypt. • Oct-Nov: failed Italian invasion of Greece. • Dec 1940 to Feb 1941: Operation Compass, British counter-attack forces Italians from Africa & halfway back to Tripoli, the capital of Libya (Italians lose 120,000 men) • Jan to Nov 1941: Italian East Africa conquered.

6. The North African Campaign • Enter Rommel • Jan 1941: Hitler announces that German forces (about 2 divs/20000 men) will support the Italians in N Africa. • Feb: General Erwin Rommel arrives with advance troops of the Deutsches Afrika Korps. • Mar: British withdraw troops to reinforce Greece. • Mar to Apr: Rommel drives the British back into Egypt, siege of Tobruk begins. • Apr to May: Axis conquer Greece & Crete. • May to June: Allied forces occupy Syria & Iraqi oilfields. • June: British attack, Operation Battleaxe, fails badly, Gen Wavell replaced by Gen Auchinleck. • June: Operation Barbarossa launched & the Eastern Front receives first priority.

7. The North African Campaign • Operation Crusader – the British counter-attack • August 1941: Allies invade Iran. • Sept: British buildup now complete. British have 8th Army (118,000 troops, 700+ tanks, 650 aircraft) against Panzerarmee Afrika (119,000 troops, 400 tanks - 1/3 of these obsolete Italian designs, 550 aircraft). • Nov 1941 to Jan 1942: British relieve Tobruk & advance to a position similar to that of Mar 1941.

8. The North African Campaign • Rommel Strikes Back • Jan 1942: Rommel’s attack forces the British back to the Gazala Line, west of Tobruk. • Both sides halted & tried to build up their troop & supply levels. British now have 839 tanks & 190 planes to 643 tanks & 497 planes. • June: Rommel outflanked the British in a series of battles, who were forced to retreat all the way back to El Alamein, less than 100km from the port of Alexandria on the Nile Delta. • July to Sept: Rommel made a series of desperate attacks but failed to break through. • Aug: Gen Montgomery appointed to command the 8th Army. He refuses Churchill’s demands to attack because he believes the troops are not yet ready.

9. The North African Campaign • Oct 1942: The Battle of El-Alamein • the battle begins with artillery bombardment & an overwhelming Allied superiority (2:1 ratio in tanks, artillery & manpower). • infantry assault to clear a path through the Axis minefields. • described as a ‘WWI battle fought with modern weapons’ • lasted 12 days • ended with heavy Axis losses & with Rommel in full retreat.

10. The North African Campaign • After Alamein • Nov 1942 to Jan 1943: Rommel forced to retreat through Libya into Tunisia. • Operation Torch • Nov 1942: Allied landings in Vichy French N African colonies of Morocco & Algeria. They attempt to cut off Rommel.

11. The North African Campaign • The End • Feb 1943: Rommel defeats the Allies at Kasserine but is forced to retreat. • Mar: Rommel leaves Africa. • May 7 1943: Axis troops in Africa surrender (60,000 dead & 240,000 POWs). A disaster comparable to Stalingrad.

12. The North African Campaign • Why did the Allies win? • Hitler never considered Africa as more than a sideshow. Rommel never got the supplies or troops he needed (although the Allies kept withdrawing troops at vital times). • Spain stayed neutral: thus British were able to control the western Mediterranean. • Malta survived: ‘the most bombed place on Earth’. Provided an air & naval base to disrupt Axis air & sea supply lines. • Italian equipment not up to standard although they fought bravely. • Allied air & naval power. • USA’s entry into the war. • Allied numerical superiority. • German codes broken. • the little things (food, water, medicine, etc).

13. The North African Campaign Significance of the outcome of the Battle of El-Alamein (1) • End of the Axis presence in North Africa: • Nov ’42: Allied landings in Vichy N. Africa • Apr ’43: Tunisia falls • 240 000 Axis POWs • Strategic importance: • Suez Canal is safe • oilfields of the Middle East safe • threatens Italy, Balkans • Morale booster

14. The North African Campaign Significance of the outcome of the Battle of El-Alamein (2) • Historians’ differences: • John Bierman/Colin Smith call it a major ‘turning point’ • Russian historians claim it was small compared to the Eastern Front • Churchill’s view: • ‘This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is perhaps, the end of the beginning.’ • ‘Before Alamein, we never had a victory. After Alamein, we never had a defeat.’