North African Theater By Philip Greyling, Philip Greyling, Lucas McCormick, and Jasmine Morgan.

North African North African TheaterTheater

ByBy Philip Greyling, Philip Greyling,

Lucas McCormick, Lucas McCormick, and Jasmine Morganand Jasmine Morgan

BeginningsBeginnings

►Fascism is on the rise , emphasizing Fascism is on the rise , emphasizing loyalty to state and leader ,spreading loyalty to state and leader ,spreading throughout Europethroughout Europe

►Benito Mussolini gains power of Italy Benito Mussolini gains power of Italy in 1922in 1922

►Adolph Hitler gains power of Adolph Hitler gains power of Germany in 1934Germany in 1934

►Much like Hitler, Mussolini becomes Much like Hitler, Mussolini becomes dictator of Italydictator of Italy

Mussolini and HitlerMussolini and Hitler

Mussolini Dreams of EmpireMussolini Dreams of Empire

►Mussolini DREAMED OF A Mussolini DREAMED OF A COLONIAL EMPIRE IN Africa COLONIAL EMPIRE IN Africa like that of Britain and like that of Britain and France (much like the France (much like the Roman Empire)Roman Empire)

►This African Empire only This African Empire only included Ethiopia included Ethiopia

EthiopiaEthiopia

Edge of WarEdge of War

► Italy invades Ethiopia in 1935, Mussolini is Italy invades Ethiopia in 1935, Mussolini is successful successful

►Hitler defies the Versailles Treaty, as Hitler defies the Versailles Treaty, as Germany slowly gains lands Germany slowly gains lands

► Britain urges appeasement in 1936, Hitler Britain urges appeasement in 1936, Hitler agrees (Hitler lies)agrees (Hitler lies)

►Mussolini becomes allies with Hitler in 1936,, Mussolini becomes allies with Hitler in 1936,, become the Axis Powers become the Axis Powers

Haile Selassie and Mussolini Haile Selassie and Mussolini with Hitlerwith Hitler

World War II BeginsWorld War II Begins

►Hitler soon defies appeasement Hitler soon defies appeasement pact pact

►Hitler sweeps through Europe Hitler sweeps through Europe until he reaches Britainuntil he reaches Britain

►after one year of fighting Hitler after one year of fighting Hitler calls off the attackscalls off the attacks

Axis Empire in EuropeAxis Empire in Europe

Hitler turns to MussoliniHitler turns to Mussolini

►Germany turns to the Eastern Germany turns to the Eastern Front and the MediterraneanFront and the Mediterranean

► Germany’s first objective in Germany’s first objective in the Mediterranean region was the Mediterranean region was North Africa-due to Hitler’s North Africa-due to Hitler’s partner Mussolini partner Mussolini

The Balkans, North Africa, and The Balkans, North Africa, and RussiaRussia

Mussolini Takes ActionMussolini Takes Action

► Italy remained neutral in beginning of war, Italy remained neutral in beginning of war, though Mussolini knew he must take action though Mussolini knew he must take action

► In 1940 Mussolini ordered Italy’s North In 1940 Mussolini ordered Italy’s North African army to move east from LibyaAfrican army to move east from Libya

►Mussolini's goal was to seize British Mussolini's goal was to seize British controlled Eypt, the key to reaching the oil controlled Eypt, the key to reaching the oil fields of the Middle Eastfields of the Middle East

North Eastern AfricaNorth Eastern Africa

Mussolini and Hitler in AfricaMussolini and Hitler in Africa

►Though due to British attacks, Italy’s Though due to British attacks, Italy’s army was pushed back further and army was pushed back further and further further

► In 1941 Hitler stepped in to save his In 1941 Hitler stepped in to save his Axis partner by sending General Axis partner by sending General Rommel, controlling newly formed Rommel, controlling newly formed tank corps Rommel’s mission was to tank corps Rommel’s mission was to capture Egypt and the Suez Canal capture Egypt and the Suez Canal

General Rommel and Tank General Rommel and Tank CorpsCorps

Difficulties in African WarfareDifficulties in African Warfare

►Long desert stretches with terrible Long desert stretches with terrible climate.climate.

►Lack of cover due to long desert Lack of cover due to long desert stretches.stretches.

►Hard to transport resources.Hard to transport resources.►Supplies carrying tanks could be shot Supplies carrying tanks could be shot

by enemy troops.by enemy troops.►Both sides used mines making it hard Both sides used mines making it hard

to maneuver.to maneuver.

African TerrainAfrican Terrain

German Tactics in the DesertGerman Tactics in the Desert

► In the beginning of the battles in Africa In the beginning of the battles in Africa tanks were not even used.tanks were not even used.

►While fighting in Africa, Germany used While fighting in Africa, Germany used entirely different tactics than those entirely different tactics than those used in Europe.used in Europe.

►Afrika Korps was a name for the Afrika Korps was a name for the corperate headquarters in Africa and corperate headquarters in Africa and all attached units.all attached units.

Technology UsedTechnology Used

►The Style of fighting in Africa used The Style of fighting in Africa used many tanks and other vehicles due many tanks and other vehicles due to the long stretches of desert.to the long stretches of desert.

►The tanks used in African Warfare The tanks used in African Warfare were called Panzerswere called Panzers

►These were large armored tanks These were large armored tanks originally used in Africaoriginally used in Africa

Panzers In AfricaPanzers In Africa

Allied TacticsAllied Tactics

►Mostly DefensiveMostly Defensive►Repetitive retreatsRepetitive retreats►Caught Germans off guard with an Caught Germans off guard with an

attackattack►Pushed backPushed back►Attacked German army’s flanks Attacked German army’s flanks

which were the weak pointwhich were the weak point

Use of RadioUse of Radio

►The British victory in Africa was The British victory in Africa was Largely due to the use of a very Largely due to the use of a very advanced radio used to pick up advanced radio used to pick up German plans and locationsGerman plans and locations

►The radio helped the Allies The radio helped the Allies devastate the Axis supply convoys devastate the Axis supply convoys and gain a distinct edge over ‘The and gain a distinct edge over ‘The Desert Fox’ Desert Fox’

RadioRadio

The First Battle of El AlameinThe First Battle of El Alamein

►After many retreats from the British After many retreats from the British Army in Africa, Britain had no choice Army in Africa, Britain had no choice but to attack:but to attack: Started July 1 and ended July 27, 1942Started July 1 and ended July 27, 1942 Over 240,000 troops, 1600 tanks, and Over 240,000 troops, 1600 tanks, and

2000 planes were involved on both sides. 2000 planes were involved on both sides. Fight led by Claude Auchinleck (Allies) and Fight led by Claude Auchinleck (Allies) and

Erwin Rommel (Axis)Erwin Rommel (Axis)

Map of First Battle of El AlameinMap of First Battle of El Alamein

Outcome of First Battle of El Outcome of First Battle of El AlameinAlamein

Due to the Allied resistance, Rommel Due to the Allied resistance, Rommel decided to regroup and defend the decided to regroup and defend the line reachedline reached

After many attacks from both sides After many attacks from both sides the battle reached a stalemate the battle reached a stalemate leaving both sides unsuccesful, leaving both sides unsuccesful,

Though the Axis advances in Africa Though the Axis advances in Africa was halted for the first timewas halted for the first time

El Alamein footage

African Trenches and Link to African Trenches and Link to VideoVideo

The Second Battle of El AlameinThe Second Battle of El Alamein

►The Second Battle of El Alamein The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a significant point in the marked a significant point in the Western Campaign of World War IIWestern Campaign of World War II Lasted from October 23-November 3 1942Lasted from October 23-November 3 1942 Over 340,000 troops, and 1700 tanks Over 340,000 troops, and 1700 tanks

includedincluded Between Erwin Rommel (Axis) and Gereral Between Erwin Rommel (Axis) and Gereral

Bernard Montgomery (Allies)Bernard Montgomery (Allies) Over 34,000 troops killed and wounded, Over 34,000 troops killed and wounded,

and over 500 tanks destroyedand over 500 tanks destroyed

Phase 1 Phase 2 Failure to Break Through

Phase 4: Operation Supercharge Montgomery

Regroups Forces

Phase 5

Phases of the Second Battle of Phases of the Second Battle of El AlameinEl Alamein

Outcome of Second Battle of El Outcome of Second Battle of El AlameinAlamein

► In the end the Allies' victory was all but totalIn the end the Allies' victory was all but total► El Alamein was the first great offensive El Alamein was the first great offensive

against the Germans in which the Allies against the Germans in which the Allies were victoriouswere victorious

►Winston Churchill summed up the battle on Winston Churchill summed up the battle on 10 November 1942 with the words, "Now 10 November 1942 with the words, "Now this is not the end, it is not even the this is not the end, it is not even the beginning of the end “beginning of the end “

Britain Forces AdvancingBritain Forces Advancing

BibliographyBibliography

►http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_African_Campaign_%28World_War_IIEast_African_Campaign_%28World_War_II%29%29

►http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Africa_Campaign_%28World_War_II%29West_Africa_Campaign_%28World_War_II%29

►http://www.topedge.com/panels/ww2/na/http://www.topedge.com/panels/ww2/na/intelligence.htmlintelligence.html

►http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mussolinihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mussolini►http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Alameinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Alamein