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

The North The North African CampaignAfrican Campaign

June 10,1940 – May 16, June 10,1940 – May 16, 19431943

CausesCauses Germany and Russia invaded Germany and Russia invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 Poland on September 1, 1939 thus beginning World War IIthus beginning World War II

After defeating Poland, Germany After defeating Poland, Germany turned to the west and turned to the west and conquered France with some conquered France with some assistance from Italyassistance from Italy

German troops marching in Warsaw Poland.

Causes of North African Causes of North African CampaignCampaign

Mussolini envisioned the Mussolini envisioned the Mediterranean as an Italian lakeMediterranean as an Italian lake

He therefore sent an army to the He therefore sent an army to the Italian colony of Libya to commence Italian colony of Libya to commence the attack on the Alliesthe attack on the Allies

Strategic ImportanceStrategic Importance

AxisAxis powers wanted control of Africa powers wanted control of Africa Strike at the oil fields in Middle EastStrike at the oil fields in Middle East Open a second front against the Soviet Open a second front against the Soviet UnionUnion

AlliesAllies wanted to stop the Axis wanted to stop the Axis advanceadvance Pull pressure off of the Soviet UnionPull pressure off of the Soviet Union Allow for the opening of a second Euro. Allow for the opening of a second Euro. frontfront

ArmiesArmies

Primary Allied Primary Allied ForcesForces British 8British 8thth army army 6 American divisions6 American divisions

Primary Axis ForcesPrimary Axis Forces German Afrika KorpsGerman Afrika Korps Miscellaneous Miscellaneous Italian forcesItalian forces

Allied CommandersAllied Commanders

American General Dwight E. American General Dwight E. EisenhowerEisenhower

American General George PattonAmerican General George Patton British Field Marshal Bernard British Field Marshal Bernard MontgomeryMontgomery

General Eisenhower

General Patton

Field Marshal Montgomery

Axis CommanderAxis Commander

The primary commander of Axis The primary commander of Axis forces in North Africa was forces in North Africa was Erwin Erwin RommelRommel

Rommel was ordered to assist the Rommel was ordered to assist the Italians by Hitler (WWI)Italians by Hitler (WWI)

Due to his stunning military Due to his stunning military victories he was given the victories he was given the nickname the nickname the ““Desert FoxDesert Fox””

Killed himself after being Killed himself after being implicated in a plot to kill implicated in a plot to kill HitlerHitler

Even to this day, he is still Even to this day, he is still remembered as one of the remembered as one of the greatest generals of all timegreatest generals of all time

Field Marshal Erwin Rommel

TimelineTimeline September 1940September 1940- Italians invade Egypt- Italians invade Egypt

February 1941February 1941- British offensive stops - British offensive stops after pushing the Italians back a third of after pushing the Italians back a third of the way into Libyathe way into Libya

March 1941March 1941- Axis forces now under the - Axis forces now under the command of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel command of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel counterattack and reach Egypt by Aprilcounterattack and reach Egypt by April

November 1941November 1941- The British 8- The British 8thth army army counterattacks and once again reaches El counterattacks and once again reaches El Agheila by January 1942Agheila by January 1942

TimelineTimeline January 1942 January 1942 - The Axis retaliation forces the - The Axis retaliation forces the British back and the city of Tobruk, a British British back and the city of Tobruk, a British stronghold is captured on June 21stronghold is captured on June 21

July July - The Axis advance on Cairo is stopped at the - The Axis advance on Cairo is stopped at the First Battle of El AlameinFirst Battle of El Alamein

OctoberOctober – November 4, 1942- British forces crush the – November 4, 1942- British forces crush the Germans and Italians at the Second Battle of El Germans and Italians at the Second Battle of El AlameinAlamein

NovemberNovember - Operation Torch begins - Operation Torch begins

February 1943 February 1943 - Rommel inflicts heavy casualties on - Rommel inflicts heavy casualties on the Americans at the Battle of Kasserine Passthe Americans at the Battle of Kasserine Pass

May 1943 May 1943 - Axis forces in Tunisia surrender, ending - Axis forces in Tunisia surrender, ending the campaignthe campaign

Victory!!Victory!!

The Germans and Italians in The Germans and Italians in North Africa surrendered on May North Africa surrendered on May 13, 1943 resulting in over a 13, 1943 resulting in over a quarter of a million Prisoners quarter of a million Prisoners of War being takenof War being taken

With allied sea and air power With allied sea and air power only about 600 Axis troops only about 600 Axis troops escapedescaped

ConsequencesConsequences

The victory in North Africa resulted in The victory in North Africa resulted in the the Suez canal Suez canal remaining in Allied remaining in Allied hands and the hands and the oil fields oil fields of the Middle of the Middle East not falling into Axis handsEast not falling into Axis hands

The victory in North Africa allowed for The victory in North Africa allowed for the the invasion of Italy invasion of Italy which forced the which forced the Italian surrender and pulled German Italian surrender and pulled German troops away from the Eastern front, troops away from the Eastern front, helping the Soviet’s defense against helping the Soviet’s defense against the Germansthe Germans

First StrikeFirst Strike

On the 13On the 13thth of September 1940, the of September 1940, the 200,000 soldiers of the Italian 200,000 soldiers of the Italian 1010thth army invaded British-Egypt army invaded British-Egypt from Libyafrom Libya

The Italian army advanced into The Italian army advanced into Egypt and reached the town of Sidi Egypt and reached the town of Sidi Barrani, but halted due to lack of Barrani, but halted due to lack of intelligence about the British armyintelligence about the British army

Allied RetaliationAllied Retaliation After this, the British After this, the British forces in the area, although forces in the area, although they were 1/6 of the Italians they were 1/6 of the Italians size retaliated against the size retaliated against the Italians in Italians in Operation CompassOperation Compass

The British forced the The British forced the surrender of the entire 10surrender of the entire 10thth army and were able to advance army and were able to advance almost a third of the way almost a third of the way into Libyainto Libya

The Coming of the FoxThe Coming of the Fox Hitler sent the Afrika Korps under Hitler sent the Afrika Korps under Field Marshal Field Marshal Erwin Rommel Erwin Rommel to to assist the Italians against the assist the Italians against the BritishBritish

Although ordered to prevent the Although ordered to prevent the British from advancing any farther…British from advancing any farther… Rommel took his troops on the Rommel took his troops on the offensiveoffensive

Pushed the British back passed the Pushed the British back passed the Italian’s farthest point of advanceItalian’s farthest point of advance

We’re Back to Where We We’re Back to Where We Started!Started!

After reaching the city of After reaching the city of Salum, both sides stopped and Salum, both sides stopped and waitedwaited British to reorganize their forces British to reorganize their forces into the 8into the 8thth Army Army

Rommel received few reinforcementsRommel received few reinforcements

British counterattack and forced British counterattack and forced the Axis back to the city of El the Axis back to the city of El Agheila once againAgheila once again

Rommel’s Finest HourRommel’s Finest Hour

An Axis convoy’s arrival allowed Rommel An Axis convoy’s arrival allowed Rommel to counterattack on January 21, 1942to counterattack on January 21, 1942

En route to Egypt, the Afrika Korps En route to Egypt, the Afrika Korps finally recaptured the city of Tobruk finally recaptured the city of Tobruk on June 21, 1942on June 21, 1942

Pushed the British back to the city of Pushed the British back to the city of El Alamein and coming close to El Alamein and coming close to capturing Cairo itselfcapturing Cairo itself Before the desperate British were able to Before the desperate British were able to halt them during the month of July in the halt them during the month of July in the First battle of El AlameinFirst battle of El Alamein

The Battle of El The Battle of El AlameinAlamein

The battle opened with 20 minutes of artillery The battle opened with 20 minutes of artillery bombardment by about 900 gunsbombardment by about 900 guns

This was followed by infantry advance across the This was followed by infantry advance across the minefield to clear lanes for the tanksminefield to clear lanes for the tanks

After the attack stalled out, a strike to the After the attack stalled out, a strike to the north front of that resulted in huge casualties north front of that resulted in huge casualties on both sideson both sides

As a result, the British launched Operation As a result, the British launched Operation Supercharge that decimated Rommel’s tank groups Supercharge that decimated Rommel’s tank groups and forced them into retreatand forced them into retreat

Operation TorchOperation Torch

British advancing rapidly against British advancing rapidly against Rommel after the Battle of El AlameinRommel after the Battle of El Alamein Allies conducted landings on the W. Coast Allies conducted landings on the W. Coast of Africa to surround the Axisof Africa to surround the Axis

General Eisenhower was chosen to General Eisenhower was chosen to command the invasion forcecommand the invasion force

Casualties were relatively light due Casualties were relatively light due to eventual Vichy French defection to to eventual Vichy French defection to the Alliesthe Allies

Map of Operation TorchMap of Operation Torch

The Final PushThe Final Push By November 1942, the Germans and Italians By November 1942, the Germans and Italians had been pushed back to Tunisia had been pushed back to Tunisia

After Rommel defeated the American Second After Rommel defeated the American Second Corps twice, George S. Patton was given Corps twice, George S. Patton was given command of the Corpscommand of the Corps

Him and Montgomery: the Axis now had their Him and Montgomery: the Axis now had their backs to the sea with no room to maneuver backs to the sea with no room to maneuver and few suppliesand few supplies

Rommel was able to still inflict heavy Rommel was able to still inflict heavy casualties on the Americans at the Battle casualties on the Americans at the Battle of Kasserine Pass while receiving few in of Kasserine Pass while receiving few in returnreturn