3 Main Phases
1. Western Desert Campaign
2. Operation Torch
3. Tunisia Campaign
1. Western Desert Campaign
2. Operation Torch
3. Tunisia Campaign
Western Desert Campaign
Operation Compass What: The First Allied attack in the North African Campaign. Allied forces attacked Italian forces, pushing them back to Libya. Where: Western Egypt and Eastern Libya When: December 1940 - January 1941 Result: Allied Victory Rommel's First Offensive What: Deployment of the 'Afrikan Korps' in North Africa, German aid to Italian forces. German forces leader Rommel launched an offensive to push the British back to Sollum, capturing most of Libya. Where: Western, Central, and Eastern Libya When: March - Late April 1941 Result: Axis Victory Operation Crusader What: Successful Allied advance into Eastern and Central Libya, forcing back the Axis defence line. Where: Western Egypt and Eastern Libya When: November - Late December 1941 Result: Allied Victory Battle of Gazala What: Axis forces pushed back Allied forces from the Gazala line, followed by the Axis capture of Tobruk. Rommel and his forces advanced and pushed the British forces back to Egypt. The advance was halted at El Alamein. Where: Eastern Libya, Western Egypt and Central Egypt - Gazala, Tobruk and El Alamein When: May - June 1942 Result: Axis Victory First Battle of El Alamein What: Allied forces halted another Axis advance further into Egypt. The battle ended in a stalemate, with the Axis and Allies both remaining at El Alamein, causing a second battle. Where: El Alamein - Central Egypt When: July 1942 Result: Stalemate Second Battle of El Alamein What: Arguably the most important battle in the North African Campaign. It marked a turning point in the Western Desert Campaign. Bernard Montgomery's first battle as the British forces leader. Stopped any chance for the Axis to invade Egypt, by causing a forced withdrawal of Axis forces at El Alamein. Where: El Alamein - Central Egypt When: October - November 1942 Result: Allied Victory |
Operation Torch
What: Successful British and American invasion of French North Africa (Morocco and Algeria) Eventually forced Axis powers out of North
Africa. Where: Northern French Morocco, Northern Algeria When: November - December 1942 Result: Allied Victory Tunisia Campaign What: The final battle of the North African Campaign. Battle in Tunisia between Axis and Allied forces (which included Polish, Greek, American, French and British troops). It led to the surrender of the Axis forces in North Africa, and 230,000 Axis troops were taken as prisoners of war. Where: Tunisia When: November 1942 - May 1943 Result: Decisive Allied Victory |