2/24/2024 0 Comments Ww2 tank battles north africaThe Australians occupied them, and Tobruk was again a fortress. Tobruk had been fortified by the Italians before the British captured it, and many of the structures were still usable. The 9th Australian Division turned to the port of Tobruk as an alternative to further retreat. In a matter of days, Rommel’s forces managed to recapture most of eastern Libya. Tobruk: Rommel went onto the offensive on March 31, taking the British by surprise. Rommel saw that he could achieve great gains by exceeding his mandate. This force, known as the Afrika Korps, was intended to provide support only, but it boasted several advantages: more powerful tanks, superior mobility due to better integration between armor and infantry, and a more energetic commander. Specifically, Hitler deployed two Panzer divisions under the command of Erwin Rommel to assist the Italians in North Africa. It was at this point that Germany came to the aid of Italy, providing support both in southeastern Europe and in North Africa. The effort miscarried, and the beginning of 1941 witnessed not only British ascendancy, but also near collapse on the part of the Italian Army. Mussolini dreamed of controlling the entire Mediterranean, and so he mounted an invasion of Egypt in 1940. Italy controlled Libya and Ethiopia between them, Great Britain had guaranteed interests in Egypt, especially concerning the Suez Canal. North Africa was originally a contest between Italy and Great Britain over their respective holdings in that region. With seemingly endless vistas of sand, an open environment that favored mobile warfare, a reputation for gentlemanly conflict and one of the most popular enemy generals in modern history, North Africa has won a special place in the history of World War II. The North African campaign is one of the truly iconic phases of the Second World War.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |