13 set 1940 ano - ITALY ATTACKS EGYPT, NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN BEGINS

Descrição:

In pursuit of a Mediterranean empire, Mussolini ordered Marshal Rodolfo Graziani, in command of over 200,000 Italian troops in Libya, to attack British defended Egypt. The British, although heavily outnumbered, were better led and more mechanized. Graziani halted at Sidi Barrani to build up his logistics, deploying his forces in a string of isolated encampments. British mobile columns struck suddenly, broke through gaps between the encampments, defeated the forward deployed Italians in detail, captured many, and pursued relentlessly. By 16 December the British had driven the Italians from Egypt. By 7 February Italian remnants east of Tripoli were surrounded and surrendered near Beda Fomm, after having lost Bardia and Tobruk. The Italian X Corps still held Tripoli, with reinforcements en route. These proved to be the opening battles of a campaign that extended into May 1943. The stakes were control of Mediterranean shipping lanes, the Suez Canal, and access to Mid-East oil.

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