Desert+war+WW2

=Desert War= Brandon Ekholm

This was a large part of the second world war that stretched from Vichy France occupied west Africa all the way the the British Suez canal. North Africa does not have a large industrial capacity but it is the lifeline of the British because of the Atlantic being blockaded by the German u-boat, the Suez canal supplied Britain and if the Germans were to take it, it could mean the fall of the United Kingdom. North Africa is also close to Italy and a good strategic point for an invasion to be launched by the Allies.

Rommel and Montgomery battle of El Alamein American landings Axis evacuation ||
 * Italy and Britain

Italy and Britain
When Italy Declared war on the Allies after Germany invaded France in 1940, the Italian and British Armies in North Africa became interlocked in a war. The Italian colony of Libya is adjacent to the British Colony of Egypt. At first the Italian army was ready to attach but the more equipped, more experienced and better led British forces quickly pushed them back and began making gains in Libya. The Italians could do little to stop the British and so they asked for assistance from the German army and they were answered. Rommel and a panzer core was sent to assist the Italian army in North Africa in 1941. Hitler realized that North Africa, although not a top priority, was still a danger if controlled by Britain and if they where to take the Suez canal Britain would be straggled.

Rommel and Montgomery
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel recieved a name for himself leading his troops through france and in the desert he makes a name that will stick, "desert fox." he recieves this for being an incredibly cunning and ingenious commander forcing the british back into egypt and out of Libya. Rommel has less troops, less supply's and less aircraft but he makes due with what he is given and keeps the British on their heels. He was loved by his men and was able to push them through incredibly straining situations. He led the failed attack on El Alamein and was the first commander to face the American army in the Kaserine pass. He saved many German lives by evacuating through Tunisia and was overall a fantastic General but eventually relieved from duty for openly defying Hitler himself.media type="youtube" key="Uc4DbgWMJ4g?version=3" height="273" width="448" align="right"

Montgomery was in charge of the British forces in Africa and he was Rommel's rival. he was a different kind of commander, he like to stay distant from the troops and he had the appearance of a small weasel of a man but he soon became the most powerful general in the British army. after losing countless battles in Egypt to Rommel, Montgomery and his desert rats held the line at El Alamain and after the American landings in Algeria he won the battle of Africa and went on to lead in the Italian invasion and soon became the British supreme commander.

Battle of El Alemain
The British held the German army outside the city of El Alemain which was dangerously close the the Suez canal. Now however Montgomery dug in and was awaiting huge shipments of supply's, troops, tanks and aeroplanes and was massing for a counterattack. Rommel knew of this and as he pleaded Hitler for more supply's and airforce it was un-available because the battle of Stalingrad was in full swing and nothing could be spared to Africa. So while Montgomery was organizing Rommel launched an all out attack in a last effort to run the British into the canal. it was a long battle with the Germans breaking through but they were eventually beaten down by British bombers and air-superiority and forced to retreat. This battle was the turning point in the battle of Africa and Britain was now advancing on Benghazi.

American Landings
Soon after El Alamein American forces landed in Algeria and instead of the Vichy French shooting them they joined the Americans causing a huge problem for Rommel in Africa. He now had to divide his forces and send them to face the British and the American forces on separate front. However when the Germans met the Americans for the first time at the Kaserine pass, they humiliated them with 1/10 the number of troops and tanks. This continued for some time but the Germans could not keep up with the supply's and men coming from America and Britain. the were slowly forced to fall back until on the were squished between the two forces in Tunisia.



Axis Evacuation
Rommel and his Africa Corps had been pushed back into Tunisia from both sides. Rommel planned evacuations for his and the Italian army but received a letter from Hitler saying there can be no retreat and fighting on is the only solution. Fortunately for Rommel he managed to convince Hitler that the evacuation of his army to Italy will help keep the Allies from invading Sicily or Mainland Italy. So The Africa corps began to retreat through a slow fighting process until they got off the mainland. Most of the Italian army was left to fight to give the German army enough time to escape and 100,000 Italian and German troops surrendered. the battle of Africa was won.