Delease facts for kids
Delease (which stood for Delegazione Africa Settentrionale, meaning North Africa Delegation) was an important group during World War II. It was part of the Supreme Command of the Italian Armed Forces and was based in Tobruk, a city in North Africa. Delease helped connect the German forces in North Africa, led by Panzer Army Africa, with the Italian Supreme Command back in Rome. It also managed all the supplies and support (called logistics) needed for the troops.
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Delease's Role in World War II
Delease played a key part in the North African campaign during World War II. Its main job was to make sure that the Italian and German armies fighting in North Africa had everything they needed. This included food, fuel, weapons, and other important supplies. It also helped with communication between the different military leaders.
Who Led Delease?
Some of the important leaders of Delease included Enea Navarini and Curio Barbasetti di Prun. These commanders were highly respected, even by famous German General Erwin Rommel.
How Delease Was Organized
By October 23, 1942, Delease had grown and was working like an army command. It had three main sections, each with its own responsibilities for supplies:
- Delease1 was located in Tripoli. It was in charge of getting supplies to the area called Tripolitania.
- Delease2 was based in Benghazi. Its job was to handle supplies for the Cyrenaica region.
- Delease3 was found in Marsa Matruh. This section managed the supplies for the three army groups fighting on the front lines.
There was also a special group called the North Africa Intendency, led by General Vittorio Palma, which helped with all the supply work.
The End of Delease
Delease stopped operating on November 16, 1942. This happened after the armies had to retreat following a major battle called the second battle of El Alamein. After Delease closed, its duties were taken over by a new command called Superlibia, which was the main command in Libya.
