List of North African campaign battles facts for kids

The North African campaign of World War II, sometimes called the "Desert War", was a big fight during World War II. It happened in two main areas: Egypt and Libya, which was often called the "Western Desert campaign", and then later in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, known as the "Tunisian campaign". This list doesn't include every small fight, but it covers the main battles where large groups of soldiers were involved. It's part of a bigger list of World War II battles.

The Desert War Begins: 1940

The war in North Africa started in 1940. Italy, led by Benito Mussolini, tried to invade Egypt, which was controlled by the British.

• June 1940: Early clashes happened around Fort Capuzzo, a fort near the border.
• September 1940: The Italian invasion of Egypt began. Italian forces pushed into Egypt.
• December 1940 – February 1941: The British and Commonwealth forces launched a huge counter-attack called Operation Compass.
  • This operation included many battles.
  • December 1940: Key battles like Battle of Nibeiwa and the Third Battle of Fort Capuzzo helped the Allies push back the Italians.
  • The Siege of Giarabub also began, where Allied forces surrounded an Italian fort.

Back and Forth Battles: 1941

The fighting continued fiercely in 1941, with both sides gaining and losing ground.

Operation Compass Continues

• January 1941: Allied forces captured important places like Bardia and Tobruk in Libya.
• February 1941: The Allies won a big victory at the Battle of Beda Fomm, capturing many Italian soldiers and equipment. This ended Operation Compass.

Germany Joins the Fight

• After the Italian losses, Germany sent troops, led by General Erwin Rommel, to help. This was called Operation Sunflower.
• March 1941: Rommel's forces quickly pushed the Allies back.
• April 1941: The long and tough Siege of Tobruk began. Allied soldiers were surrounded in the port city of Tobruk for many months.
• Battles like the First Battle of Sollum and the Fourth Battle of Fort Capuzzo also took place as the Germans advanced.

Allied Attempts to Break Through

• May 1941: Operation Brevity was a small Allied attack to try and relieve Tobruk, but it didn't succeed.
• May 1941: Operation Skorpion was a German counter-attack that regained some lost ground.
• June 1941: Operation Battleaxe was another Allied attempt to push back the Axis forces and free Tobruk. It also failed.

Operation Crusader: A Major Push

• November – December 1941: The Allies launched Operation Crusader, a large offensive to finally relieve Tobruk and drive the Axis out of Cyrenaica (eastern Libya).
  • This operation involved many intense tank battles, like the Battle of Sidi Rezegh.
  • November – December 1941: The Second Battle of Tobruk finally lifted the siege.
  • The Allies managed to push the Axis forces back, but the fighting was very difficult.

The Turning Point: 1942

The year 1942 saw some of the most important battles of the North African campaign.

Early 1942 Battles

• January 1942: The Axis forces, led by Rommel, launched another counter-attack, pushing the Allies back again.
• January 1942: The Second Battle of El Agheila and the Second Battle of Benghazi saw the Axis regain territory.

Battle of Gazala

• May – June 1942: The Battle of Gazala was a huge tank battle. Rommel tried to outflank the Allied defenses.
  • Key parts of this battle included the Battle of Bir Hakeim, where Free French forces bravely held out against strong Axis attacks.
  • June 1942: Despite Allied resistance, the Axis won at Gazala, leading to the Fall of Tobruk again. This was a big blow to the Allies.

First Battle of El Alamein

• July 1942: After capturing Tobruk, Rommel pushed deep into Egypt, aiming for the Suez Canal. The Allies set up a strong defensive line at El Alamein, a place just 60 miles from Alexandria.
• The First Battle of El Alamein was a desperate fight. Both sides were exhausted.
  • The battle involved fierce fighting for control of important ridges like Ruweisat Ridge.
• The Allies managed to stop Rommel's advance, preventing him from reaching the Suez Canal. This was a crucial moment.

Battle of Alam el Halfa

• August – September 1942: Rommel tried one more time to break through the Allied lines at the Battle of Alam el Halfa.
• The Allies, now under a new commander, General Bernard Montgomery, successfully defended their positions. This was a defensive victory for the Allies.

Second Battle of El Alamein: The Decisive Victory

• October – November 1942: The Second Battle of El Alamein was the turning point of the North African campaign. Montgomery's Allied forces launched a massive attack.
  • October 1942: Operation Lightfoot was the first phase, where Allied infantry cleared minefields.
  • November 1942: Operation Supercharge was the second phase, where Allied tanks broke through the Axis lines.
• The Allies won a decisive victory, forcing Rommel's forces to retreat all the way across Libya.

Operation Torch: Allies Land in the West

• November 1942: While the battle of El Alamein was happening, American and British forces launched Operation Torch. They landed in Morocco and Algeria, which were controlled by Vichy France (a French government allied with Germany).
  • Key landings happened at Casablanca, Oran, and Algiers.
  • After some fighting, the French forces in North Africa agreed to join the Allies.
• This meant Axis forces in North Africa were now caught between two Allied armies: Montgomery's forces advancing from the east and the Torch forces advancing from the west.

The Race to Tunisia

• November – December 1942: Both Allied and Axis forces rushed to Tunisia, the last Axis stronghold in North Africa.
• The Tunisia campaign began with battles like the First Battle of Medjez and the First Battle of Tebourba. The Axis managed to build strong defenses.

The End of the Desert War: 1943

The final battles of the North African campaign took place in Tunisia.

Axis Counter-Attacks in Tunisia

• January 1943: The British Eighth Army, after their victory at El Alamein, captured Tripoli, the capital of Libya.
• February 1943: The Axis launched counter-attacks in Tunisia, including the Battle of Sidi Bou Zid and the famous Battle of Kasserine Pass.
  • At Kasserine Pass, American forces faced their first major battle against the Germans and suffered some losses, but they learned important lessons.

Allied Push to Victory

• March 1943: The Allies regrouped and launched new offensives.
  • The Battle of Medenine saw Rommel's last major offensive in North Africa fail.
  • The Battle of Mareth was a tough fight against strong Axis defenses.
  • The Battle of El Guettar was another important battle where American forces fought well.
• April 1943: The Battle of Wadi Akarit was another Allied victory, breaking through more Axis lines.
• April – May 1943: Operation Vulcan and Operation Strike were the final Allied pushes.
  • The Second Battle of Longstop Hill was a difficult fight for a key strategic hill.
• May 1943: The Allies finally defeated the Axis forces in North Africa. Over 250,000 Axis soldiers surrendered. This marked the end of the North African campaign.