Claude Auchinleck

Claude Auchinleck (1884–1981) was a British Army officer and field marshal who commanded Allied forces in the Middle East during the Second World War.

Bernard Montgomery: Bernard Montgomery was a British general who commanded the Eighth Army and later led Allied forces in northwestern Europe. He replaced Auchinleck as Eighth Army commander before the Second Battle of El Alamein.
Operation Battleaxe: Operation Battleaxe was a British offensive against Axis forces in Libya in June 1941. Its failure exposed the difficulty of breaking the siege of Tobruk under Auchinleck’s command.
Middle East Command: Middle East Command was the British military headquarters responsible for operations across the Middle East during the Second World War. Auchinleck led this command, which coordinated forces beyond the North African front.
Middle East land forces: Middle East land forces was the wartime command responsible for British and Allied ground operations in the region. After losing the Middle East command, Auchinleck led this successor headquarters in India.
Erwin Rommel: Erwin Rommel was a German field marshal who commanded Axis forces in North Africa during the Second World War. His advance into Egypt tested Auchinleck’s command in 1942.
Operation Crusader: Operation Crusader was a British-led offensive in Libya that relieved Tobruk in November 1941. The victory came during Auchinleck’s tenure as Middle East commander.
Eighth Army (United Kingdom): The Eighth Army was a British-led field army that fought Axis forces in North Africa and Italy. It was the principal British formation opposing Rommel in Egypt and Libya.
India Command: India Command was the British military headquarters responsible for forces in India during the Second World War. Auchinleck later commanded British forces in India before returning as its commander in chief.
Archibald Wavell: Archibald Wavell was a British field marshal who commanded Middle East forces early in the Second World War. Wavell preceded Auchinleck as commander in chief in the Middle East.
Battle of Gazala: The Battle of Gazala was an Axis victory in Libya in May and June 1942 that led to the fall of Tobruk. Its outcome prompted Auchinleck to take direct control of the Eighth Army.

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