North African campaign

The 1940–1943 military campaign in North Africa in which Allied forces fought Axis forces, ending with the Axis surrender in Tunisia.

Operation Compass: A British-led offensive in 1940–1941 that destroyed much of Italy’s Tenth Army in Egypt and Libya. Its rapid victory began the campaign’s cycle of advances and reversals.
Italian invasion of Egypt: Italy’s September 1940 advance from Libya into Egypt, halted after a short penetration. This offensive triggered Britain’s counterattack and the opening phase of the campaign.
Erwin Rommel: A German field marshal who commanded Axis forces in North Africa from 1941 to 1943. His mobile operations drove the Axis advances across Libya and into Egypt.
Allied invasion of Sicily: The July–August 1943 Allied amphibious invasion that captured Sicily from the Axis. The victory in Tunisia cleared the way for this next major Mediterranean operation.
Operation Crusader: A British offensive in 1941 that relieved the siege of Tobruk and pushed Axis forces westward. Its outcome restored Allied control of Cyrenaica after Axis advances.
Italian invasion of France: Italy’s June 1940 attack on southeastern France, launched shortly before France’s defeat. Italy’s entry into the war brought its North African forces into conflict with Britain.
Bernard Montgomery: A British general who commanded the Eighth Army from August 1942 through the Tunisian campaign. He led the Allied victory at El Alamein and the advance west across North Africa.
Italian campaign: The Allied campaign in Italy from 1943 to 1945, fought after the invasion of Sicily. Allied forces moved into Italy after completing the North African campaign.
Second Battle of El Alamein: A British victory in Egypt in October–November 1942 that forced Axis forces into retreat across Libya. It ended the Axis advance toward Egypt and began their long retreat west.
Suez Canal: An artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. Its strategic value made Egypt a central objective for Axis and Allied planning.

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