When Italy declared war on 10 June 1940, the Italian Army in Libya threatened the vital Suez Canal in British-occupied Egypt. The new battlefield was characterised by huge distances, difficult terrain and an inhospitable climate.

Italian forces attacked Egypt on 13 September. General O’Connor’s Western Desert Force was outnumbered, but his commander-in-chief, General Wavell, ordered a surprise attack at Sidi Barrani three days later. By 9 February 1941, O’Connor had advanced hundreds of miles and taken 130,000 prisoners.

Photographs

The British Army in North Africa, 1942

Crusader tanks and other vehicles out on patrol in the Western Desert, 26 August 1942.
© IWM (E 16132)

Crusader tanks and other vehicles out on patrol in the Western Desert, 26 August 1942. 

With his Italian ally reeling, Hitler sent General Rommel and the Afrika Korps to North Africa, just as Churchill had ordered most of Wavell’s troops to Greece. Rommel attacked in March, driving the British back to Egypt. Wavell was replaced by General Auchinleck as commander-in-chief, Middle East, on 1 July 1941, and the Western Desert Force was reformed as the Eighth Army.

The British launched Operation ‘Crusader’ on 18 November to relieve the besieged port of Tobruk. Both sides suffered heavily and Rommel withdrew to re-equip. On 21 January 1942, he counter-attacked, defeating the British at Gazala and Bir Hacheim, and taking Tobruk and over 30,000 prisoners. Defeated again at Mersa Matruh, the Eighth Army withdrew to El Alamein, causing panic in Cairo and the Mediterranean Fleet to evacuate Alexandria.

A German attack on 1 July was held, and General Bernard Montgomery arrived to command the Eighth Army, with General Harold Alexander taking over as commander-in-chief, Middle East. Montgomery held Rommel at Alam Halfa in August and attacked on 23 October. In the Battle of El Alamein, Rommel was decisively beaten and retreated into Tunisia.

Related Content

The Supreme Command of the Allied Expeditionary Force, 1944
© IWM (TR 1629)
Second World War

Why D-Day Was So Important to Allied Victory

The invasion of northern France in 1944 was the most significant victory of the Western Allies in the Second World War. The German Army suffered a catastrophe greater than that of Stalingrad, the defeat in North Africa or even the massive Soviet summer offensive of 1944.

Churchill waving to crowds in Whitehall, London, as they celebrate VE Day, 8 May 1945.
© IWM (H 41849)
Second World War

How Churchill Led Britain To Victory In The Second World War

Winston Churchill became Britain's prime minister on 10 May 1940. As he was later to write: 'I felt...that all my past life had been but a preparation for this hour and for this trial'.

On the very day that Churchill fulfilled his life's ambition, Germany had, that morning, invaded France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Indian Independence is celebrated in Malaya shortly before the start of the Malayan Emergency. The Indian flag is raised at Klang, Selangor.
© IWM (TR 3292)
Britain And The Commonwealth Since 1945

The End Of The British Empire After The Second World War

After the Second World War, the disintegration of Britain's empire transformed global politics. Before the war, Britain maintained colonies all over the world, which provided valuable raw materials, manpower and strategic bases. By 1945, however, colonies were an expensive liability for Clement Attlee's newly elected Labour government.