Download North African Theater

North African
Theater
By
Philip Greyling,
Lucas McCormick,
and Jasmine Morgan
Beginnings
►Fascism is on the rise
, emphasizing
loyalty to state and leader
,spreading throughout Europe
►Benito Mussolini gains power of
Italy in 1922
►Adolph Hitler gains power of
Germany in 1934
►Much like Hitler, Mussolini
becomes dictator of Italy
Mussolini and Hitler
Mussolini Dreams of Empire
►Mussolini
DREAMED OF A
COLONIAL EMPIRE IN Africa
like that of Britain and
France (much like the
Roman Empire)
►This African Empire only
included Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Edge of War
► Italy invades Ethiopia in 1935, Mussolini is
successful
► Hitler defies the Versailles Treaty, as
Germany slowly gains lands
► Britain urges appeasement in 1936, Hitler
agrees (Hitler lies)
► Mussolini becomes allies with Hitler in
1936,, become the Axis Powers
Haile Selassie and Mussolini
with Hitler
World War II Begins
►Hitler soon defies
appeasement pact
►Hitler sweeps through
Europe until he reaches
Britain
►after one year of fighting
Hitler calls off the attacks
Axis Empire in Europe
Hitler turns to Mussolini
►Germany turns to the
Eastern Front and the
Mediterranean
► Germany’s first objective in
the Mediterranean region
was North Africa-due to
Hitler’s partner Mussolini
The Balkans, North Africa, and
Russia
Mussolini Takes Action
► Italy remained neutral in beginning of
war, though Mussolini knew he must
take action
► In 1940 Mussolini ordered Italy’s North
African army to move east from Libya
► Mussolini's goal was to seize British
controlled Eypt, the key to reaching the
oil fields of the Middle East
North Eastern Africa
Mussolini and Hitler in Africa
► Though due to British attacks,
Italy’s army was pushed back
further and further
► In 1941 Hitler stepped in to save his
Axis partner by sending General
Rommel, controlling newly formed
tank corps Rommel’s mission was to
capture Egypt and the Suez Canal
General Rommel and Tank
Corps
Difficulties in African
Warfare
►Long desert stretches with
terrible climate.
►Lack of cover due to long
desert stretches.
►Hard to transport resources.
►Supplies carrying tanks could
be shot by enemy troops.
►Both sides used mines making it
hard to maneuver.
African Terrain
German Tactics in the
Desert
► In the beginning of the battles in
Africa tanks were not even used.
► While fighting in Africa, Germany
used entirely different tactics
than those used in Europe.
► Afrika Korps was a name for the
corperate headquarters in Africa
and all attached units.
Technology Used
►The Style of fighting in Africa
used many tanks and other
vehicles due to the long
stretches of desert.
►The tanks used in African
Warfare were called Panzers
►These were large armored
tanks originally used in Africa
Panzers In Africa
Allied Tactics
►Mostly Defensive
►Repetitive retreats
►Caught Germans off guard with
an attack
►Pushed back
►Attacked German army’s flanks
which were the weak point
Use of Radio
►The British victory in Africa
was Largely due to the use of a
very advanced radio used to
pick up German plans and
locations
►The radio helped the Allies
devastate the Axis supply
convoys and gain a distinct edge
over ‘The Desert Fox’
Radio
The First Battle of El Alamein
► After many retreats from the
British Army in Africa, Britain had
no choice but to attack:
 Started July 1 and ended July 27, 1942
 Over 240,000 troops, 1600 tanks, and 2000
planes were involved on both sides.
 Fight led by Claude Auchinleck (Allies)
and Erwin Rommel (Axis)
Map of First Battle of El
Alamein
Outcome of First Battle of El
Alamein
Due to the Allied resistance,
Rommel decided to regroup and
defend the line reached
After many attacks from both sides
the battle reached a stalemate
leaving both sides unsuccesful,
Though the Axis advances in Africa
was halted for the first time
African Trenches and Link to
Video
El Alamein footage
The Second Battle of El
Alamein
► The Second Battle of El Alamein
marked a significant point in the
Western Campaign of World War II
 Lasted from October 23-November 3 1942
 Over 340,000 troops, and 1700 tanks
included
 Between Erwin Rommel (Axis) and
Gereral Bernard Montgomery (Allies)
 Over 34,000 troops killed and wounded,
and over 500 tanks destroyed
Phases of the Second Battle of
El Alamein
Phase 1
Phase 4: Operation
Supercharge
Phase 2
Montgomery
Regroups Forces
Failure to Break Through
Phase 5
Outcome of Second Battle of
El Alamein
► In the end the Allies' victory was all but
total
► El Alamein was the first great offensive
against the Germans in which the Allies
were victorious
► Winston Churchill summed up the battle
on 10 November 1942 with the words, "Now
this is not the end, it is not even the
beginning of the end “
Britain Forces Advancing
Bibliography
► http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_African_C
ampaign_%28World_War_II%29
► http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Africa_Ca
mpaign_%28World_War_II%29
► http://www.topedge.com/panels/ww2/na/in
telligence.html
► http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mussolini
► http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Alamein