December 1940 Operation Compass
Operation Compass was the first major campaign of World War II in the African Desert. British troops pushed the Italians out of Egypt and drove them back across into Libya. Relying on superior mobility, the British troops in Operation Compass (also known as the Battle of Sidi Barrani) were able to encircle and destroy the Italian Tenth Army.
Following Italy’s June 10, 1940 declaration of war on Great Britain and France, Italian forces in Libya began raiding across the border into British-held Egypt. These raids were an attempt by Benito Mussolini to encourage the Libyan forces (nearly 150,000 men) to launch a full scale offensive into Egypt with the goal being to capture the Suez Canal one of the two main entry points into the Mediterranean Sea. The ultimate goal of Operation Compass was to push the Italian forces back away from the border of British held Egypt and capture the important port city of Sidi Barrani.
This is a diagram that demonstrates the different troop movements of Operation Compass.
Following Italy’s June 10, 1940 declaration of war on Great Britain and France, Italian forces in Libya began raiding across the border into British-held Egypt. These raids were an attempt by Benito Mussolini to encourage the Libyan forces (nearly 150,000 men) to launch a full scale offensive into Egypt with the goal being to capture the Suez Canal one of the two main entry points into the Mediterranean Sea. The ultimate goal of Operation Compass was to push the Italian forces back away from the border of British held Egypt and capture the important port city of Sidi Barrani.
This is a diagram that demonstrates the different troop movements of Operation Compass.
Opposing the Italian forces was British General Richard O’Connor and the 31,000 men that comprised the West Desert Force. This force contained elements of the British, Indian and New Zealand armies. The British force was smaller and greatly outnumbered but also highly mechanized and mobile.
The British posed advanced tanks (including heavy infantry tanks) which had armor that no Italian tank or anti-tank gun could breach.
The British easily recaptured territory lost to the Italians, inflicting heavy damages all along the way. During the ten weeks of Operation Compass the Allies succeeded in pushing the Italian Tenth Army out of Egypt and eliminating it as a fighting force. During the campaign the losses endured by the Italians was much higher. Over 3,000 soldiers killed and 130,000 captured the British gained control of 400 tanks and 1,292 artillery pieces. The British were also successful in taking the strategic port city of Sidi Barrani. The British forces only reported 500 lost in battle and 1,225 wounded.
This presentation helps explain how Operation Compass unfolded. The presentation also gives a little background information of previous actions in World War II. In order to bypass information already presented press on the button at the bottom of the screen labeled Operation Compass.
Below is a short film that discusses the highlights of Operation Compass.
http://www.wwiianimated.com/CompassAnimation.html
The British posed advanced tanks (including heavy infantry tanks) which had armor that no Italian tank or anti-tank gun could breach.
The British easily recaptured territory lost to the Italians, inflicting heavy damages all along the way. During the ten weeks of Operation Compass the Allies succeeded in pushing the Italian Tenth Army out of Egypt and eliminating it as a fighting force. During the campaign the losses endured by the Italians was much higher. Over 3,000 soldiers killed and 130,000 captured the British gained control of 400 tanks and 1,292 artillery pieces. The British were also successful in taking the strategic port city of Sidi Barrani. The British forces only reported 500 lost in battle and 1,225 wounded.
This presentation helps explain how Operation Compass unfolded. The presentation also gives a little background information of previous actions in World War II. In order to bypass information already presented press on the button at the bottom of the screen labeled Operation Compass.
Below is a short film that discusses the highlights of Operation Compass.
http://www.wwiianimated.com/CompassAnimation.html