Operation Compass 1940
Wavell's whirlwind offensive
Nonfiction, History, Military, Strategy, Modern, 20th Century, World War II
| Author: | Jon Latimer | ISBN: | 9781472805409 |
| Publisher: | Bloomsbury Publishing | Publication: | August 20, 2013 |
| Imprint: | Osprey Publishing | Language: | English |
| Author: | Jon Latimer |
| ISBN: | 9781472805409 |
| Publisher: | Bloomsbury Publishing |
| Publication: | August 20, 2013 |
| Imprint: | Osprey Publishing |
| Language: | English |
The first battle of the desert war, Operation Compass was originally envisaged as a spoiling attack, combined with a reconnaissance in force to disrupt the Italian forces that had advanced into Egypt in September 1940. Lt Gen. Richard O'Connor launched what amounted to a British 'Blitzkrieg'. In less than two months the British forces swept 500 miles along the coast of North Africa. 7th Armoured Division raced across the desert to cut off the retreating Italians, and O'Connor's men destroyed 9 Italian divisions, and took 130,000 prisoners. In March 1941 General Rommel and the Afrikakorps landed at Tripoli.
The first battle of the desert war, Operation Compass was originally envisaged as a spoiling attack, combined with a reconnaissance in force to disrupt the Italian forces that had advanced into Egypt in September 1940. Lt Gen. Richard O'Connor launched what amounted to a British 'Blitzkrieg'. In less than two months the British forces swept 500 miles along the coast of North Africa. 7th Armoured Division raced across the desert to cut off the retreating Italians, and O'Connor's men destroyed 9 Italian divisions, and took 130,000 prisoners. In March 1941 General Rommel and the Afrikakorps landed at Tripoli.
