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World War II
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Kingdom of Italy declares war against France and the United Kingdom
The Kingdom of Italy (an ally of Germany) declared war against France and The United Kingdom. -
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The North African Campaign
The North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts (Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War) and in Morocco and Algeria (Operation Torch) and Tunisia (Tunisia Campaign).The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had interests in Africa dating from the period of colonialism. -
British Forces cross from Egypt into Libya and capture Fort Capuzzo
British Forces cross Egypt into Libya and capture Fort Capuzzo. Fort Capuzzo was a Fort in the Italian colony of Italian Libya, located near the Libyan-Egyptian border and next to the Italian Frontier Wire. The Frontier Wire was a 271 kilometre obstacle in Italian Libya. -
First Tank Battle in the Campaign
The first tank battle of the North African Campaign takes place, the "Battle of Girba" -
Italian Forces Invade Egypt
Italian Forces Invade Egypt through Libya. -
Italian Forces establish East Front
Italian forces establish front east of Sidi Barrani, Sidi Barrani is a town in Egypt about 95 kilometres east of the border with Libya. -
British and Indian forces launch Operation Compass
British (Comprised of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the Union of South Africa) and Indian forces launch Operation Compass with the Battle of Marmarica (Battle of the camps). -
Indian forces capture Nibeiwa
Indian forces capture Nibeiwa with cover from British artillery. -
British tanks and Indian troops overrun Tummar West and East
British tanks and Indian troops overrun Tummar West followed by Tummar East. -
Indian forces capture Sidi Barrani
Indian forces capture Sidi Barrani with support from British artillery -
British Forces arrived in Sofafi but Libyan and Italian divisions had escaped.
British armoured forces arrived in Sofafi, but Libyan and Italian divisions had escaped. -
Bardia captured by British and Australian forces
Bardia captured by British and Australian force. Baradia is a Mediterranean seaport in the Butnan District of eastern Libya. -
Tobruk captured by British and Australian force
Tobruk captured by British and Australian force.Tobruk is a port city on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. Tobruk had become an Italian military post, but during World War II, Allied forces, mainly the Australian 6th Division, took Tobruk on the 22nd of January 1941. -
Australians capture Derna, Libya
Australians capture Derna, Libya. Derna is a port city in eastern Libya. -
Beda Fomm captured by British forces.
Beda Fomm captured by British forces. Beda Fomm is a small coastal town in southwestern Cyrenaica, Libya located between the much larger port city Benghazi to its north and the larger town of El Agheila further to the southwest. Beda Fomm is known mainly for being the site of the final engagement of Operation Compass in World War II. -
Fall of Benghazi to the Western Desert Force
Fall of Benghazi to the Western Desert Force. Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya. The Western Desert Force was part of the British Commonwealth army formation stationed in Egypt. -
Churchill orders halt to British and Australian advance at El Agheila to allow withdrawal of troops to defend Greece
Churchill orders halt to British and Australian advance at El Agheila to allow withdrawal of troops to defend Greece. Greece was invaded and conquered by Germany in April 1941. -
Australian and British forces are defeated at El Agheila
Allied forces at El Agheila defeated; Erwin Rommel starts his advance. Erwin Rommel was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought. -
Australian and British forces withdraw from Benghazi.
Australian and British forces withdraw from Benghazi; Benghazi captured by Axis (Army forces allied with Germany). -
British, Indian and Australian forces captured at Mechili.
British, Indian and Australian forces captured at Mechili. Mechili is a small village in Cyrenaica, Libya. -
Australia, British and Indian Forces have to defend Tobruk.
Siege of Tobruk begins with Australian, British and Indian forces defending the territory they have gained. -
British troops launch Operation Brevity
British troops launch Operation Brevity to gain more territory from which to launch Operation Battleaxe later in the year. -
Italian forces attack Australian forces in Tobruk
Italian forces attack Australian forces in Tobruk forcing them to withdraw. -
Operation Brevity called off
Operation Brevity called off. Allied forces (Which include Australia, New Zealand and Canada) fall back onto the Halfaya Pass, captured the previous day. -
British troops are forced to withdraw from Halfaya Pass.
German forces recapture Halfaya Pass; British troops are forced to withdraw. -
Australian forces launch unsuccessful counter attack in Tobruk
Australian forces counter attack in Tobruk unsuccessfully. -
British and Indian troops launch unsuccessful Operation Battleaxe
British and Indian troops launch unsuccessful Operation Battleaxe. Operation Battleaxe was a British Army operation with the goal of clearing eastern Cyrenaica of German and Italian forces; one of the main benefits of this would have been the lifting of the Siege of Tobruk. -
British forces capture Benghazi
British forces (Which include Australian forces) capture Benghazi. -
Rommel inflicts heavy damage on British armour
Rommel inflicts heavy damage on British armour (Which include Australian Forces) who have to withdraw allowing Rommel to fall back to El Agheila -
Agedabia captured by Axis forces
Agedabia captured by Axis forces (Which are allies with Germany). -
Benghazi captured by Axis forces
Benghazi captured by Axis forces (Which are allies with Germany). -
Black Sunday
Black Sunday". Axis inflicts heavy defeat on British armoured divisions which include Australian troops. -
Tobruk captured by Axis forces
Tobruk is captured by Axis forces (who are allies with Germany). -
Axis forces reach El Alamein
Axis forces reach El Alamein and attack the Allied defences (Which includea Australian, New Zealand and Canadian troops), the First Battle of El Alamein begins. -
First Battle of El Alamein continues as Axis digs in and Eighth Army launch series of attacks
First Battle of El Alamein continues as Axis digs in and Eighth Army launch series of attacks. The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations of the British Army during World War II, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns. -
Auchinleck calls off offensive activities
Auchinleck calls off offensive activities to allow Eighth Army to regroup and resupply. Auchinleck was a British army commander during World War II. -
Alexander and Montgomery take command
Alexander and Montgomery take command respectively of Middle East Command and Eighth Army. Montgomery commanded the 8th Army from August 1942 in the Western Desert until the final Allied victory in Tunisia. Alexander was a British military commander and field marshal. -
Montgomery launches Operation Lightfoot
Montgomery launches Operation Lightfoot starting the Second Battle of El Alamein involving Australian troops. -
Axis lines at El Alamein broken
Axis lines at El Alamein broken -
Sidi Barani captured by Eighth Army
Sidi Barani captured by Eighth Army (which includes Australian Troops) -
Tobruk captured by Eighth Army
Tobruk captured by Eighth Army which includes Australian Troops. -
First Army (Operation Torch's Eastern Task Force) and Axis meet at Djebel Abiod in Tunisia.
First Army (Operation Torch's Eastern Task Force) and Axis meet at Djebel Abiod in Tunisia. The First Army was a field army of the British Army that existed during the First and Second World Wars. -
Benghazi captured by Eighth Army
Benghazi captured by Eighth Army which includes Australian troops. -
First Army starts three day offensive towards Tebourba which fails
First Army starts three day offensive towards Tebourba which fails -
Sirte captured by Eighth Army
Sirte captured by Eighth Army. Sirte is a city in Libya. It is on the south coast of the Gulf of Sidra -
Tripoli captured by British Eighth Army
Tripoli captured by British Eighth Army. Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. -
Allied forces launch Operation Vulcan
Allied forces (Which included Australia, New Zealand and Canada) launch Operation Vulcan. Operation Vulcan was the final ground attack against German forces in Tunis. -
Australian forces lose a small part of their positions in Tobruk
Australian forces lose a small part of their positions in Tobruk during the Battle of Salient, roughly a 6th of Tobruk is now held by Germans. -
Allied forces launch Operation Strike
Allied forces ( Which included Australia, New Zealand and Canada) launch Operation Strike. -
British enter Tunis
British enter Tunis. Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. -
Axis Powers surrender in Tunisia
Axis Powers (Those who allied with Germany) surrender in Tunisia.
