Illustration
This map illustrates the North Africa Campaign of World War II from 1940 to 1943, a contest for control of the desert corridor between the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Italian, German, British Commonwealth, and eventually American forces fought across Libya, Egypt, and French North Africa, shaping the larger Allied strategy against the Axis powers.
The campaign opened with Italy’s invasion of Egypt in September 1940, followed by Operation Compass (December 1940 to February 1941), which shattered Italian positions. German reinforcements under General Erwin Rommel (1891 - 1944)known as the "Desert Fox," reversed Allied gains until the tide turned at the Second Battle of El Alamein (23 October - 11 November 1942) under General Bernard Montgomery (1887 - 1976). Simultaneously, Operation Torch (November 1942) landed Anglo-American forces in Morocco and Algeria. Pincered, the Axis surrendered in Tunisia in May 1943, clearing North Africa for the Allies and setting the stage for the invasion of Italy.
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Cite This Work
APA Style
Netchev, S. (2024, July 25). Map of WWII North Africa Campaign, 1940-1943. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19274/map-of-wwii-north-africa-campaign-1940-1943/
Chicago Style
Netchev, Simeon. "Map of WWII North Africa Campaign, 1940-1943." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified July 25, 2024. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19274/map-of-wwii-north-africa-campaign-1940-1943/.
MLA Style
Netchev, Simeon. "Map of WWII North Africa Campaign, 1940-1943." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 25 Jul 2024, https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19274/map-of-wwii-north-africa-campaign-1940-1943/. Web. 10 Jul 2025.
