Full Description
A highly illustrated, absorbing account of the first battle of the desert war: the British against the Italians.
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.
Contents
Italy enters the War
Opposing Commanders
Opposing Armies
Opposing Plans
Frontier skirmishes
The Italians invade Egypt
The attack on the camps
Buq Buq
Bardia
Tobruk
Beda Fomm
Aftermath
Chronology
Wargaming Operation Compass
Bibliography
