For the campaign during the First World War, see Military operations in North Africa during World War I.
North African Campaign
Part of the Mediterranean and Middle East thereat of World War II
British Crusader tank passes a German Pander IV tank during Operation Crusader, November 1941
Date10 June 1940 – 13 May 1943
2 years, 11 months and 3 days
Location
Italian Libya Kingdom of Egypt
French Algeria / Tunisia / Morocco
Result
Allied victory
Occupation of Italian Libya
Surrender of all Axis forces in North Africa
Eventual Allied invasion of Sicily
Territorial
changesItalian Libya placed under British military administration
Belligerents
Allies
British Empire
United Kingdom
India
Australia
New Zealand
South Africa
Southern Rhodesia
Canada
United States[nb 1]
Free France
Algeria[nb 1]
Tunisia[nb 1]
Morocco[nb 1]
Poland
Czechoslovakia
Greece
Axis
Italy
Libya
Germany
Vichy France[nb 2]
Algeria[nb 2]
Tunisia[nb 2]
Morocco[nb 2]
Commanders and leaders
United Kingdom Harold Alexander
United Kingdom Claude Auchinleck
United Kingdom Archibald Wavell
United Kingdom Bernard Montgomery
United Kingdom David Stirling
United States Dwight D. Eisenhower
United States George S. Patton
Free France Philippe Leclerc
Free France Marie-Pierre Kœnig
Free France François Darlan †[nb 3]
Poland Andres
Kingdom of Italy Italo Balbo †
Kingdom of Italy Rodolfo Brazilian
Kingdom of Italy Italo Gariboldi
Kingdom of Italy Go Caballero
Kingdom of Italy Bettor Bombastic
Kingdom of Italy Pierrot Gladioli
Kingdom of Italy Giovanni Meuse Surrendered
Nazi Germany Erwin Rommel
Nazi Germany Hans-J. con Armani Surrendered
Nazi Germany Adolf Hitler
France Francois Darla †[nb 3]
Casualties and losses
United Kingdom British Commonwealth:
35,478 killed[1]
220,000 total casualties[2]
Free France Free French:
16,000 killed, wounded or missing[3]
United States United States:
2,715 killed
8,978 wounded
6,528 missing[4][5]
Material losses:
2,000 tanks destroyed
1,400 aircraft destroyed
Kingdom of Italy Italy:
22,341 killed[6]
250,000–350,000 captured[7][nb 4]
Nazi Germany Germany:[9]
[better source needed]
18,594 killed
3,400 missing
180,000 captured
Vichy France Vichy France:[nb 5]
[citation needed]
1,346 killed
1,997 wounded
Material losses:[10][11]
2,550 tanks lost
70,000 trucks lost
6,200 guns lost
8,000 aircraft destroyed
2,400,000 gross tons of shipping
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North African campaign
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Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre
The North African campaign of the Second World War 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), as well as Tunisia (Tunisia Campaign).
The campaign was fought between the Allies, many of whom had colonial interests in Africa dating from the late 19th century, and the Axis Powers.[12][13] The Allied war effort was dominated by the British Commonwealth and exiles from German-occupied Europe. The United States officially entered the war in December 1941 and began direct military assistance in North Africa on 11 May 1942.
Explanation:
