“It is essential that the forces fighting under my command in this theatre are properly supplied with adequate stocks ammunition and fuel. These are the life blood of the Panzer forces.”
ERWIN ROMMEL, 1942
A peaceful study of a Panzer II on the shores of the Libyan coast. The crewman is in the process of spreading out an air recognition flag on the rear deck.
The fighting in the desert began with Italy’s entry into the war in 1940. British forces stationed in Egypt and Sudan were confronted by much larger Italian forces on two adjoining fronts, but the British enjoyed certain advantages.
As a result of their superior training, the smaller British forces took the fight to the Italians, and appeared from nowhere with aggressive tactics, which soon won the day.
On 9th December two squadrons of Matildas under the command of General O’Connor successfully used the element of surprise and attacked a strong Italian position at Sidi Barrani without the customary opening artillery barrage. By 10.00am the fort was captured, every Italian tank was knocked out and the British had 2,000 prisoners to contend with.
‘Operation Compass’ followed, an astonishing 500-mile drive westwards during which ten Italian divisions were effectively destroyed, with the capture of hundreds of tanks and guns.
Casualties amongst O’Connor’s men came to less than 2,000 whereas the Italians sustained losses of 100,000 dead or wounded and a further 130,000 taken prisoner. Had the Italians not escorted themselves to prison camps the logistics of dealing with so many captives would have presented major difficulties.