Could Hitler's Germany and Mussolini's Italy have taken over North Africa (empire, Russian)
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When infact most who fought in North Africa were The Australian Army, The British Indian Army, The New Zealand Army and the South African Army,and the Free French army.
Note the casualties
Free French
16,000 killed, wounded or captured
British Empire 53,000 Killed, Wounded, or Captured
United States
2,715 killed
8,978 wounded
Last edited by Trotter67; 08-15-2009 at 01:44 PM..
Basically the british needed a vistory at this point in the war. maongomery buildup a advanatge to achieve it that the germans where not interested in amtching. Things were going terrible for the british at this time and they need a vistory somewhere;to take teh bad news especially with the Naval loses off the front page.
Basically the british needed a vistory at this point in the war. maongomery buildup a advanatge to achieve it that the germans where not interested in amtching. Things were going terrible for the british at this time and they need a vistory somewhere;to take teh bad news especially with the Naval loses off the front page.
No. It was a secondary front without any real strategic significance.
If the Axis powers had taken Eygypt, then they would have sealed off the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea from Allied warships by virtue of holding the Suez Canal.
If the Axis powers then had taken Gibraltar (and it's a big if), then they would have sealed off the western end of the Mediterranean.
No Allied warships or airbases means no Allied shipping, which means no Allied bases, which means that Italy is secure in an Axis-controlled lake. Germany would not have had to shore up "Italian adventurism" in North Africa, just hold two strongholds.
This equates to more men, materials, and supplies for the Russian front. In 1941, it might mean the difference between taking Moscow and retreating from it. In 1942 it might mean the difference between holding Stalingrad and losing it.
When infact most who fought in North Africa were The Australian Army, The British Indian Army, The New Zealand Army and the South African Army,and the Free French army.
Note the casualties
Free French
16,000 killed, wounded or captured
British Empire 53,000 Killed, Wounded, or Captured
United States
2,715 killed
8,978 wounded
Of course it matters, i wanted to know so i made this thread!
If the Axis powers had taken Eygypt, then they would have sealed off the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea from Allied warships by virtue of holding the Suez Canal.
If the Axis powers then had taken Gibraltar (and it's a big if), then they would have sealed off the western end of the Mediterranean.
No Allied warships or airbases means no Allied shipping, which means no Allied bases, which means that Italy is secure in an Axis-controlled lake. Germany would not have had to shore up "Italian adventurism" in North Africa, just hold two strongholds.
This equates to more men, materials, and supplies for the Russian front. In 1941, it might mean the difference between taking Moscow and retreating from it. In 1942 it might mean the difference between holding Stalingrad and losing it.
Then again...maybe not.
One more thing on this, the Arab countries and Iran were all vaguely pro-Nazi. Yes Hitler was focused on the Caucusus oil fields but I'd bet he would have accepted the Middle Eastern ones.
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Yes, he could have taken it, if the Brits hadn't stopped him...For all his glory, Rommel had his ass handed to him by Monty and the Royal Navy...........
I mention the Royal Navy because Rommel had a real supply problem, the Brits were the masters of the sea...Oh and for what it's worth the Brits had had previously whipped the Germans in the Battle of Britian. Tough Bastards them Brits, glad they are always our allies.....
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