L10 north africa campaign

Question 1

reasons why axis launched north africa campaign

Answer 1

north africa = important for shipping (suez canal), access to oil in middle east and for britain access to india

Question 2

challenges of desert warfare

Answer 2

natural water supply = non existent —> transportation via vehicles/ rough terrain and constant sand abrasion on engines —> vehicles breaking down/ shortages of fuel —> rapid advances = rapid retreats / larger number of advances meant it was harder to keep forces supplied / heat haze, dust and sandstorms, high temp at day and low temp at night —> disease and poor hygiene

Question 3

evidence rommel was a skilled general

Answer 3

despite being outnumbered, use of anti tank guns = more effective / daring and imaginative tank commander, tactics proved superior against brit/ feb 1942= reinforced with tanks and military, rommel cont attack —> 21 june = captured tobruk incl 33,000 allied troops and vital supplies

Question 4

reasons why allies won

Answer 4

18th nov = germans and rommel launch offensive h/w had run out of fuel supplies —> bri drive back axis—> tobruk relieved on 7 dec and rommel forced to fall back into el aghelia
aug 1942 = rommel, short on fuel and supplies = last effort to break through but repulsed at alam halfa/4th nov = broke through and defeated ger —> Italians retreat —> america open up 2nd front by invading tunsia and algeria—> 23rd nov brit back in el aghelia