Figure 1.--Here we see three Australian soldiers during World War II in North Africa, probably Egypt. Note the Egyptian boy wearing a Fez in the background.

The Australian Army was not engaged in combat until Mussolini declared war on Britain and France and invaded an already defeated France (June 1940). Next the Italians invaded Egypt from Libya in an effort to seize the Suez Canal (September 1940). The British with a small force aided by the Indian Army managed to defeat the much larger invading Italian Army (December 1940). The Australian 6th, 7th, and 9th Divisions joined British forces n the Mediterranean and North Africa. Australia's divisions played a major role in the defense of the Suez Canal and the defeat of the Italians forces ivasing Egypt. The British had the opportunity to finish off the Italians, but Churchill honored a commitment to the Greeks and transferred troops to Greece (April 1941), including Australians. There the Germans quickly defeated the Greeks and British and they had to be evacuated, first from Greece and then from Crete. This provided the respite needed for the Germans to reinforce the Italians. Mussolini had rejected German offers earlier, but faced with defeat he finally accepted German assistance. The Germans began landing mechanized units which would become the Afrika Korps (March 1941). The commander was Hitler favorite, Gen. Erwin Rommel, who had destinguished himself in France. Australians participated in the Allied invasion of Syria which was controlled by Vichy France (June-July 1941). By this time Rommel's Afrika Kprps haf scored some important victories and was preparing a second invasion of Egypt. About 14,000 Australians and other Commonwealth troops held Tobruk against reprated German attacks (April-August 1941). They were surrounded, but supported by the Royal Navy. British control of Tobruk greatly complicated German operations into Egypt. The British mounted another offensive and relieved Tobruk. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor opened the Pacific war. This was a dangerous time for Australia because it faced a Japanese offensive at a time when most of the combat units were in North Africa. The Australian 6th and 7th Divisions were shipped back from North Africa to Australia to seve as the backbone of Australian operations against Japan. The Australian 9th Division remained in North Africa and played an important role in the Allied victory at El Alamein (October 1942). The 8th Army pursued the Afrika Korps west. The Australian 9th Division after El Alemein was alao reassined back to Australia. Thus the only Australians left in North Africa were three squadrons of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) or a few Australians in British RAF.

Italian Offensive (September 1940)

The Australian Army was not engaged in combat until Mussolini declared war on Britain and France and invaded an already defeated France (June 1940). The British has only a small force in Egypt. Even so Italian commander Rodolfo Graziani, although a dedicated Fascist, was not anxious to attack despite being pressed by Mussolini. Finally the Italians invaded Egypt from Libya in an effort to seize the Suez Canal (September 1940). Graziani only moved a few miles into Egypt and then set up defenive positions. The British with a small force aided by the Indian Army managed to defeat the much larger invading Italian Army (December 1940).

Australian Reinforcements

The Australian 6th, 7th, and 9th Divisions joined British forces in the Mediterranean and North Africa. At the time, Japan had noy yet begun its mkorebagssive moves amd the British were desperate. All three Australia's divisions saw extensive action. Thrimary role was defense of the Suez Canal and the defeat of the Italians forces invading Egypt. The British drove into Cirenaica defeating the Italians. The three Australian divisions were a major part of the British force. The Briyitis by early-1941, were posed to defeat the Italins and occupy all of Libya. This wouls have given them control of North Africa except for the French (Vichy) colonies.

Greece and Crete (April-May 1941)

The British had the opportunity to finish off the Italians, but the Germans invaded Greece and Yugoslavia (April 1941). Churchill honored a commitment to the Greeks and transferred troops from the Western Desert in a futile effort to save Greece (April 1941), including the Audtralian 6th Divisio0n. here the Germans quickly defeated the Greeks and British and they had to be evacuated, first from Greece and then from Crete. There was no chance of holding Greece, but Crete should have been held. Gen Fryyberg who had Ultra warning of a paratroop assault continued to be primarily concerned sith a sea assult. There was evidence of an ultra warming, but the Germans for whatever reason did not take it seriously. Freyburg and most of the 6th Autralian Division made it back to Egypt, but was badly shot up.

Afrika Korps (March 1941)

This Greek expedition provided the respite needed for the Germans to reinforce the Italians. Hitler in an effort to prevent the collapse of the Italians in Libya ordered a small armored forece to Libya to be commanded by Panzer commander Gen. Erwin Rommel. Hitler at this time was focused on the upcoming invasion of the Soviet Union. He had rejected the suggestions of Admiral Raeder and others who advocated an offensive in the Meditrranean to settle the war with Britain first before invading the Soviet Union. He was prepared, however, only to spare a very small force to stabalize the situation in Libya. OKW formed the Afrika Korps (February 19, 1941). It was a decesion that set in motion the 27-month German campaign in North Africa. Mussolini had rejected German offers earlier, but faced with defeat he finally accepted German assistance. The Germans began landing mechanized units which would become the Afrika Korps (March 1941). Rommel was a Hitler favorite, who had destinguished himself in France.

The Desert Rats (April-November 1941)

The British captured the Libyan Tobruk and its important deepwater port from the Italians (January 22, 1941). As part of the Afrika Korps offensive, made possible by the shift of troops to Greece, the Germans encircled Tobruk, cutting off 26.000 Allied troops (April 13, 1941). They thought that the encircled troops would have to surrender like other encirled troops caught in German pinzers. The defenders included 14,000 Australians from the 9th and 7th Divisions, roughly 4,000 Polish troops of the Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade, and some 8,000 British and Indian troops. There were stocks in Tobruk and the RN and RAN was able to keep them supplied. The Tobruk defenders not only did not surrender, but held out for nearly 8 months. And with Tobruk in his rear Rommel was unable to continue his offensive on into Egypt. Not only was the Tobruk garriaon a threat, but without the excellent deepwater port at Tobruk, the Germans were unable to unload transports anthere mear the frinr line. The supplie had to be off loaded at Trpoli and trucked long distances to the frint. As a result, much of the precious fuel alnded was cond\sumed by trucks to transpor it to the front. The defenders became known as the the 'Rats of Tobruk'. The term was first used by Btitish traitor band NAZI propagandist broadcaster William Joyce (better known as Lord Haw-Haw. He meant it to denigrate the defenders--they took it as an honor. The British 7th Armored Division adopted it as their nick-name, but over half of the Tobrul defenders were Australians. Rommel threw everything he had at them. The defendes had to dig in. They were subjected to constant shelling and aerial bombardment. The defenders launched harrasing attacks from their redoubt. The German advantage was Rommel's mastery of mobile war. Tobrurk helped to tie down the Germans and take advantage of their greatest assett. The Tobruk garrison was relieved as part of Operation Crusader (November 27). The British changed the name of 7th Armored Division to the Desert Rats, but the Autralians entitled to that moneker as well.

Syria (June-July 1941)

After the fall of France. French authorities in Syria, recognized the authority of Vichy Government. This included a military force totling about 40,000 Legioneers and Muslim soldiers backed by 90 tanks and prepared fortifications. Admiral Darlan provided logistical support to the Germans and Italians in efforts to support the Rashid Ali revolt in Iraq. This was a clear violation of Vichy's neutrality. Syria located in the Eastern Mediterranean was of some strategic importance. The British feared that Vichy would allow the Luftwaffe to establish air bases in the country. This would have threatened the British position in Egypt as well as provided a jumping off point to seize the oil fields in Iraq. Churchill thus ordered Wavell after putting down the Iraqi Revolt to seize Syria. The Australians participated in the Allied invasion of Syria. By this time Rommel's Afrika Korps has scored some important victories and was preparing a second invasion of Egypt. The British action in Syria and Iraq enabled them to concentrate their entire force in the Western Desert.

Bringing the Australian Divisions Home (1942)

The three Australian divisions has been vital in the British operations in North Africa (1941). Because of the stand at Torbuk, they became know as the Desert Rats. The Japanese War Lords, not wanting to miss out on the spoils of war, struck the American naval base at Pearl Harbor launching the Pacific War (December 7, 1941). In a well-coordinated whirlwind offesive, the Japanese among other counties and colonies seized the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) brining the Japanese to the borders of Australia. This was a dangerous time for Australia because it faced a Japanese offensive at a time when most of the experienced combat units were in North Africa. After desroying the American carriers at Midway, the next Japanese effort was to be seizing those islands--Operation FS. As a result of the stunning Japanese offensive the Imperial forces were soon on the borders of Australia. The Japanese began bombing nothern Australian cities and were planning to cut the sea lanes with the United Staes. Australia of course knowing of the brutality of the Imperial Japanese Army understandably wanted to bring back their divisions in the Western Desert. This resuted in a row with Prime-Minister Churchill. Curtin and Churchill were not on the best of terms to begin with because of the Wiekd War I Galippoli disaster. Churchill made a special plea to President Roosevelt to help save Australia, in partv so the Australian divisions could stay in Africa. And transports coming from America brought American troops and material to Australia as well as the islands northeast of Australia even before Guadalcanal. The agreement reached betwween Curtin and Churchill was to return the Australian 6th and 7th Divisioin to Australia. They would form the backbone of operationms against Japan (early-1942). At the time the U.S. Army did not have any experienced battle-ready divisios. The 9th Division was retained in the Western Desert and played an important role in the climatic Eighth Army victory of El Alamein (October 1942). The rest of the Eighth Army pursued the reteating Afrika Korps west. The Australian 9th Division did not join the pursuit, but remained in Egypt after the battle. It was finally returned to Australia (January 1943). The only Australians left in North Africa were three squadrons of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and a few Australians in British RAF units..

Created: 2:55 AM 3/10/2010
Last updated: 11:18 PM 3/25/2023