African campaigns of World War II

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It has been suggested that West Africa Campaign (World War II) be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

There were several separate African campaigns during World War II. Allied forces fought Axis forces, between 1940 and 1943, on the African mainland and in nearby waters and islands.

[edit] Mediterranean Basin

The bulk of the combat operations took place in the Mediterranean Basin. Here the primary combatants were Italy and Germany for the Axis; and the United Kingdom, with its Commonwealth (primarily from India and Australia), and, later, American forces.

The primary theatre was in North Africa, where the aptly-named North African campaign raged from 10 June 1940 to 16 May 1943. It was in itself composed of three near sequential campaigns, the Western Desert Campaign in Egypt and Libya; the landing of Anglo-American forces in Vichy French controlled Morocco and Algeria; and the campaign in Tunisia.

The Mediterranean Sea itself was also a stage of constant combat activity.

[edit] Other areas in Africa

Outside of the Mediterranean, there was additional conflict against Vichy French controlled territories in French West Africa (Battle of Dakar), French Equatorial Africa (Battle of Gabon) and Madagascar (Battle of Madagascar).

Early in the war, there was also combat in East Africa. Initially, the Italians threatened offensive action on the land, in the air, and on the sea. The Italian ground forces in East Africa managed to invade British Somaliland and border regions in the Sudan and Kenya. The Italian air force dominated the skies. The Red Sea Flotilla slowed traffic through the Suez Canal. But, isolated as they were, the Italians were soon running low on supplies and put on the defensive. Gondar, the last major Italian stronghold surrendered late in 1941.

[edit] East African Campaign (World War II)

East African Campaign Part of African Campaigns, World War II Personnel from the King's African Rifles (KAR) collect weapons (mostly "Carcano 1891" rifles) captured from Italian forces at Wolchefit Pass, Ethiopia, near the end of the campaign (Photographer: Lt H. J. Clements). Date 10 June 1940-27 November 1941 Location Sudan, British Somaliland, Kenya, Eritrea, Italian Somaliland, Ethiopia Result Allied victory, fall of Italian East Africa Belligerents See main article: East African Campaign (World War II)

v • d • e Campaigns of World War II Europe Poland – Phoney War – Finland  – Denmark & Norway France & Benelux – Britain – Eastern Front – North West Europe (1944–45) The Mediterranean, Africa and The Middle East Mediterranean Sea – East Africa – North Africa – West Africa  Balkans (1939–41) – Middle East – Yugoslavia – Madagascar – Italy Asia & The Pacific China – Pacific Ocean – South-East Asia  South West Pacific – Japan – Manchuria Other Campaigns Atlantic – Strategic Bombing – North America Contemporaneous Wars Chinese Civil – Soviet-Japanese Border – French-Thai - Anglo-Iraqi  Invasion of Iran – Sino-Japanese – Ecuadorian-Peruvian

The East African Campaign refers to the battles fought in East Africa during World War II. The battles of this campaign were fought between the forces of the British Empire, the British Commonwealth of Nations, and several allies on one side and the forces of the Italian Empire on the other. This campaign was one of the African campaigns of World War II.

This campaign fell under the British Middle East Command. The vast majority of the British allied forces involved were from British Commonwealth nations. The Commonwealth forces included troops from the Sudan, British Somaliland, British East Africa, the Indian Empire, South Africa, Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, and British West Africa (Nigeria, Gold Coast, Sierra Leone, and the Gambia). There was even a small commando unit from the British Mandate of Palestine. In addition to the British and Commonwealth forces, there were Ethiopian irregular forces, Free French forces, and Free Belgian forces.

[edit] Summary/synopses of actions

Please help improve this section by expanding it with: history. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

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