Monthly Archives: September 2012

Luftflotte 2 (MittelMeer-Afrika)(Nov 1941- Jan 1942)

My rather generic 1/144 Luftwaffe models don’t yet give the feel of the Mediterranean theatre, so here is a quick look at what needs to be done to rectify the situation, with my current cheerfully impressionistic (aka unfinished) air fleet, and some rather better paint jobs from folk who have done the work and research. What is clear from even a cursory search of the web, is that many aircraft fought initially in their North European camouflage, being overpainted as they moved their operating airfields to North Africa. Many of the Stukas and transport aircraft remained dark green, with a white theatre band as the only concession to their new home. I should stress that I’m not trying to get scale accuracy, just something that reflects the look of the Gruppen. Update Dec 2012 : The models are coming along but not quite there yet. I’ve updated the pictures.
GELA (Sicily) – JG 26/27 – 1 Bf 109E (4)

Die-cast Bf109 copyright the Author
When they first arrived from Sicily, the 109s from JG 26/27 were in a grey scheme as shown on the WW2Aircraft.net forum below, so I have some painting to do.

Copyright Wayne Little – posted on ww2aircraft.net/forum/aircraft-markings-camouflage/
CATANIA (Sicily) – LG1 – 1 Ju 88A (2), 1 Ju 88D (2)

JU88

My Ju 88s (above) still need some work to get LG 1 into the air (as seen below)
http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2.  Original copyright Clavework Graphics
The scheme above is North European, but clearly in the Mediterranean theatre as the white band on the fuselage shows. The scheme below is more recognisably North African.
 http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2. Original copyright Michel Martraix
(North Afrika) – StG 2 -  2 Ju 87B (2)
JU87Protz
Hubert Pölz’s famous Stuka nose art  in StG 2 from http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2 (top) and my 1/144 Dyna-Flite diecast version (above).
 A later StG 2 Stuka at Alamein from http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2.
TRAPANI (Sicily) – Stg 1 - 2 Ju 87R (2)
This useful page gives a large number of schemes  including those above: http://www.afwing.com/gallery/ju87.htm Copyright Nowi scans 1999 Weal
Ju-87A5MK
This diecast Ju 87 is rough-and-ready, as is the painting, but it is starting to look the part. Copyright the Author
COMISO (Sicily) – KG26 – 2 He 111H-3 (2)
HE111
I had a bit of bother finding sources for Kg26 on the web, so these He 111s are still a work in progress. Copyright the Author (above)
11may1216
320_stg3screeny (1)1024

Gazala – Axis Forces

German and Italian forces

balconySupreme Commander North Africa: General Ettore Bastico
Model of a a comfortable hotel somewhere in TRIPOLI with a grand balcony for reviewing parades.

Italian Mobile Army (XX) Corps

Lieutenant-General Gastone Gambara  Comd car (s3), Signals Truck (s3), 20mm Flak Truck (s3), Ambulance Truck (s3), 
Signature Corps Troops
(from amalgamating troops that appear in divisions in small numbers)
Mixed AA Battalion – 1 Cannone da 90/53 (s3) + limber (s3), 1 20/65 modello 35(s3) + limber (s3) (both may be self-propelled)
Artillery Battalion – 1 Comd (s3),  FOO (s3), 100mm Howitzer (s3) + limber (s3)
Anti-tank Batalion – 1 Semovente 75/18 (s3), 1 Semovente 47/32 (s3)
Armoured Bersaglieri Recce Battalion – Autoblinda AB 41 (s3)




Ariete
  • 132 Armoured Division Ariete (General Mario Balotta) 1 Comd car (s3), 1 Signal van (s3), 1 20mm Flak Truck (s3), 1 Ammo Truck (s3), 1 POL Truck (s3), 1 Engineer Truck (s3), 2 Engineer (s3), 1 Autoblinda 41 (3)
  • 132nd Armoured Regiment -  1 Comd car (s3)
    • VII Tank Battalion – 1 M13/41 (s3)
    • VIII Tank Battalion – 1 M13/41 (s3)
    • IX Tank Battalion – 1 M11/39 (s3)
    • 32nd Light Armoured Regiment – 1 L6/39 (s3)
    • 8th Bersaglieri Regiment (Motorised) – 1 Comd car (s3), 1 Mortar (s3), 1 47mm Atk (s3), 1-2 m/c (s3),
    • IX and X Battalions 4 Truck (s3), 2 Bn Comd (s3), 6 Rifle (s3), 2 MG (s3), 2 45mm Mortars (s3)
    • 132nd Artillery Regiment – 1 Comd Car (s3), 1 FOO (s1), 1 75/25 Gun (s3) + Limber (s3)
littorio
  • 133 Armoured Division Littorio, Major General Gervasio Bitossi- 1 Comd car (s3), 1 Signal van (s3), 1 20mm Flak Truck (s3), 1 Ammo Truck (s3), 1 POL Truck (s3), 1 Engineer Truck (s3), 2 Engineer (s3), 1 Autoblinda 41 (3)
    • 133rd Tank Regiment – 1 Comd Car (s3), 1 M13/41 (s3), 1 M11/39 (s3)
    • 12th Bersaglieri Infantry Regiment - 1 Comd car (s3), 1 Mortar (s3),  1 47mm Atk (s3), 1-2 m/c (s3), 4 Truck (s3), 2 Bn Comd (s3), 6 Rifle (s3), 2 MG (s3), 2 45mm Mortars (s3)
    • 3rd Artillery Regiment – 1 Comd Car (s3), 1 FOO (s1), 1 75/25 Gun (s3) + Limber (s3)
    • 133rd Artillery Regiment (part) – (see corps troops)
    • 3rd Tank Group Lancieri di Novara – 1 L6/39 (s3)
    trieste
  • 101 Motorised Division Trieste – 1 Comd car (s3), 1 Signals Truck (s3), 1 20mm Flak Truck (s3), 1 Ammo Truck (s3), 1 POL Truck (s3), 1 Engineer Truck (s3), 2 Engineer (s3)
  • 65th Infantry Regiment 1 Comd car (s3), 1 Mortar (s3), 4 Truck (s3), 6 Rifle (s3), 2 MG (s3)
  • 66th Infantry Regiment 1 Comd car (s3), 1 Mortar (s3), 4 Truck (s3), 6 Rifle (s3), 2 MG (s3)
  • 9th Bersaglieri Regiment 1 Comd car (s3), 1 Mortar (s3), 4 Truck (s3), 6 Rifle (s3), 2 MG (s3)
  • 21st Artillery Regiment 1 Comd car (s3), 1 FOO (s3), 1 Truck Limber (s3), 1 105mm Gun (s3), 1 Light Truck Limber (s3), 1 47mm PaK [may be Semovente L/40 da 47/32] (s3), 1 Limber (s3)
  • RECAM (Reconnaissance Unit of the Mobile Army Corps)  1 Saharina (s3)

Panzer Gruppe Afrika

General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel
Comd car or SdKfz 250 [Greif] (s3), Signals Truck (s3), 20mm Flak Truck (s3) Ambulance Truck (s3), Armd Car (s3)

Deutches Afrika Korps DAKpalm

Generalleutnant Ludwig Crüwell
Comd car [or captured Dorchester] (s3), Signals Truck (s3), 20mm Flak Truck (s3) Ambulance Truck (s3), Armd Car (s3)
  • DAK Artillery -  Comd car or SdKfz (s3), FOO (s1), Sdkfz 7 Limber (s3), 210mm Gun (s2)
  • DAK 605 Panzerjaeger Abteilung(Battalion) – Panzerjaeger 1b 4.7cm (s3)
  • DAK 606 Flak Abteilung - SdKfz 10/4 2cm 30 (s2), SdKfz 10 limber (s2)
  • 33rd/II Luftwaffe Flak Abteilung -  Flak 8.8cm (s2), SdKfz 7 limber (s2), 20mm Flak 38 L/113 (s2), SdKfz 10 limber (s2)
15.PD2

8.PR

  • 8th Panzer Regiment Comd PzII (s3), 4 PzIII** (s3)
  • 115th Infantry Regiment Comd Sdkfz 250, 251 or 263 (s3), 2 Comd car (1 may be an Sdkfz 250 or 251) (s3), 37mm Pak (s3), 2 Sdkfz 251 [incl 2 MG42] (s3), 2 Truck (s3), 8 Rifle (s3), 2 81mm Mortars (s3), 2 MG42 (s3)
  • 33rd Artillery Regiment Comd car (s3), FOO (s3), Sdkfz 11 Limber (s3), 105mm Gun or  SiG 33 (s3), Sdkfz 10 Limber (s3), 50mm Pak (s3)
21.PD1
  • 5th Panzer Regiment Comd PzII or PzIII (s3), 3 PzIII** (s3), 1 PzIV (s3)
  • 104th Infantry Regiment  As 115th Infantry Regiment Above.
  • 155th Artillery Regiment As 33rd Artillery Regiment Above. 1 Lorraine Schlepper  15cm (s3) may be substituted for the 105mm
90ltAfrika
(Renamed 90th Light Africa Division from 28 November 1941) (Generalmajor Max Sümmermann until 10 December (killed in action), then Generalmajor Richard Veith)
Comd car (s3), Signals Truck (s3), 20mm Flak Truck (s3), Ammo Truck (s3), POL Truck (s3), Engineer Truck (s3), 2 Engineer (s3)
  • 155th Infantry Regiment 3 Comd car (s3), 37mm Pak (s3), 2 81mm Mortar (s3), 4 Truck (s3), 8 Rifle (s3), 4 Mg 42 (s3)
  • 361st Infantry Regiment  As 115th Infantry Regiment Above.
  • Panzerjaeger Abteilung 605 Panzerjäger Ib 4.7cm (s3), sIG 33 (s1)
** For variety, instead of 4 PzIIIs, 1 PzII, 2 PzIIIs and 1 Pz 4 could be modelled, counting them all as medium tanks.
savona

  • 55th North African Infantry Division ‘Savona’ (General Fedele de Giorgis) 1 Comd car (s3), 1 Signals Truck (s3), 1 20mm Flak Truck (s3), 1 Ammo Truck (s3), 1 POL Truck (s3), 1 Engineer Truck (s3), 2 Engineer (s3)
  • 15th Infantry Regiment 1 Comd car (s3), 1 81mm Mortar (s3), 4 Truck (s3), 6 Rifle (s3), 2 MG (s3), 2 45mm Mortar (s3)
  • 16th Infantry Regiment  As 15th Infantry Regiment Above.
  • 12th Artillery Regiment Comd car (s3), FOO (s3), Truck Limber (s3), 105mm Gun (s3), Light Truck Limber (s3), 47mm Pak (s3)

Italian XXI Corps

Lieutenant-General Enea Navarrini   1 Comd car (s3), 1 Signal van (s3), 1 Ambulance (s3), 1 Armd Car (3)

Signature Corps Troops
(from amalgamating troops that appear in divisions in small numbers)
Mixed AA Battalion – 1 Cannone da 90/53 (s3) + limber (s3), 1 20/65 modello 35(s3) + limber (s3) 
Artillery Battalion – 1 Comd (s3),  1 FOO (s3), 1 100mm Howitzer (s3) + limber (s3)
Anti-tank Batalion – 1 Semovente 75/18 (s3), 1 Semovente 47/32 (s3) (both may be towed with limber)


pavia
  • 27th Infantry Regiment 1 Comd car (s3), 1 81mm Mortar (s3), 6 Rifle (s3), 2 MG (s3), 2 45mm Mortar (s3)
  • 28th Infantry Regiment  As 27th Infantry Regiment Above.
  • 26th Artillery Regiment  As 12th Artillery Regiment Above.
bologna
  • 39th Infantry Regiment 1 Comd car (s3), 1 81mm Mortar (s3), 6 Rifle (s3), 2 MG (s3), 2 45mm Mortar (s3)
  • 40th Infantry Regiment  As 39th Infantry Regiment Above.
  • 205th Artillery Regiment As 12th Artillery Regiment Above.
brescia
  • 19th Infantry Regiment  As 39th Infantry Regiment Above.
  • 20th Infantry Regiment  As 39th Infantry Regiment Above.
  • 55th Artillery Regiment  As 12th Artillery Regiment Above.
trento
  • 102 Motorised Division Trento 1 Comd car (s3), 1 Signals Truck (s3), 1 20mm Flak Truck (s3), 1 Ammo Truck (s3), 1 POL Truck (s3), 1 Engineer Truck (s3), 2 Engineer (s3)
  • 61st Infantry Regiment 1 Comd car (s3), 1 81mm Mortar (s3), 6 Rifle (s3), 2 MG (s3), 2 45mm Mortar (s3)
  • 62nd Infantry Regiment  As 61st Infantry Regiment Above.
  • 46th Artillery Regiment  1 Comd car (s3), 1 FOO (s3), 1 Truck Limber (s3), 1 105mm Gun (s3), 1 Light Truck Limber (s3), 1 47mm PaK [may be Semovente L/40 da 47/32] (s3)
*Trucks: 4 small trucks each carrying 2 stands, or 2 large trucks each carrying 4 stands. APCs carry the same as a small truck – 2 stands and have an integral MG stand that can dismount in defence if the APC is not destroyed.

References

1.http://www.enotes.com/topic/Operation_Crusader_order_of_battle
 2. Greene, J. and Massignani, A. (1999). Rommel’s North Africa Campaign: September 1940-November 1942. Da Capo Press
3. This truck showcased on the Duchy of Alzheim Blog belonged to General Bergonzoli of the Centauro division (not present at GAZALA). Even so, it would make an excellent signals truck for one of the armoured divisions.
4. by Hunter, B. (2006) Axis History forum. http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=104408

Gazala – British and Commonwealth Forces (Op Crusader)

Forces built up piecemeal in the desert on both sides, so I have taken an arbitary snapshot round about the time of the first GAZALA battles (November 1941) as the basis for a mini campaign. As ever, I am open to suggestions and comments from those with a better knowledge of the period.

British and Commonwealth Forces

Commander-in-Chief Middle East Command: General Claude Auchinleck

British Eighth Army

Lieutenant-General Alan Cunningham, succeeded on 26 November by Lieutenant-General Neil Ritchie
Model of a Nissen hut with a Campari sun umberella outside.

XXX Corps

Lieutenant-General Willoughby Norrie
Comd Car (s3), Signals Truck (s3), Ammo Truck (s3), POL Truck (s3), Ambulance Truck (s3), Workshop Truck (s3)
Comd Car (s3), Signals Truck (s3), Ammo Truck (s3), POL Truck (s3)
  • Divisional troops
    • 4th South African Armoured Car Regiment – Marmon Harrington Armd Car (s3)
  • 102nd Royal Horse Artillery – FOO (s1), Limber (s3), 25pdr (s3)
  • 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA – Bofors 40mm (s3) + limber (s3)
  • 1st Royal Natal Carabineers SA Infantry Corps (Lieutenant Colonel Len Hay, M.C.) (As above)
  • 1st Transvaal Scottish SA Infantry Corps (As 1DoE above)
  • One Sqn 3rd SA Armoured Car Regt SA Tank Corps – Marmon Harrington Armd Car (s1)
  • 3rd and 4th Anti-Tank Batteries SA Artillery Corps – FOO (s1), Limber (s2), 2pdr (s2)
  • 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Battery SA Artillery Corps – Truck (s1), 20mm AA (s1) (or portee)
  • 1st Field Company SA Engineering Corps – Truck (s1), Engr (s1)
  • 11th and 15th Field Batteries of 4th Field Regt SA Artillery Corps – FOO (s1), Limber (s2), 25pdr (s2)
  • 7th, 19th and 20th Field Batteries of 7th Field Regt SA Artillery Corps  -FOO (s1), Limber (s3), 25pdr (s3)
  • 5th South African Infantry Brigade  – (As 1st bde above)
  • 22nd Guards Brigade – Comd Car (s3), Signals Truck (s3), Rifle stand (s3) (Defence Platoon)
    • 9th battalion Rifle Brigade – Comd (s3),  3 Rifle Stands (s3), VickersMMG (s3), 3″Mortar (s3), ATkRifle (s3), 2 3ton Trucks(s3)
    • 3rd battalion Coldstream Guards - Comd (s3),  3 Rifle Stands (s3), VickersMMG (s3), 3″Mortar (s3), ATkRifle (s3), 2 3ton Trucks(s3)

XIII Corps

Lieutenant-General Reade Godwin-Austen
Comd car (s3), Signals Truck (s3), Ammo Truck (s3), POL Truck (s3), Ambulance Truck (s3), Workshop Truck (s3) 40mm Flak + Truck (s3)
Comd car (s3), Signals Truck (s3), Ammo Truck (s3), POL Truck (s3), Ambulance Truck (s3), Workshop Truck (s3), 40mm Flak (s3) + Truck (s3)
  • 4th New Zealand Infantry Brigade – Comd (s3), Signals Vehicle (s3), Rifle stand (s3) (Defence Platoon)
  • 18th Infantry Battalion – Comd (s3), 3-4 Rifle Stands (s3), VickersMMG (s3), 3″Mortar (s3), ATkRifle (s3) (Boyes)
  • 19th Infantry Battalion – (As 18 Bn above)
  • 20th Infantry Battalion – (As 18 Bn above)
  • 5th New Zealand Infantry Brigade – (As 4th Bde above)
    • 21st Infantry Battalion
    • 22nd Infantry Battalion
    • 23rd Infantry Battalion
  • 6th New Zealand Infantry Brigade – (As 4th Bde above)
    • 24th Infantry Battalion
    • 25th Infantry Battalion
    • 26th Infantry Battalion
  • Divisional troops
    • (Reconnaissance) – Marmon Herrington Armd Car (3)
    • 1 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery FOO (s1), Limber (s3), 25pdr (s3)
    • 25 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery FOO (s1), Limber (s3), 25pdr (s3)
    • 31 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery FOO (s1), Limber (s3), 25pdr (s3)
Comd car (s3), Signals Truck (s3), Ammo Truck (s3), POL Truck (s3), Ambulance Truck (s3), Workshop Truck (s3)

Tobruk Garrison

Major-General Ronald Scobie
Comd car (s3), Signals Truck (s3), 40mm Flak + Truck (s3), Ambulance Truck (s3), Workshop truck (s3)
Comd car (s3), Signals Truck (s3), Ammo Truck (s3), POL Truck (s3), Ambulance Truck (s3), Workshop Truck (s3) 40mm Flak + Truck (s3)
  • Polish Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade
    • I Carpathian Rifle Battalion
    • II Carpathian Rifle Battalion
    • III Carpathian Rifle Battalion
    • 11 Czechoslovakian Infantry Battalion
    • 2/13 Australian Infantry Battalion
    • Carpathian Machine Gun Battalion
    • Carpathian Field Regiment FOO (s1), Limber (s3), 25pdr (s3)
***The Brigade was a mix of Valentines and mostly Matildas

Oasis Force

Brigadier Denys Reid
  • 29th Indian Infantry Brigade – (As 4th NZ Inf Bde above)
  • 6th South African Armoured Car Regiment – Marmon Harrington Armd Car (3)

Army Reserve

Key Dates for the North African Campaigns in the Western Desert

This is a work in Progress as I rough out the framework for a North African Campaign, text taken wholesale from  http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/the-north-african-campaign/timeline :
In broad terms, there were 3 Major British desert land offensives: Compass (December 1940), Crusader (November 1941) and Lightfoot/Supercharge (October/November 1942).
These were followed by Torch (November 1942) and Vulcan (April 1943 ) in Tunisia

1940

10 June: Italy declared war on Great Britain and France; Canada declared war on Italy.
11 June: Australia, New Zealand and South Africa declared war on Italy.
11-12 June: East Africa campaign began.
4 August: Italy invaded British Somaliland.
13 September: Italy invaded Egypt.
28 October: Italy invaded Greece.
9 December: Operation Compass, the first Western Desert offensive began.
16 December: British offensive opened in Italian East Africa; Egypt cleared of Italian forces.

1941

6 February: OKW issue order for Operation Sonnenblume.
22 January: Tobruk in Libya fell to British and Australian troops.
7 February: Benghazi captured by British.
12 February: German forces under General Erwin Rommel arrived in TRIPOLI.
17 February: Instructions issued to military commanders for a Greek expedition.
6-7 March: British troops entered Greece.
24 March: Rommel captured EL AGHEILIA in Libya with little resistance.
30 March: Enemy counter offensive began in the Western Desert. German armour and Italian infantry advanced.
3 April: British evacuated BENGHAZI.
6 April: Germany invaded Yugoslavia and Greece.
10 April: Australians forced to withdraw to TOBRUK.
12-13 April: Rommel encircled TOBRUK. Siege began.
14 April: German attack on TOBRUK repulsed.
22-29 April: Evacuation of troops from Greece to Crete and Egypt.
27 April: Germans entered Athens. Greece surrendered to Germany.
15 May: Operation Brevity. Limited counterattack by Wavell retook HALFAYA pass.
17 May: Italian forces in East Africa surrendered.
20 May: German airborne invasion of Crete began. MALEME airfield captured.
26 May: Operation Skorpion (Venezia) began.
28-31 May: British and Commonwealth troops evacuated from Crete.
2-11 June: The Cauldron Battle around BIR HAMAT/SIDI MUFTAH
15-18 June: Operation Battleaxe failed to relieve TOBRUK.
4-6 October: BENGHAZI and TRIPOLI raided by RAF.
18 November: Operation Crusader began in the Western Desert. New Zealand Division crossed the Libyan frontier into Cyrenaica.
21 November: Tank battle between British 8th Army and Axis forces began south and south-east of TOBRUK.
23 November: Totensonntag
26 November: New Zealand Division linked up with garrison at TOBRUK.
27-30 November: Axis forces returned to TOBRUK front.
2 December: Heavy RAF raids on Axis supply bases in TRIPOLI and BENGHAZI.
10 December: Siege of TOBRUK lifted.
11 December: Germany declared war on United States.
16 December: Rommel began retreat to EL AGHEILA.
24 December: 8th Army captured BENGHAZI.

1942

2 January: 8th Army captured BARDIA.
6 January: Rommel commenced offensive at EL AGEDABIA.
8 January: Rommel repulsed and withdrew during sandstorms.
21 January: Rommel commenced second offensive.
23 January: Axis troops took EL AGEDABIA.
29 January: Rommel’s forces retook BENGHAZI.
20 February: Western Desert frontline stabilised at GAZALA.
26 May: Rommel launched Operation Venezia to recapture TOBRUK.
5 June: The “Cauldron“ battle around SIDI MUFTAH.
12 June: The “Knightsbridge” crisis at BIR BEL(L)EFAA.
21 June: Rommel captured TOBRUK.
30 June: Rommel reached EL ALAMEIN.
1 July: First Battle of EL ALAMEIN.
7 August: General Bernard Montgomery took command of 8th Army.
2 September: Montgomery drove Rommel back by  in the Battle of ALAM HALFA.
21 September: Rommel handed over command of Italian-German Panzer Army to General Stumme and left for Germany.
23 October: Operation Lightfoot (Second Battle of El Alamein) began. New Zealand Division captured MITEIRYA RIDGE.
25 October: General Stumme died. Rommel returned to North Africa.
28 October: RAF disrupted German armour reforming for possible counter attack at EL ALAMEIN.
2 November: Operation Supercharge began. 8th Army broke through Axis forces at EL ALAMEIN. New Zealand Division opened a way for British armour.
8 November: Operation Torch began. American and British forces land in French Morocco and Algeria under Lieutenant General Eisenhower.
11 November: Axis forces driven out of Egypt.
13 November: TOBRUK fell to the 8th Army
20 November: BENGHAZI recaptured by British forces.
13 December: Rommel withdrew from EL AGHEILA.
Fieseler Storch Fi 156. (1937), [STOL Army Cooperation]. All Fronts. (Tankzone model from the Author’s collection)

1943

23 January: 8th Army under General Montgomery entered TRIPOLIi.
29 January: 8th Army advance parties entered Tunisia.
27 February: 8th Army took up position opposite the MARETH LINE, Tunisia.
6 March: Rommel attacked 8th Army in Tunisia and was repulsed.
9 March: Rommel left North Africa and returned to Germany on sick leave.
20-28 March: 8th Army broke through the MARETH LINE.
5 April: Operation Flax. Allied air operation cut Axis air supply lines to North Africa
6 April: Axis forces in Tunisia withdrew as British and American forces link up.
22 April: Operation Vulcan. First Army offensive began against TUNIS.
7 May: Operation Strike. Operation Retribution was an air and sea blockade of Axis Naval forces to cut off North Africa.
7 May: Allies captured TUNIS.
12-13 May: German and Italian troops surrendered in North Africa.
Sources:
  1. ‘The North African Campaign timeline’,  http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/the-north-african-campaign/timeline, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage). I simply cut and pasted the text, deleted specific references to the Kiwi divisions and tidied up the tenses used to the past tense. Otherwise this can be considered an edited quote from this website. I have added further dates for German Offensives. The NZ site may have drawn it’s (uncredited) text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_African_Campaign_timeline, as Wiki cites reference sources and the NZ Ministry for culture doesn’t. The two texts are too similar to be coincidental.
  2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Compass
  3. Ellis, J. (1993) The World War II Databook. London: BCA
  4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Flax
  5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Retribution
  6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Skorpion
  7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Sonnenblume (Don’t miss the Hindi verion on youtube :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB7YYIQvzbQ – Sadly, there is no singing!)