Britain's Desert War in Egypt & Libya, 1940-1942

This concise WWII history covers the Western Desert Campaign from Operation Compass to the Battle of El Alamein. The fighting in Libya and Egypt during the Second World War has deservedly attracted the attention of many historians. While best remembered for the duel between Montgomery's Eighth Army and Rommel's Afrika Korps and the iconic Battle of El Alamein, historian David Braddock reveals that there was much more to the story. This volume sheds light on the exploits of British Army commander Sir Claude Auchinleck, who took over Middle East Command in 1941. Braddock also details the leadership of Field Marshal Alexander and many other gifted commanders who led and fought in the Battles of Gazala, Bir Hakeim, Alam Halfa and Tobruk. Both the Allied and Axis powers employed weapons that have passed into immortality, such as Germany's Tiger and Panther tanks and lethal 88mm antitank gun. The Messerschmitt BF109 fighter locked horns with desert-modified Spitfires and Hurricanes. The author highlights the vital roles of the Royal Navy, disrupting enemy supplies, and the Royal Air Force, which eventually gained command of the air.