Operation Compass

Operation Compass a big battle in World War II and the first big British attack during the North African Campaign. British, Indian, Free French, Australian and other Allied Soldiers attacked the Italian in western Egypt and eastern Libya, which was an Italian Colony, from December 1940 to February 1941.

The allies had around  and advanced from Mersa Matruh in Egypt on a five-day raid against the Italians of the 10th Army, which had about  in fortified locations around Sidi Barrani in Egypt and in Libya to the west. The Allies swiftly defeated the Italians in their forts and at Sidi Barrani, forced the rest of the Italians  out of Egypt and captured the ports along the coast in Libya. The 10th Army was cut off as it retreated towards Western Libya at the Battle of Beda Fomm, the Italins that escapes being chased to El Agheila on the Gulf of Sirte.

The British took more than  and Libyan (Some Libyans Supported the Italians, although some also fought with the Allies) prisoners, hundreds of tanks, more than a thousand guns and many aircraft. The allies lost  killed and injured, about  of the infantry. The Allies were unable to continue beyond El Agheila, due to damaged vehicles and the movement in March 1941 of the best-equipped units to Greece, which was being invaded by Germany. The Italians rushed more soldiers from Italy to Libya to defend Tripoli, assisted by the Germans Afrika Korps and the  (The German Air Force)

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