This week in Iraq, the RAF inflicted heavy losses on the pro-Axis government forces. The British navy captured German submarine U-110 on 9 May and with it an undamaged “Enigma” cipher machine as well as its code books; this would help the British break the Enigma code. Also this week, senior Nazi Rudolf Hess flew… Read more »Read more

After several failed attempts to take Tobruk in Libya Rommel was ordered to suspend attacks. Meanwhile British forces occupied the Basra oil fields in Iraq; Iraqi forces besieged them and were in turn attacked by the RAF. The Iraqi government called on Germany for aid and the Anglo-Iraqi War began. British cities continued to be… Read more »Read more

Now that German and Italian forces had overrun Yugoslavia and Greece, Allied troops withdrew to Crete and Egypt. The campaign had been a disaster for the Allies: most of the equipment and some 12,000 men had to be left behind. On 27 April German troops entered Athens, and Greece surrendered. Over in the Western Desert,… Read more »Read more

Britain had sent some 62,000 Allied troops to reinforce Greece, but they were unable to stop the German invasion. The Greek army which had pushed the Italians into Albania was now cut off; Yugoslavia surrendered on 17 April. Next day, facing certain defeat, Greek Prime Minister Alexander Korizis committed suicide. Meanwhile in Libya Rommel’s Afrika… Read more »Read more

In Libya Rommel followed up his recent success by besieging British and Commonwealth forces in Tobruk, while driving the rest of the Allied army towards the Egyptian border. Meanwhile the German invasions of Yugoslavia and Greece continued: by the end of the week Belgrade and Salonika would be in German hands. The Luftwaffe launched heavy… Read more »Read more

Surprised by the ease of his victory in the North African desert last week, Rommel decided to continue the offensive and take all of Libya. As the British continued to retreat eastwards, German forces advanced some 200 miles, capturing Benghazi and Derna. Meanwhile, in Europe, German forces invaded Yugoslavia and Greece. The bombing of British… Read more »Read more

After defeating the Italians in North Africa, the British had reached as far as El Agheila in Libya and had established defensive positions there; four of their divisions had since been transferred to Greece. Now Rommel, with a mixed German and Italian army, attacked the British defences and occupied El Agheila, forcing the British to… Read more »Read more

The war this week was dominated by the German war against British convoys, with some 59,000 tons of shipping sunk, and the continued heavy bombing of British cities: London was attacked with incendiary bombs, and Plymouth and Liverpool were also attacked. On 20 March the short Italian spring offensive against Greek forces in Albania was… Read more »Read more

On 11 March President Roosevelt of the USA signed the Lend-Lease Act into law, allowing Britain and other allies to purchase military equipment while deferring payment until after the war. Ominously, on 12 March Rommel in North Africa received reinforcements in the shape of heavy armoured Panzer tanks; it was only a matter of time… Read more »Read more

On 4 March British commandos carried out a successful raid on oil facilities in Norway, burning fuel, capturing 200 German prisoners and destroying several ships. Meanwhile, oblivious of the build-up of Rommel’s forces in Libya, British troops were being redeployed from there to Greece, with the first landing taking place on 7 March. On Saturday… Read more »Read more