The first battle of the desert war, Operation Compass was originally envisaged as a spoiling attack, combined with a reconnaissance in force to disrupt the Italian forces that had advanced into Egypt in September 1940. Lt Gen. Richard O'Connor launched what amounted to a British 'Blitzkrieg'. In less than two months the British forces swept 500 miles along the coast of North Africa. 7th Armoured Division raced across the desert to cut off the retreating Italians, and O'Connor's men destroyed nine Italian divisions, and took 130,000 prisoners. One of the results of this dramatic victory was the arrival of General Rommel and his Afrikakorps at Tripoli in March 1941.
- ISBN10 1841762806
- ISBN13 9781841762807
- Publish Date 25 June 2001
- Publish Status Transferred
- Out of Print 19 November 2002
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
- Imprint Osprey Publishing
- Edition New edition
- Format Paperback
- Pages 96
- Language English