When one side got the upper hand they could usually advance hundreds of miles until exhaustion, logistical problems, or enemy reinforcements stopped progress. The Southern Flank of both armies was usually open to the desert.
There are few terrain features between Eastern Libya and Alexandria in Egypt to impede offensive operations. But Hitler attacked the USSR and stupidly declared war on the USA after Pearl Harbor in December, 1941 which from a strategic perspective cost Germany the hope of success.Ĭomputer wargames have had a difficult time accurately simulating the strategic warfare situation in North Africa in 1941 – 1942. Many historians think that if Hitler had sent even a small part of his 1941 air power and logistical support to North Africa instead of Russia that Rommel could have captured Egypt which would have greatly worsened the already horrible British logistical situation. Yet Rommel almost managed to cut the British supply lines by capturing the Suez Canal. Rommel’s Afrika Corps generally suffered from very poor logistics, was usually heavily outnumbered, and had little in the way of air support. What followed was several years of see-saw warfare with large swings in momentum. The British seemed poised to conquer all of Italy’s African territories in early 1941 when Hitler sent Rommel and a small force of armor, infantry and air units ordering a holding action with very limited offensive actions. Italy attempted a quick assault into Egypt from their territory in Libya in and were repulsed. The North African campaign in World War 2 represents one of the great “what if” moments of the war.
GrogHead’s Avery Abernethy examines how the spiritual successor to the great Panzer General games takes on the subject. Review by Avery Abernethy, 9 September, 2012 Developed by Lordz Game Studio and Published by Slitherine The Battle for North Africa was characterized by dramatic swings of fortune.
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