Can someone explain why we were in Africa? I haven't read any books that explain and I am just curious. Were we fighting the Germans and if so, why were they there? What about Africa did they want?
Who are 'we' And the germans came to Africa to help the Italians, because they needed help 'AGAIN'.. In other words, they were losing.
'We' as in the allies...I'm assuming it wasn't just Americans fighing. I honestly know very very little about what went on in Africa. I appoligize ahead of time if this is a dumb question.
The Suez canal. Natural resources (Oil etc.). Imperial complications. Axis presence. Naval control. Improved access to Axis possessions on mainland Europe. For a start. This is quite good as a rough guide to the build-up to Tunisia and US involvement there: BBC - History - World Wars: Animated Map: The North African Campaign And if you are mainly interested in Tunisia & the US (which would probably be a narrow mistake if trying to understand WW2 Africa) this is a reasonable overview to begin with: TO BIZERTE WITH THE II CORPS ~A
To me, no question earnestly ask should be considered "dumb". I am not a true student of WW 11 but grew up with it as a constant topic but many here actually research and study it closely. The Italian Fascist invaded Ethiopia, one of the few non colonized countries in Africa at the time, 1936, and I am embarrassed to say I am not clear as to why other than perhaps to have a colony like many of the other European powers. I believe the Germans truly arrived in force in North Africa to reinforce their Italian allies but perhaps for for strategic reasons as well.... To cut the Suez route, protect their Southern flank and at one point hoped to move East into the middle East for oil and to link up with their forces in the Caucasus. El Alamein stopped that idea. The Italians were already there and with modern weapons controlled the area roughly know as Ethiopia but were not up to the combat levels and the British and their Commonwealth allies and were out of Ethiopia by about 1941. The the Germans came to their rescue until both were defeated but prior to that the US had entered the war , landed in NW Africa and attack the Germans-Italians who were being attack by the British and their many Commonwealth allies from the East. The axis forces were eventually surrounded in Tunisia and evacuated as much of their force as possible but left roughly a quarter million Germany and Italian soldiers behind. A major Allied victory. This is a most cursory account off the top of my head and many more knowledgeable folks can improve upon it and correct it but roughly it is why everyone was in North Africa. I may be completely wrong about German ambitions beyond rescuing their allies. Kindly, Gaines
Simple really Italy attack Britian Italy won Britain counterattack Italy lost Germany Alarmed by British success send Rommel in to help the Italians and it was a back in forth battle (Germans were winning) then came the battle of El Almine British won and Started pushing the Germans back (Thanks to SAS teams and the royal navy and airforce pounding german supplies)1941 us enter war once they had enough troops in Britain they stormed French north Africa and the idiots opened fired on the Americans then came the Kissinger pass Americans lost but once again (Thanks to SAS teams and the royal navy and airforce pounding german supplies) the Germans had to pull back and eventually they be came bottled up in Tunisia and you should know what happens next.
Well that's that all cleared up then. Kissinger again too eh? He really did get everywhere... :eyebrows: ~A
Von Poop, I am sure Henry charged both sides to consult with them then negotiated the withdrawal for an additional fee. He is obviously older than I thought and I thought he was old! LOL GB
Thank you. That does explain things better. Just trying to gain some general knowledge. There was just too much going on to study just one part of the war, I learn something new everyday and am just amazed that so much of this (if not all of it) was not taught to us in history class.
