North African Campaign

Timeline

A brief outline of the key events of the Second World War, particularly focusing on the involvement of New Zealand in North Africa. Adapted from the Second World War timeline.

1940

5 January: First Echelon embarks for the Middle East.
7 January: First Echelon advance party arrives Port Said, Egypt.
12 January: Second Echelon, 2 NZEF, begins training.
28 January: 28 ( Maori) Battalion assembles in Palmerston North.
12 February: First Echelon, 2 NZEF, main body arrives at Maadi Camp, Egypt.
10 June: Italy declares war on Great Britain and France. Canada declares war on Italy.
11 June: Australia, New Zealand and South Africa declare war on Italy.
11-12 June: First air raids on Italy. East Africa campaign begins.
4 August: Italians invade British Somaliland.
27 August: Third Echelon, 2 NZEF, embarks for the Middle East.
13 September: Italians invade Egypt Pte G. R. Osbourne, 4 Reserve (MT) Company is killed by explosion of thermos bomb (first New Zealander in 2 NZEF killed as the result of enemy action). Headquarters New Zealand Division (HQ NZ Division) moves to Baggush in the Western Desert.
29 September: HQ NZ Division returns to Maadi Camp; Third Echelon 2 NZEF arrives in Egypt.
28 October: Italy invades Greece.
9 December: The first Western Desert offensive begins including some New Zealand support troops.
16 December: British offensive opens in Italian East Africa; Egypt cleared of Italian forces.

1941

22 January: Tobruk in Libya falls to British and Australian troops.
7 February: Benghazi captured by British.
12 February: German forces under General Erwin Rommel arrive in Tripoli.
17 February: Instructions issued to military commanders for a Greek expedition.
3 March: Bulk of 2 NZEF now in the Middle East Kiwi Concert Party formed.
6-7 March: British troops including most of 2 NZ Division enter Greece.
24 March: Rommel captures El Agheila, Libya with little resistance.
30 March: Enemy counter offensive in the Western Desert. German armour and Italian infantry advance.
3 April: British evacuate Benghazi.
6 April: Germany invades Yugoslavia and Greece. NZ Division withdraws along eastern seaboard.
10 April: Australians forced to withdraw to Tobruk.
12-13 April: Rommel encircles Tobruk. Siege begins.
14 April: German attack on Tobruk repulsed.
22-29 April: Evacuation of troops from Greece, some to Crete, others to Egypt.
27 April: Germans enter Athens. Greece surrenders to Germany.
17 May: Italian forces in East Africa surrender.
20 May: German airborne invasion of Crete begins. Capture of Maleme airfield.
28-31 May: British and Dominion (Australian and New Zealand ) troops evacuated from Crete.
1 June: New Zealand troops regroup and complete training exercises in Egypt.
15-18 June: British Operation Battleaxe fails to relieve Tobruk.
12 September: 2 NZ Division moves to Baggush in the Western Desert.
4 - 6 October: Raids on Benghazi and Tripoli by RAF; continued during October.
11 November: 2 NZ Division moves from Baggush to assembly point near Matruh –Siwa road. This is the first time the entire New Zealand force has been together (20,000 all ranks).
18 November: British Crusader offensive begins in the Western Desert. 2 NZ Division crosses the Libyan frontier into Cyrenaica.
21 November: Tank battle between 8 Army and Axis begins south and south-east of Tobruk.
26 November: 2 NZ Division links up with garrison at Tobruk. NZ troops (4 Brigade) capture Belhamed, and (6 Brigade) Sidi Rezegh.
27 – 30 November: Axis army returns to Tobruk front, overruns several NZ-held points, taking many prisoners of war.
2 December: 2 NZ Division withdraws from Libya Heavy RAF raids on Axis supply bases in Tripoli and Benghazi.
10 December: Siege of Tobruk lifted.
11 December: Germany declares war on United States; 5 Brigade, 2 NZ Division advance westward from Ascroma and captures large force of Italians.
16 December: Rommel begins retreat to El Agheila.
24 December: British take Benghazi.

1942

2 January: Bardia taken by 8 Army – 1000 British prisoners of war set free.
6 January: Rommel commences offensive at El Agedabia.
8 January: Rommel repulsed and withdraws during sandstorms.
21 January: Rommel commences second offensive.
23 January: Axis troops take El Agedabia.
29 January: Rommel's forces retake Benghazi.
20 February: Western Desert frontline stabilised at Gazala.
February: 2 NZ Division deploys to Lebanon-Syria.
27 May: Rommel launches new offensive in Libya.
14 June: With defeat of 8 Army in Libya, 2 NZ Division recalled from Lebanon-Syria.
21 June: Rommel captures Tobruk 30 June: Rommel reaches El Alamein near Cairo.
1 July: First Battle of El Alamein.
14 - 15 July: 2 NZ Division captures Ruweisat Ridge. Charles Upham earns bar to Victoria Cross.
7 August: General Bernard Montgomery takes command of 8 Army in North Africa.
25 August: Two companies of the 28 (Maori) Battalion inflict heavy casualties on Italians on the El Alamein Line.
2 September: Rommel driven back by Montgomery in the Battle of Alam Halfa.
21 September: Rommel hands over command of Italian-German Panzer Army to General Georg Stumme and proceeds to Germany.
23 October: Operation Lightfoot – the second battle of El Alamein - begins 2 NZ Division captures Miteiriya Ridge.
25 October: General Stumme dies and Rommel returns to Africa.
28 October: RAF breaks up German armour reforming for possible counter attack in the Western Desert.
2 November: Operation Supercharge - Allies forces break Axis forces at El Alamein. 2 NZ Division opens way for British armour.
8 November: Operation Torch begins – United States invasion of North Africa. Lt. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower in command.
11 November: Axis forces driven out of Egypt.
13 November: Tobruk falls to the 8 Army
20 November: Benghazi recaptured by British forces.
13 December: Rommel withdraws from El Agheila.

1943

23 January: 8 Army under General Montgomery takes Tripoli.
29 January: 8 Army advance parties enter Tunisia.
27 February: 8 Army takes up position on the Mareth Line, Tunisia.
6 March: Rommel attacks 8 Army in Tunisia and is repulsed.
9 March: Rommel leaves Africa.
20 – 28 March: 8 Army breaks through the Mareth Line.
27 March: 2 NZ Division executes ‘left hook' at Tebaga Gap. Axis troops retire from Mareth Line.
6 April: Axis forces in Tunisia withdraw as British and American forces link up.
26 April: First Army offensive against Tunis begins.
7 May: Allies take Tunis.
13 May: German and Italian troops surrender in North Africa.
15 May: 2 NZ Division begins to return from Tunisia to Maadi Camp.
20 May: New Zealand government agrees to keep 2 NZEF in the Middle East and to be available for operations in Europe. A furlough scheme for those with long service in the Middle East is decided upon.

Sources: The History Place – World War Two in Europe Timeline. Laurie Barber, War Memorial, Auckland, NZ, 1989 OfficialHistories of RNZAF, War History Branch, Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington, NZ

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