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N0KFQ > TODAY 02.04.15 17:00l 50 Lines 1998 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 51935_N0KFQ
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Subj: Today in History - Apr 2
Path: IW8PGT<IZ3LSV<I0OJJ<N6RME<N0KFQ
Sent: 150402/1500Z 51935@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.4.63
1941
"The Desert Fox" recaptures Libya
On this day in 1941, German Lieutenant General Erwin Rommel, "the
Desert Fox," resumes his advance into Cyrenaica, modern-day
Libya, signaling the beginning of what nine days later will
become the recapture of Libya by the Axis forces.
Early Italian successes in East Africa, which included occupying
parts of Sudan, Kenya, and British Somaliland, were soon reversed
after British offensives, led by British Field Marshall Archibald
Wavell, resulted in heavy Italian casualties and forced the
Italians to retreat into Libya. But Axis control of the area was
salvaged by the appearance of Rommel and the Afrika Korps, sent
to East Africa by the German High Command to bail their Italian
ally out.
On the verge of capturing Tripoli, the Libyan capital, Britain's
forces were suddenly depleted when British Prime Minister Winston
Churchill transferred British troops to Greece. Seizing the
opportunity of a weakened British force, Rommel struck quickly,
despite orders to remain still for two months. With 50 tanks and
two fresh Italian divisions, Rommel forced the British to begin a
retreat into Egypt.
Operation Battleaxe, the counteroffensive by British Field
Marshall Archibald Wavell, resulted in little more than the loss
of large numbers of British tanks to German 88mm anti-tank guns,
as well as Wavell's ultimately being transferred from North
Africa to India.
Rommel, known for his trademark goggles, which he pilfered from a
British general's command vehicle, may have had some help in
defeating his British counterpart. He was known to carry with him
a book called Generals and Generalship, written by Archibald
Wavell.
Rommel was portrayed by James Mason in the 1953 film The Desert
Rats and by Christopher Plummer in 1967's Night of the Generals.
Wavell was portrayed by Patrick Magee in the 1981 TV movie
Churchill and the Generals.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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