September 1940: British Retreat as Italians Advance into Egypt
Bibliography with Notes plus Bonus Content
Bickers, Richard Townshend, The Desert Air war: a gripping historical account of the RAF’s role in North Africa during World War II. UK: Lume Books, 2018. Kindle.
Chapter Three
“…On 13 September Graziani’s six divisions and an armoured group of 200 tanks (not all of which would be serviceable when the day of reckoning came) at last crossed the frontier. Still his resolution to join battle did not come to boil. Instead, he penetrated cautiously no more than 50 miles, which took him 15 miles from Sidi Barrani…on the 15th, with 70 miles to go before he reached the British front, he paused to shorten his lines of communication…Still his resolution to join battle did not come to the boil. Instead, he penetrated cautiously no more than 50 miles, which took him 15 miles from Sidi Barrani; then, on the 15th, with 70 miles to go before he reached the British front, he paused to shorten his lines of communication…”
Braddock, David. Britain’s Desert War in Egypt and Libya, 1940-1942: ‘The End of the Beginning’. Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Books, 2019. Kindle.
Chapter 2 The First British Offensive
“The first large scale moves in the campaign were made by the Italians, when, between the 13th and 16th September Graziani’s forces advanced to Sidi-Barani, 60 miles inside the Egyptian frontier but still 80 miles west of the most advanced British position at Matruh. There, Graziani halted and began to establish a supply base, to repair the road damaged by the retreating British, and to build a water pipeline up from the frontier.”
Braddock, David. Britain’s Desert War in Egypt and Libya, 1940-1942: ’The End of the Beginning’. Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Books, 20019. Kindle.
Chapter 2 The First British Offensive
“When Graziani halted at Sidi Barrani he placed a large part of his army in a series of fortified camps between Maktila on the coast and Sofafi some 50 miles inland, a deployment which invited disaster as the camps were incapable of supporting each other, and by placing his men in fixed positions the Italian commander deprived them of the ability to manoeuvre and maintain a coherent defensive front.”
Delve, Ken. The Desert Air Force in WWII: Air Power in the Western Desert 1940-1942. South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Books, Ltd, 2017. Kindle.
Chapter 3: From Victory to Defeat to Stalemate
“On the morning of 3 April, Benina was evacuated. Anything of value that could not be taken was destroyed and all aircraft, even those from other units under repair, were flown off.”
Delve, Ken. The Desert Air Force in WWII: Air Power in the Western Desert 1940-1942. South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Books, Ltd, 2017. Kindle.
Chapter 3: From Victory to Defeat to Stalemate
“‘Steps were therefore taken to create self-contained fighter and light-bomber wings each with its own vehicles, its own operational headquarters and its own servicing teams, all of which could be moved rapidly.’”
Delve, Ken. The Desert Air Force in WWII: Air Power in the Western Desert 1940-1942. South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Books, Ltd, 2017. Kindle.
Chapter 3: From Victory to Defeat to Stalemate
“On 22 March all RAF squadrons were warned to be ready to move at short notice and to prepare demolition plans…moving between desert strips was a frequent occurrence—and was fraught with dangers.”
Gorenberg, Gershom. War Of Shadows, Codebreakers, Spies and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East. New York: PublicAffairs, Hachette Book Group, 2021.
Chapter 2 THE SEDUCTIVE CURVES OF THE DUNES
“Graziani became known as the Butcher…One in eight—one hundred thousand people—died directly at the hands of Graziani’s troops or starved to death in the riconquista,” p. 34.
Moorehead, Alan, The Desert War: The Classic Trilogy on the North African Campaign 1940-1943. London: Aurum Press Ltd, 2013. Kindle.
Book Two—A Year of Battle: The Year of Auchinleck 1941-42: Chapter Four: November in Attack
“…—an odd collection of tanks, cars, lorries, light guns and command vehicles—…the stampede began.
“All day for nine hours we ran. It was a contagion of bewilderment and fear and ignorance. Rumors spread at every halt, no man had orders…
“Convoys of vehicles were scattered over a hundred miles of desert, not knowing where to go…Prisoners became gaolers. Men were captured and escaped three or four times…Both sides were using each others’ captured guns, tanks and vehicles and absurd incidents were taking place.”
Shores, Christopher F., and Giovanni Massimello with Russel Guest. A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940-1945: Volume One: North Africa. London: Grub Street, 2012. Kindle.
Chapter 3 Graziani Makes a Move
“Although Imperial losses had been kept very low during the withdrawal, being deprived of the forward airfields was to be felt by all three services. With Sidi Barrani and its surrounding area now in Italian hands, the RAF fighters were at bases 100 miles back, which significantly reduced the time they could spend over the front line area.”
Wahlert, Glenn. The Western Desert Campaign 1940-1941
(Australian Army Campaigns Series Book 2). Sydney: Big Sky Publishing, 2011. Kindle.
Chapter: The Leaders
“Graziani assumed command….his litany of excuses (for not taking the offensive) included the weather, a lack of water, inadequate transport, and the need for more armour…Britain had been quick to take the initiative following the declaration of war and had constantly attacked the Italians at every opportunity. The British had shown themselves worthy of far more respect than the poorly equipped tribesmen the Italian Army had fought up to that point.”
Wahlert, Glenn. The Western Desert Campaign 1940-1941
(Australian Army Campaigns Series Book 2). Sydney: Big Sky Publishing, 2011. Kindle.
Chapter: The Leaders
“Finally, on 7 September 1940, Mussolini issues Graziani an ultimatum—he could either attack or be sacked. Faced with no alternative, Graziani finally launched a cautious advance into Egypt, but after just four days, and having traveled fewer than 100 kilometers, Graziani halted his advance, citing supply problems.”
Wahlert, Glenn. The Western Desert Campaign 1940-1941
(Australian Army Campaigns Series Book 2). Sydney: Big Sky Publishing, 2011. Kindle.
Chapter: The Leaders
“Both sides suffered shortages of ammunition, water and, especially, fuel, at crucial moments. It was a characteristic of operations in North Africa between 1940 and 1943, that rapid advances were often swiftly followed by equally rapid retreats.”
Bonus Illustrations
WWII in North Africa 