m robot: Create/upgrade articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page. |
JOVFinlay2 (talk | contribs) rework section also and improved wording |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{ | {{Short description|Allied victory in North Africa during WWII}} | ||
{{about|a battle in the African campaign of WWII|the last stand of the [[History of Libya under Muammar Gaddafi|Socialist Jamahiriya]] of Muʿammar Qaddāfī against rebel forces|Battle of Tripoli (2011)}} | |||
{{ | |||
{{Infobox military conflict | {{Infobox military conflict | ||
| conflict = Battle of Tripoli | | conflict = Battle of Tripoli | ||
| Line 11: | Line 9: | ||
| date = 22–23 January 1943 | | date = 22–23 January 1943 | ||
| place = [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]], [[Tripolitania]], ([[Italian Libya]]) | | place = [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]], [[Tripolitania]], ([[Italian Libya]]) | ||
| coordinates = | | coordinates = | ||
| map_type = | | map_type = | ||
| map_relief = | | map_relief = | ||
| latitude = | | latitude = | ||
| longitude = | | longitude = | ||
| map_size = | | map_size = | ||
| map_marksize = | | map_marksize = | ||
| map_caption = | | map_caption = | ||
| map_label = | | map_label = | ||
| territory = | | territory = | ||
| result = Allied victory | | result = Allied victory | ||
| status = | | status = | ||
| combatants_header = | | combatants_header = | ||
| combatant1 = {{ | | combatant1 = {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Italy}}<br />{{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}} | ||
| combatant2 = {{flag|United Kingdom}}<br/>{{ | | combatant2 = {{flag|United Kingdom}}<br />{{flagcountry|Dominion of New Zealand}}<br />{{flag|Australia}} | ||
| commander1 = {{flagicon| | | commander1 = {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} [[Ettore Bastico]]<br>{{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Erwin Rommel]] | ||
| commander2 = {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis|Harold Alexander]]<br/>{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Bernard Montgomery]] | | commander2 = {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis|Harold Alexander]]<br />{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Bernard Montgomery]] | ||
| units1 = [[ | | units1 = ''[[Panzer Army Africa|Deutsch - Italienische Panzerarmee]]'' | ||
| units2 = [[Eighth Army | | units2 = [[British Eighth Army]] | ||
| strength1 = | | strength1 = | ||
| strength2 = | | strength2 = | ||
| casualties1 = | | casualties1 = | ||
| casualties2 = | | casualties2 = | ||
| notes = | | notes = | ||
| campaignbox ={{Campaignbox Western Desert}} | |||
}} | }} | ||
''' | The '''Battle of Tripoli''' was an engagement on between the [[Afrika Korps|Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee]] commanded by [[Erwin Rommel]] of [[Nazi Germany]] and [[Ettore Bastico]] of [[Kingdom of Italy]], who held the town, and the [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|British 8th Army]], a [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] force commanded by Sir [[Bernard Montgomery]]. After a short siege, the Italian and German forces withdrew from Tripoli, and the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] entered the town to great worldwide fanfare. | ||
==Prelude== | ==Prelude== | ||
After the German defeat in the [[Second Battle of El Alamein]] in November 1942, German commander Erwin Rommel shed many of his slower Italian units, leaving 30,000-75,000 men to be taken as prisoners, and dashed for Tunisia. Over the next 80 days, he withdrew 1,400 miles across Libya, losing 130 tanks and 1,000 artillery guns.<ref name="DesertRats">{{citation |url=http://www.desertrats.org.uk/battles1942.htm |title=Desert Rats-"Battles 1942."}}</ref> At the same time as the Second Battle of El Alamein, [[Operation Torch]] deposited approximately 83,300 U.S. and 23,000 British soldiers in three task forces in an [[invasion]] of [[French North Africa]], in [[Morocco]] and [[Algeria]] on 8 November 1942. Rommel had to reach his supply ports in [[Tunisia]] before both armies could cut him off. | After the Italian and German defeat in the [[Second Battle of El Alamein]] in November 1942, German commander Erwin Rommel shed many of his slower Italian units, leaving 30,000-75,000 men to be taken as prisoners, and dashed for Tunisia. Over the next 80 days, he withdrew 1,400 miles across Libya, losing 130 tanks and 1,000 artillery guns.<ref name="DesertRats">{{citation |url=http://www.desertrats.org.uk/battles1942.htm |title=Desert Rats-"Battles 1942."}}</ref> At the same time as the Second Battle of El Alamein, [[Operation Torch]] deposited approximately 83,300 U.S. and 23,000 British soldiers in three task forces in an [[invasion]] of [[French North Africa]], in [[Morocco]] and [[Algeria]] on 8 November 1942. Rommel had to reach his supply ports in [[Tunisia]] before both armies could cut him off. | ||
==Combat== | ==Combat== | ||
Rommel dug a defensive line at [[Buerat]] that collapsed on January 15, 1943. In a series of desperate rear guard actions, Rommel defended his flanks while driving his main body west. [[Misurata]] fell on January 18, | Rommel dug a defensive line at [[Buerat]] that collapsed on January 15, 1943. In a series of desperate rear guard actions, Rommel defended his flanks while driving his main body west. [[Misurata]] fell on January 18, Homs{{clarify|date=December 2024}} on the 20th, [[El Aziez]] on the 21st, [[Castelverde]] on the 22nd.<ref name="ForcesWarRecords">{{citation |url=https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/blog/2018/01/11/75th-anniversary-on-this-day-1943-into-tripoli-montgomery-marched-in-triumph |title=Forces War Records-"75th Anniversary – On This day 1943: Into Tripoli Montgomery Marched in Triumph."|date=11 January 2018 }}</ref> Montgomery predicted to reporters that Tripoli would fall on January 22. Rommel did not stop to form a defensive line in Tripoli, abandoning the town that night. The 1st Gordons, 51st Highlanders, riding 40 Royal Tank Regiment vehicles, entered Tripoli unopposed the next morning.<ref name="51st Highland">{{citation |url=https://51hd.co.uk/history/tripoli |title=51st Highland Division-" Talking Tripoli January 1943 ."}}</ref> | ||
==Aftermath== | ==Aftermath== | ||
| Line 54: | Line 53: | ||
[[Category:Conflicts in 1943]] | [[Category:Conflicts in 1943]] | ||
[[Category:January 1943 | [[Category:January 1943 in Africa]] | ||
[[Category:Libya in World War II]] | [[Category:Libya in World War II]] | ||
[[Category:Military history of Tripoli, Libya]] | |||
[[Category:20th century in Tripoli, Libya]] | |||
Latest revision as of 12:00, 1 October 2025
| Battle of Tripoli | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the North African Campaign | |||||||
 A Daimler armoured car opens fire in the gloom of early morning at the start of the battle for Tripoli, 18 January 1943. | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Italy Germany |
 United KingdomTemplate:Country data Dominion of New Zealand  Australia | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Ettore Bastico Erwin Rommel |
Harold Alexander Bernard Montgomery | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Deutsch - Italienische Panzerarmee | British Eighth Army | ||||||
The Battle of Tripoli was an engagement on between the Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee commanded by Erwin Rommel of Nazi Germany and Ettore Bastico of Kingdom of Italy, who held the town, and the British 8th Army, a Commonwealth force commanded by Sir Bernard Montgomery. After a short siege, the Italian and German forces withdrew from Tripoli, and the Allies entered the town to great worldwide fanfare.
Prelude[edit | edit source]
After the Italian and German defeat in the Second Battle of El Alamein in November 1942, German commander Erwin Rommel shed many of his slower Italian units, leaving 30,000-75,000 men to be taken as prisoners, and dashed for Tunisia. Over the next 80 days, he withdrew 1,400 miles across Libya, losing 130 tanks and 1,000 artillery guns.[1] At the same time as the Second Battle of El Alamein, Operation Torch deposited approximately 83,300 U.S. and 23,000 British soldiers in three task forces in an invasion of French North Africa, in Morocco and Algeria on 8 November 1942. Rommel had to reach his supply ports in Tunisia before both armies could cut him off.
Combat[edit | edit source]
Rommel dug a defensive line at Buerat that collapsed on January 15, 1943. In a series of desperate rear guard actions, Rommel defended his flanks while driving his main body west. Misurata fell on January 18, Homs[clarification needed] on the 20th, El Aziez on the 21st, Castelverde on the 22nd.[2] Montgomery predicted to reporters that Tripoli would fall on January 22. Rommel did not stop to form a defensive line in Tripoli, abandoning the town that night. The 1st Gordons, 51st Highlanders, riding 40 Royal Tank Regiment vehicles, entered Tripoli unopposed the next morning.[3]
Aftermath[edit | edit source]
Montgomery ordered a huge victory parade in Tripoli on 23 January 1943. On 3 February 1943, Prime Minister Winston Churchill addressed 8th Army in Tripoli. "Let me then assure you, soldiers and airmen, that your fellow-countrymen regard your joint work with admiration and gratitude, and that after the war when a man is asked what he did it will be quite sufficient for him to say, 'I marched and fought with the Desert Army.' And when history is written and all the facts are known, our feats will gleam and glow and will be a source of song and story long after we who are gathered here have passed away."[4]
Rommel successfully withdrew to Tunisia, where he was reinforced with Tiger tanks and more infantry. But it was too little, too late. 1st and 8th Armies merged into the 18th Army Group; together with the Americans, they breached the Mareth Line. By May 1943, Some 50,000 Axis soldiers surrendered, ending the North African Campaign.