The 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.

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.

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