The North Africa Campaign of World War II raged on in rainless deserts and blistering heat.
In 1940, the Italian Axis Powers controlled Libya and had ambitions to expand into Egypt. The Allies sought to protect the British-owned Suez Canal, and in June of that year, desert warfare began. The Italians soon called upon the Nazis for aid, who sent the Afrika Korps, led by “The Desert Fox”, General Erwin Rommel. The Allies were led by General Dwight Eisenhower, alongside the inspirational and eccentric General Bernard “Monty” Montgomery.
Here are some fascinating photos capturing three years of dune-traversing tanks, dusty trenches, and soldiers firing lead as hot as the sun above them.
1
One of the Bren gun carriers used by Australian light horse troops in Northern Africa
January 7, 1941
2
American troops dig foxholes during the Tunisian Campaign in North Africa
Photo by Paul Reynolds
3
An Indian rifleman with a British Lee-Enfield rifle practices shooting in the desert in Egypt, 1940
Photo by Paul Reynolds
4
The infantry advance
El Alamein, 1942
5
American tank crews bound for North Africa, October, 1942
u/kingsaw100
6
Australian troops string out behind tanks in a practice advance over North African sands
January 3rd, 1941
7
German General Erwin Rommel with the 15th Panzer Division between Tobruk and Sidi Omar
Libya, 1941
8
Two British tank officers, somewhere in the North African War Zone
January 28, 1941
9
Winston Churchill shaking hands with Lieutenant General Ramsden, commanding 30 Corps, while visiting the El Alamein area, 7 August 1942
Photo by Paul Reynolds
10
Indian troops man a Bren gun on an anti-aircraft mounting
Western Desert, April 18th, 1941
11
Italian soldiers captured during the Battle of Bardia
Libya, January 5th, 1941
12
British tanks moving forwards through gaps in Axis minefields during the Second Battle of El Alamein
October, 1942
13
A British patrol on the lookout for the enemy, Egypt-Libya border, February, 1942
Photo by Paul Reynolds
14
British light tanks cross the desert
1940
15
A ghibli approaches from the desert
Western Desert Campaign, 1940-1942
16
Cruiser Tank Mk I (A9)
Western Desert Campaign, 1940-1942
17
Mario Balotta (centre) with two officers of the Ariete Division
North Africa
18
132nd Armored Division "Ariete" attacks
Egypt, 1942
19
Men of the Leicestershire Regiment man a Bren gun near Tobruk
November 10th, 1941
20
Matilda II tanks advance
Western Desert 1941
21
British troops dig in at El Alamein during the Battle of Bardia
July 4th, 1942
22
A tank of the 1st Armored Division advances to support American forces during the battle at Kasserine Pass near Tunisia, 1943
Photo by Paul Reynolds
23
A Panzer Mk III
Afrika Korps' main strike weapon during the desert battles of 1941-42
24
Indian troops shelter in the shade of their vehicle
1942
25
Central India Horse, Cyrenaica
December 1941
26
British troops help a wounded German prisoner
1942
27
A New Zealand soldier poses with twin Bren guns, somewhere in Libya, 1942
Photo by Paul Reynolds
28
British troops arrive in Tunis
May, 1943
29
Infantry moving up during 1st Army’s attack on Longstop Hill
Tunisia, April 1943
30
A 4.5 inch gun near Tarhuna during Eighth Army’s advance
Tripoli, February 1943
31
A British Crusader tank passes a burning Panzer Mk IV
1941
32
A British infantryman capturing a German tank crewman
El Alamein, 1942
33
British Crusader tank passes a burning German Panzer IV tank during Operation Crusader
North Africa, November, 1941
34
Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery
Libya, 1942
35
British tanks at Ruweisat Ridge
First Battle of El Alamein, 1942
