The Italian Army was quite effective when going up against second and third rate forces in north and east Africa. However, when faced against more modern armies with their more modern equipment, it was another story altogether. This is not to say that Italian soldiers were not brave or did not fight well. It is to say that they were hampered by basically inept leadership and with obsolete or near obsolete equipment. So it was that when put up against first rate military force, such as the British, things did not go as well as hoped.

As a result, Mussolini had to ask for assistance from his ally, Hitler, to help out with their program in North Africa. What the Germans did was send one of their top tank generals, Erwin Rommel along with the troops and equipment needed to push the British out of Libya and to the border of Egypt. This was not a pushover as both the Germans and British suffered from a lack of supplies and reinforcements with the Germans suffering more from this issue. This was due to the war with the Soviets that had first priority over what was felt was a secondary front in North Africa. Despite that, Rommel's tactics were sufficient to keep the Afrika Korps on the offensive and even when the British started pushing back towards the end of 1941, the Germans were able to considerably slow down their advances.

As with other books in this series, this is primarily a photo book as much as a history and you are treated to lots of photos, some of the period ones in color. This is a well done history of the events of 1941 that not only includes the battles, but also the events that led up to the introduction of the German Army into the fray. These Casemate Illustrated Specials make for a great read and equally welcome reference. Highly recommended to all.

May 2026

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