North Africa 1941
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In North Africa, 1941 began with the British Offensive against the Italians (started in December 1940) which resulted in a complete rout of the Italians and the Brits halted in February at El Agheila (Libya) poised to continue west and seize Tripoli, potentially ending the Axis presence in North Africa in early 1941. At this point, events unfolded to divert this from occurring and the North African Campaign would not conclude until May 1943. First, Churchill decided that the bulk of the British armor in North African was to be sent to Greece (all subsequently lost), and second, Hitler dispatched Erwin Rommel to Tripoli with what was to become the Afrika Korps.
Rommel was ordered to bolster the Italian defenses and prevent any further British advances. Rommel aggressively reconnoitered the British positions at El Agheila and ascertained the armored strength was well depleted. He launched on offensive and by April had driven the British back into Egypt with the exception of the Fortress Tobruk which became besieged. Rommel obsessed with taking Tobruk and the British gathered their strength and attempted to relieve Tobruk. Operation Battle Ax was a failed British offensive undertaken in June but Operation Crusader in November resulted in an Axis withdraw back to El Agheila again.
Rommel regrouped and re-enforced for renewed offensives in 1942 which would take him deep into Egypt.
