Operation Compass

December 9, 1940 – February 9, 1941

Part of World War II

Contemporaries

Related events (1 degree away • 2 degrees away)

1941
 
Operation Compass

First major Allied offensive of the Western Desert campaign. The British Western Desert Force destroyed the Italian 10th Army in Egypt and Cyrenaica.

Location

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Commanders

Allies 2

Richard O'Connor Lieutenant General, Field commander of the Western Desert Force · 1889–1981 Archibald Wavell General, Commander-in-chief, Middle East · 1883–1950

Axis 1

Rodolfo Graziani Marshal, Commander of the Italian 10th Army · 1882–1955

Entities involved

Allies

Axis