Operation Compass Timeline

In September of 1940, Italian forces had laid a foothold in Libya and pass on into Egypt. Occupying several key positions, they set up defensive camps and await the might of the British Army and friends. The Allied force consists of British, Indian and New Zealand troops numbering just 36,000 men.

Operation Compass is enacted on December 9th after several days of offshore bombing from Royal Navy aircraft. The Allied army units move about with relative ease and engage the Italians in battle. The Italian Army - whose quality of training had always been called into question - either surrender, retreat or die. The British made substantial headway throughout the campaign and eventually secure the key port city of Tobruk, ensuring any future North African operations will be fully stocked.

In the end, a better-trained 36,000 strong coalition force took on at least 130,000 prisoners of war, dealing an embarrassing defeat to the Italian psyche while delivering an astounding shot in the arm to the Allies.