Changes

'''Operation Compass''' was the first major [[World War II]] Allied military operation in the Western Desert Campaign. It resulted in British Commonwealth forces pushing 800 kilometres across [[Libya]] and capturing 100,000<ref>"By February 10, 194 1, El Agheila was captured, with a total of 100,000 prisoners, which slowed up the British advance, and the Italian force was pretty well smashed." Africa, the Near East and the War, p. 129, University of California Press, 1943</ref><ref>"In Egypt he showed that he could put his theories into execution on the battlefield, when he suddenly struck at the Italians, and in a brilliant campaign reached Benghazi in 57 days and captured 100,000 prisoners." Great Britain and the East, Volume 60, p. 129, Eastern Question 1943</ref>  

'''Operation Compass''' was the first major [[World War II]] Allied military operation in the Western Desert Campaign. It resulted in British Commonwealth forces pushing 800 kilometres across [[Libya]] and capturing 100,000<ref>"By February 10, 194 1, El Agheila was captured, with a total of 100,000 prisoners, which slowed up the British advance, and the Italian force was pretty well smashed." Africa, the Near East and the War, p. 129, University of California Press, 1943</ref><ref>"In Egypt he showed that he could put his theories into execution on the battlefield, when he suddenly struck at the Italians, and in a brilliant campaign reached Benghazi in 57 days and captured 100,000 prisoners." Great Britain and the East, Volume 60, p. 129, Eastern Question 1943</ref>  

<ref>"These initial exchanges were a prelude to the German advance into North Africa, after Wavell's armies put the Italians to flight, captured Tobruk and took 100,000 prisoners." The Silent Service: The Inside Story of the Royal Navy's Submarine Heroes, John Parker, Hachette, 2013</ref><ref>"In Operation Compass his desert forces seized Cyrenaica, taking more than 100,000 prisoners." Commanders, p. 314, Dorling Kindersley, 2011</ref><ref>"Churchill was profoundly relieved in the winter of 1940-41 when Wavell defeated the Italians ... capturing over 100,000 prisoners and much materiel." Winston Churchill: A Biography, Piers Brendon, p. 155, Harper & Row, 1984</ref><ref>"The Italians were driven back into Libya, had their lines of communication cut at Beda Fomm and lost over 100,000 prisoners." Encyclopedia of World War II, John Keegan, p. 107, Gallery Books, 1990</ref>or 130,000 (depending on the source) Italian and Libyan soldiers at the cost of 500 killed, 1,373 wounded and 56 missing or captured.

<ref>"These initial exchanges were a prelude to the German advance into North Africa, after Wavell's armies put the Italians to flight, captured Tobruk and took 100,000 prisoners." The Silent Service: The Inside Story of the Royal Navy's Submarine Heroes, John Parker, Hachette, 2013</ref><ref>" The British took about 100,000 Italian prisoners and captured large stores of equipment." World History: The Story of Man's Achievements, William Habberton, Lawrence V. Roth, William R. Spears, p. 537, Laidlaw Bros., 1962 </ref><ref>"In Operation Compass his desert forces seized Cyrenaica, taking more than 100,000 prisoners." Commanders, p. 314, Dorling Kindersley, 2011</ref><ref>"Churchill was profoundly relieved in the winter of 1940-41 when Wavell defeated the Italians ... capturing over 100,000 prisoners and much materiel." Winston Churchill: A Biography, Piers Brendon, p. 155, Harper & Row, 1984</ref><ref>"The Italians were driven back into Libya, had their lines of communication cut at Beda Fomm and lost over 100,000 prisoners." Encyclopedia of World War II, John Keegan, p. 107, Gallery Books, 1990</ref>or 130,000 (depending on the source) Italian and Libyan soldiers at the cost of 500 killed, 1,373 wounded and 56 missing or captured.

==Prelude==

==Prelude==

==Battle of Bardia==

==Battle of Bardia==

On 3 January 1941, following the reorganisation of his forces (now renamed XIII Corps), O'Connor resumed his offensive. As the British Commonwealth forces advanced, several Italian battalions and brigades were surrounded, cut off and forced to surrender. During the previous days, Royal Air Force Wellington, Bombay and Blenheim bombers dropped over 20,000 pounds of bombs on Tobruk. The Australians captured Bardia on 4 January, capturing 25,000<ref>"The report filed by the British journalist Jan Yindrich for the Australian Associated Press on 5 January was headlined SMASH WAY THROUGH MODERN HINDENBURG LINE: FEW CASUALTIES IN CAPTURING 25,000 PRISONERS." The Longest Siege: Tobruk, The Battle That Saved North Africa, Robert Lyman, p. 59, Pan Australia, 2009</ref><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19410106&id=Ju4nAAAAIBAJ&sjid=p2kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4473,5225826&hl=en Bardia Falls to British, 25,000 Fascists Captured, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 6 January 1941]</ref> or 45,000<ref>"On 3 January, O'Connor's assault on Bardia was launched with 22 Matildas leading the way as "can-openers." The Italian defence quickly collapsed and by the third day, 45,000 surrendered."  An analytical history of World War II, Volume 1, Edward Norman Peterson, p.276, P. Lang, 1995</ref><ref>"By 1745 hours on 4 January, Italian forces in Bardia had surrendered. The British netted 45,000 prisoners, 462 guns, 117 light, and 13 medium tanks."  Intelligence and Anglo-American Air Support in World War Two: The Western Desert and Tunisia, 1940-43, B. Gladman, p.50, Springer, 2016</ref>(depending on the source) Italians and Libyans, suffering 130 killed and 326 wounded in the process. The Italian armament captured included 126 field guns and 127 tanks.<ref>"The Australians also captured much equipment (including 127 tanks and 216 field guns), but at the cost of 130 Australians killed." Paul Cullen, Citizen and Soldier: The Life and Times of Major-General Paul Cullen AC, CBE, DSO and Bar, ED, FCA, Kevin Baker, p. 56, Rosenberg, 2005</ref>

On 3 January 1941, following the reorganisation of his forces (now renamed XIII Corps), O'Connor resumed his offensive. As the British Commonwealth forces advanced, several Italian battalions and brigades were surrounded, cut off and forced to surrender. During the previous days, Royal Air Force Wellington, Bombay and Blenheim bombers dropped over 20,000 pounds of bombs on Tobruk. The Australians captured Bardia on 4 January, capturing 25,000<ref>"The report filed by the British journalist Jan Yindrich for the Australian Associated Press on 5 January was headlined SMASH WAY THROUGH MODERN HINDENBURG LINE: FEW CASUALTIES IN CAPTURING 25,000 PRISONERS." The Longest Siege: Tobruk, The Battle That Saved North Africa, Robert Lyman, p. 59, Pan Australia, 2009</ref><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19410106&id=Ju4nAAAAIBAJ&sjid=p2kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4473,5225826&hl=en Bardia Falls to British, 25,000 Fascists Captured, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 6 January 1941]</ref> or 45,000<ref>"On 3 January, O'Connor's assault on Bardia was launched with 22 Matildas leading the way as "can-openers." The Italian defence quickly collapsed and by the third day, 45,000 surrendered."  An analytical history of World War II, Volume 1, Edward Norman Peterson, p.276, P. Lang, 1995</ref><ref>"By 1745 hours on 4 January, Italian forces in Bardia had surrendered. The British netted 45,000 prisoners, 462 guns, 117 light, and 13 medium tanks."  Intelligence and Anglo-American Air Support in World War Two: The Western Desert and Tunisia, 1940-43, B. Gladman, p.50, Springer, 2016</ref>(depending on the source) Italians and Libyans, suffering 130 killed and 326 wounded in the process. The Italian armament captured included 126 field guns and 127 tanks.<ref>"The Australians also captured much equipment (including 127 tanks and 216 field guns), but at the cost of 130 Australians killed." Paul Cullen, Citizen and Soldier: The Life and Times of Major-General Paul Cullen AC, CBE, DSO and Bar, ED, FCA, Kevin Baker, p. 56, Rosenberg, 2005</ref>