Changes

| image      =

| image      =

| conflict    = [[Second World War]]

| conflict    = [[Second World War]]

| date        = December 9, 1940-9 February, 1941

| date        = December 9, 1940-9 February 1941

| location    = Libya, [[North African Campaign]]

| location    = Libya, [[North African Campaign]]

| combatant1  = [[Western Desert Force]]

| combatant1  = [[Western Desert Force]]

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'''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>" 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 150,000 (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 150,000 (depending on the source) Italian and Libyan soldiers at the cost of 500 killed, 1,373 wounded and 56 missing or captured.

==Prelude==

==Prelude==

On 9 August 1940, in a special meeting of the Libyan nationalist leaders in Cairo, a Senussi government-in-exile was announced under Sayyid Idris with British political, financial and military support.  

On 9 August 1940, in a special meeting of the Libyan nationalist leaders in Cairo, a Senussi government-in-exile was announced under Sayyid Idris with British political, financial and military support.  

A month later, Graziani followed Mussolini's orders and the 10th Army attacked on 13 September 1940. The Italian and supporting Libyan troops advanced across the Libyan/Egyptian border into Egypt against a force of 10,000 British and 10,000 Egyptian troops.<ref>"Italian soldiers now vastly outnumbered the normal Egyptian garrison of 10,000 British and 10,000 Egyptian troops." Test Case : Italy, Ethiopia, and the League of Nations, George W. Baer, p. 84, Hoover Press, 1976</ref>In addition to the Maletti Group, the five attacking infantry divisions included the ''Cirene'', ''Marmarica'', and ''23 Marzo'' Divisions. Elite Arditi troops advanced ahead of the spearhead, which comprised the two supporting Libyan Divisions.

A month later, Graziani followed Mussolini's orders and the 10th Army attacked on 13 September 1940. The Italian and supporting Libyan troops advanced across the Libyan/Egyptian border into Egypt against a force of 10,000 British and 10,000 Egyptian troops.<ref>"Italian soldiers now vastly outnumbered the normal Egyptian garrison of 10,000 British and 10,000 Egyptian troops." Test Case : Italy, Ethiopia, and the League of Nations, George W. Baer, p. 84, Hoover Press, 1976</ref> In addition to the Maletti Group, the five attacking infantry divisions included the ''Cirene'', ''Marmarica'', and ''23 Marzo'' Divisions. Elite Arditi troops advanced ahead of the spearhead, which comprised the two supporting Libyan Divisions.

After recapturing Fort Capuzzo and Halfaya Pass from a determined British rearguard, the Italian and Libyan divisions were bombed and strafed by Royal Air Force (RAF) Wellington and Blenheim bombers from Nos 30, 70, 84 and 211 Squadrons and Gladiators.<ref>"...only a few days after the start of their offensive, the Italian pilots were confronted by the R.A.F. which had sent Nos 30, 211 and 84 Squadrons with Bristol Blenheim bombers, No 80 Sqn with Gloster Gladiator biplane fighters and No 70 Squadron with Vickers Wellington bombers." In the Skies of Europe: Air Forces Allied to the Luftwaffe 1939-1945, Hans Werner Neulen, p. 38, Crowood, 2000</ref> In the meantime, Fairey Fulmars fighters from the aircraft-carrier HMS ''Illustrious'' bombed and torpedoed Italian shipping and warships from the Mediterranean Fleet closed in and shelled Libyan towns, port facilities and motorized columns travelling along the coastal road.

After recapturing Fort Capuzzo and Halfaya Pass from a determined British rearguard, the Italian and Libyan divisions were bombed and strafed by Royal Air Force (RAF) Wellington and Blenheim bombers from Nos 30, 70, 84 and 211 Squadrons and Gladiators.<ref>"...only a few days after the start of their offensive, the Italian pilots were confronted by the R.A.F. which had sent Nos 30, 211 and 84 Squadrons with Bristol Blenheim bombers, No 80 Sqn with Gloster Gladiator biplane fighters and No 70 Squadron with Vickers Wellington bombers." In the Skies of Europe: Air Forces Allied to the Luftwaffe 1939-1945, Hans Werner Neulen, p. 38, Crowood, 2000</ref> In the meantime, Fairey Fulmars fighters from the aircraft-carrier HMS ''Illustrious'' bombed and torpedoed Italian shipping and warships from the Mediterranean Fleet closed in and shelled Libyan towns, port facilities and motorized columns travelling along the coastal road.