Battle of Sīdī Barrāni
The Battle of Sīdī Barrāni, fought on December 9, 1940, marked a significant conflict during World War II in North Africa. Approximately 30,000 British and Australian troops, led by Sir Henry Maitland-Wilson, launched an offensive against the Italian forces commanded by Marshal Rodolfo Graziani. The British forces utilized strategic surprise, deploying 275 tanks against only 106 Italian armored vehicles. The assault resulted in the attack on three major Italian encampments and effectively cut off the retreating Italian forces along the coast road. This battle led to the capture of over 38,000 Italian soldiers, while the British experienced relatively low casualties, with 133 killed and 387 wounded. The victory at Sīdī Barrāni was pivotal, as it not only diminished Italian military capability in Africa but also prompted German intervention to support their Axis ally. This battle is often seen as one of the early turning points of the war for the Allies in the North African theater.
Battle of Sīdī Barrāni
Type of action: Ground battle in World War II
Date: December 9-13, 1940
Location: Libya
Combatants: 30,000 British and Australians vs. 115,000 Italians
Principal commanders:British, General Sir Henry Maitland-Wilson (1881–1964); Italian, Marshal Rodolfo Graziani (1882–1955)
Result: Italian forces were driven completely out of Egypt and Libya and the Italian-African army was destroyed as a viable military formation
On December 9, 1940, about 30,000 British and Australian troops under Sir Henry Maitland-Wilson advanced westward from their base at Mersa Matruh toward the six major encampments of the Italian army under Marshal Rodolfo Graziani. The British were able to throw 275 tanks into the battle at Sīdī Barrāni against 106 Italian armored vehicles. Strategic surprise was achieved. Three of the Italian camps were attacked, while the British Seventh Armored Division, having flanked the Italians, cut off the coast road to the west of the retreating Italian columns. Most of the retreating Italians surrendered. The British took more than 38,000 prisoners of war while suffering 133 men killed and 387 wounded.
Significance
The victory at Sīdī Barrāni and the subsequent British victories at Bardia and Tobruk destroyed the Italian military effort in Africa. In order to shore up the Italians, the Germans were forced to send troops to Africa themselves. The subsequent German defeat was one of the first successes the Allies had in World War II.
Bibliography
Carver, Michael. Wavell and the War in the Middle East, 1940–1941. Austin: College of Liberal Arts, Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas at Austin, 1993.
Churchill, Winston. Their Finest Hour. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1949.
Lewin, Ronald. The Chief: Field Marshal Lord Wavell, Commander-in-Chief and Viceroy, 1939–1947. London: Hutchinson, 1980.