Action in Africa heated up for troops fighting Hitler
As the month of February draws to a close, historian Malcolm Goode looks at key events from the Second World War from 80 years ago.
WHILE February 1941 was the month the Ministry of Supply asked Burton Town Council to help acquire scrap iron, there was also a lot of military action taking place overseas.
But despite the Second World War being in full swing, memories reverted back to a key event of the First World War.
February 1, 1941 marked the 25th anniversary of the Zeppelin raid over Burton that happened on the evening of January 31 - February 1, 1916.
The Zeppelin airships thought that they were flying over Sheffield when the bombing began at 9.45pm, such was the inaccuracy of flight navigation back in 1916.
It was estimated that a total of 44 bombs were dropped on the town resulting in 15 deaths and as a result of their injuries 72 people were treated in the Burton Infirmary on Duke Street.
By February 3, 1941, Hitler had become concerned at the Italian Army’s lack of ability and determination to halt the successful British campaign in North Africa. He feared that if the British inflicted total defeat of Mussolini’s Army, they would be ideally placed to interfere with his plans to invade Russia (Operation Barbarossa). To that end Hitler decided to send troops and tanks, (soon to become known as the Afrika Corps) from Germany to North Africa under the command of Lieutenant General Erwin Rommel.
February 7 - After several days of desperate fighting, a flying column XIII Corps called Combe Force cut off the retreating the Italian 10th Army during the battle of Beda Fomm. The Italians were unable to break through the small blocking force. Major General O’connors force accept the surrender of 130,000 Italian troops both in and to the south of Benghazi.
February 12 - Lieutenant General Erwin Rommel arrives in Tripoli.
February 15 - The deportation of Jews from Austria to ghetto’s in Poland began, this has since been seen as the beginning of what would became known as the ‘Final Solution.’
February 19 - The ‘Blitz’ continued with a vengeance when the city of Swansea in South Wales came under heavy attacks for three nights in succession.
February 20 – British and German troops confront each other for the first time in North Africa at El Agheila in Western Libya.
February 24 – The British submarine Upright sinks the Italian cruiser Armando Diaz in one of the numerous sea battles in the North African campaign.
In East Africa, British forces capture Mogadishu which was the Italian capital of Somaliland.