[af_vet_rr]

Because the objective of Operation Barbarossa was the capitulation of Russia in 1941, all Germany needed from England was assurance that no major offensive would be launched at Germany's flank, or North Africa in 1941. To what extent England complied will never be known but for certain, no major British offensive action took place in 1941 against the Germans.

In 1941, the Brits did capture Tobruk and Mogadishu, and did invade Iran, Syria, and Iraq. As a matter of fact, I believe the invasion of Syria and Iraq occurred the same month that Germany kicked off Operation Barbarossa. Of course the Brits were pushed back by the Germans to Egypt in May, which was a month or two before Operation Barbarossa. The Brits still scared the hell out of the Germans by nearly cutting off their fuel supplies.

Given that Britain lost the heavy equipment for nearly 350,000 soldiers at Dunkirk in the middle of 1940, and how much support they were sending to Australia, it's actually amazing how active they were in the Middle East and North Africa in 1941. They were getting plenty of gear from us, but making up the Dunkirk losses really took a lot out of them for a while. Then again, it's a lot easier to replace gear than men, and for them to get nearly 350,000 British and French soldiers out of Dunkirk was still one of the most amazing things to happen in the war.

[fso301]

In 1941, the Brits did capture Tobruk and Mogadishu, and did invade Iran, Syria, and Iraq. As a matter of fact, I believe the invasion of Syria and Iraq occurred the same month that Germany kicked off Operation Barbarossa. Of course the Brits were pushed back by the Germans to Egypt in May, which was a month or two before Operation Barbarossa. The Brits still scared the hell out of the Germans by nearly cutting off their fuel supplies.

In February 1941, the Afrika Korps began as two regiments; one regiment from the 5th Light Division and one regiment from the 15th Panzer Division. By Summer 1941, the Afrika Korps was made up of two understrength divisions. While Rommel wanted to attack through Egypt, through Syrian and Iraq into the Caucases, German High Command ordered him to remain in Lybia supporting the Italians. It wasn't until late 1941 that the Afrika Korps was upgraded to an understrength army.

Syria and lebanon were controlled by Vichy France and the Germans never had more than a few aircraft and support personell in Iraq.

Given that Britain lost the heavy equipment for nearly 350,000 soldiers at Dunkirk in the middle of 1940, and how much support they were sending to Australia, it's actually amazing how active they were in the Middle East and North Africa in 1941.

At first glance, it does seem amazing until one realizes that the North African and Middle Eastern conflicts during spring and summer of 1941 were small scale.