Operation Compass 1940: Wavell's Whirlwind Offensive

Osprey Campaign #73

by Jon Latimer, Jim Laurier (Illustrator)

Osprey's Campaign title for the first battle of the desert war, Operation Compass, which was originally envisaged as a spoiling attack, combined with a reconnaissance in force to disrupt the Italian forces that had advanced into Egypt in September 1940. Lt Gen. Richard O'Connor launched what amounted to a British 'Blitzkrieg'. In less than two months the British forces swept 500 miles along the coast of North Africa. 7th Armoured Division raced across the desert to cut off the retreating Italians, and O'Connor's men destroyed 9 Italian divisions, and took 130,000 prisoners. In March 1941 General Rommel and the Afrikakorps landed at Tripoli.

Genres: History, Military History, World War II, Nonfiction, War, Military Fiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published August 18, 2000

About the author

Educated at Christleton County High School in Chester, Jon Latimer studied for a geography degree at University College, Swansea but switched course to graduate in oceanography. He worked as an oceanographer until becoming a full-time writer in 1997.

Reviews

[Bryan Lash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent summary and overview of the opening actions in the North African theater of WW II.

[Matthew Sparling · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice high level over of the 1940 British campaign in Libya.

[Al Lock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like other Osprey books, this is simply an overview which spends as much time on the vehicles, equipment, uniforms and appearance of those items as it does on an explanation of the actual operation/campaign. Despite that, this book is a very solid overview of an operation that is too often overlooked in terms of the war in Africa, and gives a great perspective on armored warfare early in the war.