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996 Appendix I 996 APPENDIX I 1941 1942 Sept. 16, First Axis air raid on Cairo. Axis columns resumed activity Nov.16, Formation of new British army 40 miles west of Tobruk. Apr. in Western Desert announced. 12, R.A.F. attacked Cretan aerodromes, where Axis air­ Nov.18, British advanced into Eastern craft were gathering for Middle Libya on a wide front. R.N. Eastern offensive. German and R.A.F. bombarded Axis columns in Libya forced to positions as far west as Bengasi. withdraw. May, 27, Axis forces Nov.20, British forces advanced 80 miles in Libya advanced to south of into Libya. Bir Hacheim in attempt to Nov.22-30, British advanced to Gulf of outflank British positions. Sirte. May 28- GERMAN DRIVE TOWARDS EGYPT. Nov.23, New Zealand and Indian forces June 30, May 28-29, Axis forces reached captured Bardia, Sidi Azeiz within 15' miles of Tobruk. and Sidi Omar Nuovo. Main June 7, Axis forces retired south tank battle in Tobruk area. and west of Harmat. June 10, Nov.26, British columns formed junction Allied garrison withdrawn from at Rezegh. Axis forces formed Bir Hacheim. June 14-16, strong positions around To­ Axis forces reached Acroma; bruk. British withdrew from Ain El Gazala; 3 German attacks Dec. 2, Germans broke through Tobruk repulsed in El Adem sector. corridor and effected junction June 18, British 8th Army split of 2 armoured columns after into two sections, one pro­ fierce tank engagement. tecting Egyptian border and Dec. 3, Reorganization of Middle East one withdrawing to Tobruk. Command completed with for­ June 21, Axis forces captured mation of 9th Army, covering Tobruk, Bardia and Bir El Syria, Palestine, Trans-Jordan Gobi. June 22, Axis forces and Suez Canal. concentrated 12 miles north­ Dec. 6-7, Pitched battle between tanks west of Fort Capuzzo. June 25, south of Tobruk, between El British withdrew from Salum, Adem and Bir El Gobi. Sidi Omar and Sidi Barrani toward Matruh. June 27, Battle Dec. 9- FURTHER BRITISH ADVANCE TO for Egypt joined southwest of Jan. 17, GULF OF SIRTE— Matruh. June 29, Axis forces Dec. 10, Siege of Tobruk lifted; captured Matruh. June 30, Dec. 16, Three main battles at Axis columns swept beyond El Alem Hamza, Halegh El Ole- Daba, 100 miles west of Alex­ bam and Gazala; Dec. 19, andria. Derna airport taken; Dec. 25, Bengasi taken; Dec. 29, Con­ Battle of Syria centration of Axis forces in Agedabia region; 1942, Jan. 2, For preliminary events see pp. 1025-1026, Bardia retaken; Jan. 13, Salum 1941 Year Book. taken; retreating Axis forces 1941 made stand on Gulf of Sirte. June 8, British and Free French forces ad­ vanced into Lebanon from 1942 Palestine, towards Damascus Jan. 23- GERMAN COUNTER-ATTACK— from Trans-Jordan and from Feb. 8, Jan. 23, Germans in Libyan Iraq along Euphrates River. counter-attack advanced 90 miles to northeast and re- June 9, Allied forces occupied Tyre (Sur) occupied Agedabia. Jan. 28, and crossed Litani (Leontes) Axis forces held on Msus-Soluch River. line. Jan. 29, Axis forces, in June 10, Naval landing parties seized sudden thrust from Msus, oc­ bridges and other vital points cupied Bengasi. Feb. 1, Axis on Lebanese coast. Land forces forces reached Maraua, 85 reached within 10 miles of miles northwest of Bengasi. Damascus. Feb. 3, British armoured col­ June 12, Three Allied columns from Iraq umns resumed offensive south­ occupied Hassetche and Deir- west of Bengasi in effort to arrest Axis drive. Axis forces Ez-Zor. Southern columns in occupied Derna. Feb. 8, Axis fierce battle at Kissoue. drive across Libya halted June 15, Central column captured Jezzine near Tobruk. and Sidon (Saida), Vichy troops forced back to within Feb. 9- RENEWED BRITISH OFFENSIVE— 12 miles of Beirut. On northern May 27, Feb. 9, British resumed offensive front Abou Kemal was cap­ near Ain El Gazala. Apr. 7-8, tured by column from Iraq. .
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