Hello, and thank you for listening to the history of World War II podcast, Episode

108.

The Germans are coming.

Let's see where were we before we took that tiny Churchill detour.

Ah yes.

In North Africa, Operation Compass, a brilliant but limited offensive that pushed the Italians

all the way from city Barani, the furthest point east Marshall Gratiani had led his troops

on the way to Egypt, all the way back to Bada Fom, a coastal town along the western

side of Sireneica, which lent its name to the last battle of February 7, 1941.

It saw the end of the nine divisions of the Italian 10th Army.

This staggering victory, a much needed victory considering the Blitzback Home, was accomplished

by Lieutenant General Richard O'Connor and his two under-strength British Commonwealth

divisions.

Of course, credit also goes to O'Connor Superior, General Jumbo Wilson, whose organizational

skill meant that the army of the Nile had what it needed for victory.

It was only just.

And to the C&C Middle East, Sir Archibald Webel, who had the intestinal fortitude to stand

in between Churchill, who desired O'Connor's armor, artillery and aircraft elsewhere, and

the little terrier, as the Aussies called O'Connor, so he could continue on handing Mussolini

one of his greatest defeats.

Greek soldiers were currently handing Il Duce another one.

Mussolini's invasion of Greece was meant to have been his parallel war to Hitler's astounding

...