Hello, and thank you for listening to the history of World War II podcast, Episode 127,

Operation Battle Axe.

Last time Operation Exporter, which had started a week before Operation Battle Axe was due

to begin, had its ups and then downs.

While the time Battle Axe commenced on June 15th, Exporter had captured some of Lebanon

in Syria.

Halfway up the coast towards Beirut had taken key swi, but then had run out of steam at

Damascus.

The advance along the coast had equally come to a halt.

But now that battle was to commence in the western desert against Rommel, its successful

conclusion was looked forward to, so men from there could be moved east and then north

to restart Exporter.

Rommel would be pushed back, Syria and Lebanon would fall as had Iraq, and the British and

their allies would be strong again in the Middle East.

As for what came next, well, that would be determined by the man in Berlin.

CNC Wavel knew he was on his way out, but for now he had a job to do and would do it

to the best of his ability.

But for the first week of Operation Exporter, he found himself having to peel away tanks

and men from Battle Axe to keep the advance to his north in motion.

Of those sent, there were the two brigades of the 6th British Division.

Their job had been to protect the Nile Delta, which meant that behind Wavel's wall at

L Alamane, he found himself with less and less to protect the Suez Canal.

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