The Battle of Bardia 1941

 The battle of Bardia is the first battle of the three year campaign known as the North Africa Campaign. Lasting three years the north africa campaign was fought from 1941-1943 and would be the crucible of tank provinggrounds, lofistical proving grounds, technical proving grounds. 

The beginning

World war two had been underway for three years at this point and Italy was desperate for resources and North Africa was rich with resources like Oil, Iron, Fertilizers. The decision to invade North Africa by the Italians was bolstered by Imperial Ambitions and Naval Strategy. Their Goal was to invade North African and move East to capture the Suez Canal cutting off the Allied access between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean disrupting Trade and military efforts. The Campaign itself began on 11 June 1940 and until this point Italy and Britain had been existing on the same continent even as the Italian Army invaded. The Italians invaded in October of 1935 marking the beginning of their Imperialistic ambitions. It wasn't Until June 10, 1940, after Italy declared war on Britain. On 11 June the British commonwealth began launching raids against Italian Libya and on 14 June the British 11th Hussars and 1ST Royal Tank Regiment crossed the border from Egypt into Italian Libya leading to the capture of Fort Capuzzo which was quickly followed by a counter offensive into Egypt by the Italian Army leading to the capture of Sidi Bardia in September, and in December with the launch of operation Compass the British would quickly recapture Sidi Baradi. The North Africa Campaign would begin early the next year

The Campaign Begins

January 3, 1941, Operation Compass begins, the battle of Bardia was the first of many British operations of the Western Desert campaign of World War 2. It was also the First battle of the war in witch the Australian Army took part and first to be commanded by an Australian General and the first planned by Australian Staff. 6th Australian Division led by Maj Gen. Iven Mackay assaulted the strongly held Italian Fortress Bardia, Libya, assisted by air support and naval gunfire. At dawn the 16th Australian Infantry Brigade attacked from the west. Intel had shown defenses to be weak on the western edge. Sapper units blew gaps in the barbed wire with Bangalore Torpedoes and entered trashing the Anti-tank defense ditches with Picks and shovels.

Above: Bangalore Torpedo

This action allowed the infantry supported by the 23 Matilda II Tanks from the 7th Royal Tank Regiment to enter the fortress capturing all objectives, along with 8000 prisoners.

Phase Two

Exploiting the breach the 17th Australian Infantry Brigade and pressed south to the second line Known as the Switch Line. Day two of combat saw the capture of the Township of Bardia by the 16th Australian Infantry Brigade. Day three saw the 19th Australian Infantry Brigade moved south from Bardia, supported by Artillery and six Matilda II tanks. Their advance allowed the 17th to make progress alongside the southern sector. The garrison of Italian soldiers in the north surrendered to the 16TH Australian Infantry brigade and the 7th Armored division. Some 36,000 Italian prisoners were taken. The victory at Bardia enabled the Allied forces to continue to advance deeper into Libya and capture Cyrenaic leading to Operation Sonne Blume.

Above: Matilda II Heavy infantry tank