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North Africa (general region)

 Subject
Subject Source: Local sources

Found in 296 Collections and/or Records:

 Item

(Untitled), 02 Dec 1941 - 25 Dec 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/36/12
Scope and Contents Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, December 1941 (some written while WSC was in the United States).Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; the Chiefs of Staff; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; senior civil servants including Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet]; Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces [Lieutenant-General Bernard Paget];...
Dates: 02 Dec 1941 - 25 Dec 1941
Conditions Governing Access: Open.
 Item

(Untitled), 01 Apr 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/37/6
Scope and Contents

Telegram from General [Sir Archibald] Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC advising that shipping at Massawa will be dropped now Asmara [Eritrea] has been surrendered and commenting on other aspects of the conflict in northern Africa.

Dates: 01 Apr 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), [Apr 1941]

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/37/98-101
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the United Kingdom High Commissioners [in Canada, ?Malcolm MacDonald, Australia, Sir Geoffrey Whiskard, New Zealand, William Jordan], and the UK representative [in South Africa, 4th Lord Harlech, earlier William Ormsby-Gore], requesting they give a message to their Prime Ministers [Mackenzie King, Arthur Fadden (acting), Peter Fraser, and General Jan Smuts] on the Middle East: stating that German success in Cyrenaica [Libya] may endanger Egypt; reaffirming the decision...
Dates: [Apr 1941]
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 17 Apr 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/37/108
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to General [Sir Archibald] Wavell [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] on the situation in North Africa and Tobruk [Libya], advising cutting off German-Italian supplies to "wear them down".

Dates: 17 Apr 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 23 Apr 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/38/12
Scope and Contents

Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC thanking him for tanks; commenting on South African aid; and referring to possible danger of air attack in evacuation of Tobruk [Libya].

Dates: 23 Apr 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 29 Apr 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/38/31-33
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to President Roosevelt on danger of Turkey co-operating with Germany; referring to Syria and therefore Egypt being in imminent danger; and commenting on German infiltration of northern Africa which relies on Vichy co-operation.

Dates: 29 Apr 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 01 May 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/38/45-52
Scope and Contents Telegram from President Roosevelt to WSC on following subjects: 1) Portuguese Government's protest at proposed friendly visit to Azores and Cape Verde, and cancellation of similar visit to Spain or Canaries; 2) the importance of Britain refraining from any expedition against the Azores or Cape Verde unless Portugal is attacked, and the need for Britain to guarantee Portuguese sovereignty; 3) losses in eastern Mediterranean; 4) supplies for Turkey; 5) French problem in Syria and North Africa;...
Dates: 01 May 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 14 May 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/38/130-132
Scope and Contents

Telegram from General Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] to WSC with detailed assessment of likely German attack: Ukraine Caucasus, Middle East plus French Africa, Britain and the Atlantic. With note in the hand of John Colville [Prime Minister's Private Secretary] that the Dominions Office have asked for this telegram to be circulated to the War Cabinet and Defence Committee.

Dates: 14 May 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 30 Oct 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/22C/222-225
Scope and Contents Letter from WSC to Lieutenant-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] discussing many topics: an unnamed campaign which is being kept secret from the Soviet Union, the United States and domestic enquirers but which it was hoped would bring military success [? "Crusader", operation in North Africa]; hoping to acquire Bizerta [Tunisia]; regretting having to give up operation "Whipcord" [codename for a British plan for the invasion of Sicily] as "a task beyond the...
Dates: 30 Oct 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 16 May 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/29A/71-74
Scope and Contents Letter from Anthony Bevir [Private Secretary to WSC] to [Joseph] Saville Garner [Private Secretary to Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs] enclosing Prime Minister's Personal Telegram T.183 to General Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] discussing: the offensive in the Western Desert by General Sir Archibald Wavell [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East], and possible action in North Africa and Suez [Egypt]; the western Mediterranean and Gibraltar; the Battle of the Atlantic, and...
Dates: 16 May 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 18 Jun 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/40/2-3
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to General Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa]: comments on how defeat at Agedabia almost destroyed General Sir Archibald Wavell's [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] tank force, and details measures that were taken to reinforce Wavell; comments on battle in desert; refers to intelligence regarding the German advance on the Soviet Union.

Dates: 18 Jun 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The Churchill Papers are made available to researchers using Churchill Archives Centre and worldwide in digital format. The digital edition of the Churchill Papers is published by Bloomsbury Academic and is available online to subscribing institutions at churchillarchive.com. The Churchill archive is freely available in our reading rooms and onsite at Churchill College (via the Churchill College wireless network). Researchers can download images of documents directly from churchillarchive.com and so are encouraged to consider bringing a laptop or other device for this purpose. For conservation reasons, the fragile originals are no longer issued to researchers. This digital edition is open to researchers unless otherwise marked in the catalogue. Some material has been closed by the Cabinet Office or by Churchill Archives Centre in accordance with data protection legislation.
 Item

(Untitled), 19 Jun 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/40/12
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Robert Menzies [Prime Minister of Australia] to WSC asking for answers with regard to failure of opening of Operation "Battleaxe" [codename for British offensive] in North Africa.

Dates: 19 Jun 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The Churchill Papers are made available to researchers using Churchill Archives Centre and worldwide in digital format. The digital edition of the Churchill Papers is published by Bloomsbury Academic and is available online to subscribing institutions at churchillarchive.com. The Churchill archive is freely available in our reading rooms and onsite at Churchill College (via the Churchill College wireless network). Researchers can download images of documents directly from churchillarchive.com and so are encouraged to consider bringing a laptop or other device for this purpose. For conservation reasons, the fragile originals are no longer issued to researchers. This digital edition is open to researchers unless otherwise marked in the catalogue. Some material has been closed by the Cabinet Office or by Churchill Archives Centre in accordance with data protection legislation.
 Item

(Untitled), 20 Jun 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/40/17-18
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to President Roosevelt welcoming the proposed ferry service for aircraft from Brazil to West Africa; and commenting on the failure of the latest offensive to recapture the initiative in Western Desert.

Dates: 20 Jun 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The Churchill Papers are made available to researchers using Churchill Archives Centre and worldwide in digital format. The digital edition of the Churchill Papers is published by Bloomsbury Academic and is available online to subscribing institutions at churchillarchive.com. The Churchill archive is freely available in our reading rooms and onsite at Churchill College (via the Churchill College wireless network). Researchers can download images of documents directly from churchillarchive.com and so are encouraged to consider bringing a laptop or other device for this purpose. For conservation reasons, the fragile originals are no longer issued to researchers. This digital edition is open to researchers unless otherwise marked in the catalogue. Some material has been closed by the Cabinet Office or by Churchill Archives Centre in accordance with data protection legislation.
 Item

(Untitled), 04 Aug 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/41/97-98
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to General Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] expressing a high opinion of General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East].

Dates: 04 Aug 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 16 Aug 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/41/112
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander- in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC requesting transfer of Major- General Alan Cunningham [General Officer Commanding East Africa Forces] from East Africa to Libyan Desert.

Dates: 16 Aug 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 21 Aug 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/41/131-132
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the Prime Minister of South Africa [General Jan Smuts] to WSC reporting on trip to Middle East with predictions of direction of war in future months.

Dates: 21 Aug 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 23 Aug 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/42A/7-8
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the British High Commissioner in South Africa [4th Lord Harlech, earlier William Ormsby-Gore] to WSC on his recent visit to Middle East; more tanks needed in Libyan Desert before Germans return from Soviet front; agrees that Imperial War Cabinet a bad idea.

Dates: 23 Aug 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 25 Aug 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/42A/17
Scope and Contents

Telegram from British High Commissioner in South Africa [4th Lord Harlech, earlier William Ormsby-Gore] to WSC on behalf of General Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] suggesting the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Middle East [Major-General Sir Alan Cunningham] attack the Germans in Africa before October.

Dates: 25 Aug 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 05 Oct 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/43/87
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] hoping that operation "Supercharge", [? codename for the evacuation of Australians from Tobruk, Libya] will not impede "Crusader" [codename for major British North African operation].

Dates: 05 Oct 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 15 Oct 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/44/5
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander- in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC explaining that relief of Australian troops in Tobruk [Libya] started, but that operation Cultivator will not impede operation Crusader [codename for major British North African operation].

Dates: 15 Oct 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 17 Oct 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/44/8-9
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] asking what factors could impede progress of operation Crusader [codename or major British North African operation].

Dates: 17 Oct 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 17 Oct 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/44/12
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC welcoming Air Chief Marshal Sir Wilfrid Freeman's visit; threats to Crusader [codename for major British operation in North Africa] include air reinforcements for enemy in Libya; suggests sending reassurance to New Zealand.

Dates: 17 Oct 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 06 Nov 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/44/123-124
Scope and Contents

Telegrams from Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC explaining operation [Crusader, major British operation in North Africa] postponed for 3 days due to need for training of South African division in desert warfare.

Dates: 06 Nov 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 06 Nov 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/44/125
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Minister of State, Middle East [Oliver Lyttelton, later 1st Lord Chandos] to WSC explaining the reasons of Major- General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East], with which he personally disagrees, for delaying the attack [Crusader, major British operation in North Africa].

Dates: 06 Nov 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 15 Nov 1941 - 16 Nov 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/45/21-22
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] with a message of confidence from King George VI to all ranks participating in the coming battle [Crusader, codename for major British operation in North Africa]; includes Ministry of Defence note on copying the telegram.

Dates: 15 Nov 1941 - 16 Nov 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open