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North Africa (general region)

 Subject
Subject Source: Local sources

Found in 296 Collections and/or Records:

 Item

(Untitled), 09 Dec 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/46/60
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Canada [Mackenzie King], the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin], Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] and Prime Minister of South Africa [General Jan Smuts] with statement on the battle of Libya for House of Commons.

Dates: 09 Dec 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 09 Dec 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/46/63-64
Scope and Contents

Telegrams from Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC on battle in Libyan desert, Crusader [codename for major British operation in North Africa]; "Enemy is apparently in full retreat towards the west".

Dates: 09 Dec 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 12 Dec 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/46/95-98
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] and the Minister of State, Middle East [Oliver Lyttelton, later 1st Lord Chandos] advising that 18th Division has been diverted to Bombay [India] but Crusader, Acrobat and Gymnast [codenames for major British operation in North Africa, the operation against Tripoli, Libya, and for the plans for the British occupation of North West Africa] should continue; General Sir Archibald Wavell [Commander-in-...
Dates: 12 Dec 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 13 Dec 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/47/6
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck Commander- in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC on battle in Libyan desert, Crusader [codename for major British operation in North Africa].

Dates: 13 Dec 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 08 Aug 1942

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/52/82
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC agreeing to advance start date of Torch [codename of the Allied invasion of North West Africa] and the announcement of General Dwight Eisenhower's command [as Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces in North Africa].

Dates: 08 Aug 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 22 Jul 1941

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/41/35-36
Scope and Contents Telegram from Minister of State, Middle East [Oliver Lyttelton, later 1st Lord Chandos] to WSC on meetings with General Charles de Gaulle [Chief of Free French], General de Larminat [Governor-General of French Equatorial Africa (later Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, and Gabon)] and Major- General Edward Spears [Head of Spears Mission, Syria and the Lebanon]; Free French reject Syrian armistice terms and threaten to break alliance with Britain then renegotiations end in...
Dates: 22 Jul 1941
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 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), 16 Nov 1942

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/54C/221
Scope and Contents

Letter from WSC to Major-General Noel Holmes [Director of Movements, War Office] congratulating him and his staff on the planning and execution of operation Torch [codename for Allied invasion of North West Africa].

Dates: 16 Nov 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 1946

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/246/29-101
Scope and Contents Page proofs for a supplement to the London Gazette entitled "Operations in East Africa, November 1940 - July 1941", reprinting contemporary despatches and reports by General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief in the Middle East (21 May 1942), Lieutenant-General Sir William Platt, on the operations in Eritrea and Abyssinia [Ethiopia] (11 September 1941) and Lieutenant-General Sir Alan Cunningham on East Africa Force Operations (6 June 1941 and 22 July 1941) with various appendices and...
Dates: 1946
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 Item

(Untitled), Aug 1946

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/246/141-156
Scope and Contents "Revised" page proofs of a supplement to the London Gazette entitled "Operations in the Middle East, 5 July 1941 - 31 October 1941" reprinting a contemporary despatch by General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief the Middle East Forces (8 March 1942), on Syria and Palestine, Cyprus, Iran [Persia], Turkey, co-operative planning with India, East Africa, Sudan, the Western Desert, Tobruk [Libya], and Egypt, and administrative matters, with appendices including communications from...
Dates: Aug 1946
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 Item

(Untitled), Jul 1946 - Aug 1946

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/246/167-182
Scope and Contents

Page proofs for a supplement of the London Gazette entitled "Operations in North West Africa 8th November 1942 to 13th May 1943" reprinting a contemporary despatch by Lieutenant-General [Kenneth] Anderson, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, 1st Army, (7 June 1943) with later War Office preface and footnotes. [annotated].

Dates: Jul 1946 - Aug 1946
Conditions Governing Access: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 15 May 1942

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/75/39-40
Scope and Contents Telegram from the Minister of State in the Middle East [Richard Casey] to WSC reporting on his first ten days in Egypt and the impressions he has gained: includes comments on the harmonious working of the army and air force; the administrative work of Lieutenant-General Thomas Riddell- Webster [Lieutenant General in charge of Administration Middle East]; organisation of supplies in the Middle East; the situation in Syria and Egypt; relations with United States forces; the use of Spitfires...
Dates: 15 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 20 May 1942

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/75/62-63
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief Middle East] marked "most secret" regarding impending battle in North Africa: states that "We feel that the time has come for a trial of strength in Cyrenaica [Libya] and that the survival of Malta is involved"; comments on the need to prevent newspaper speculation; expresses his confidence in Auchinleck and the army but urges him to assume direct command; asks whether the New Zealand Division ought to be nearer the...
Dates: 20 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 22 May 1942

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/75/71-72
Scope and Contents Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander- in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC marked "most secret" regarding the impending battle in North Africa: states that "I am now absolutely clear as to my task and I will do my utmost to accomplish it to your satisfaction"; thanks WSC for arrangements regarding publicity and for his expression of confidence; comments on his own decision not to take command personally in Libya; comments on his own decision not to move the New Zealand Division...
Dates: 22 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 26 May 1942

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/75/79-81
Scope and Contents Telegram from Field Marshal Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] to WSC marked "most secret and personal" reporting his conclusions on general strategy based upon his visit to the Middle East: comments on the situation in Libya and states that he considers "conclusive operations in Libyan bulge essential for our real victory"; comments on the importance of holding a Middle East block, including Iran, Iraq, India, Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] and the Indian Ocean, from both German and...
Dates: 26 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 28 May 1942

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/75/97-98
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt: informs Roosevelt that he is sending a report of his conversations with Vyacheslav Molotov [Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs] covering "Bolero" [codename for build-up of United States forces in Britain for invasion of Europe], "Sledgehammer" [codename for plan to attack coast of France in 1942] and "Super Round- up" [codename for the liberation of France in 1943, later Overlord]; comments on talks with United...
Dates: 28 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 29 May 1942

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/75/114-116
Scope and Contents Telegram from the Minister of State in the Middle East [Richard Casey] to WSC marked "most secret" commenting on the difficulties of increasing the proportion of fighting manpower within the total strength of the army in the Middle East: states that the matter has already received considerable attention; comments on problems of geography, lack of industrial development and distance from sources of production which necessitate large support services; discusses the possibility of diluting...
Dates: 29 May 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 09 Jun 1942

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/76/65-66
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] marked "most secret and personal" informing him of decision to divert the 8th Armoured Division and the 44th Division from South Africa to the Middle East, and commenting on reasons why these troops are no longer required in Australia or India.

Dates: 09 Jun 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 16 Jun 1942

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/76/122
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to Field Marshal Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] marked "personal and secret" reciting the text of a draft message that WSC prepared for General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] but did not send [see CHAR 20/76/121] and commenting on the chance afforded to the Eighth Army by the enemy attack of delivering a "preconceived rupturing counter-stroke".

Dates: 16 Jun 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 18 Jun 1942

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/76/137
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Field Marshal Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] to WSC marked "most secret and personal" commenting on the battle in the Libyan desert: agrees with the text of WSC's draft message to General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] and comments on the "defensive spirit" of "our Commands"; comments on the implications of an initiative by General Erwin Rommel [Commander of the German Afrika Korps]; states that "Position at moment looks grave.".

Dates: 18 Jun 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
 Item

(Untitled), 24 Jun 1942

Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/77/19-20
Scope and Contents Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander in Chief Middle East] to WSC marked "personal and most secret" regarding the situation in North Africa: deeply regrets "this severe blow" and comments on advantages to enemy of capture of Tobruk [Libya]; comments on "untenable" position of continuing resistance at the Salum frontier and describes build up of forces at Matruh [Egypt]; comments on risks of drawing too many troops from rest of Middle East theatre. [see also CHAR...
Dates: 24 Jun 1942
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