Marsh Is.#275 Battle of Beda Fomm - 1991 Imperforate Mint Issue

February 5, 1941 While Great Britain busily defended its shores against the Germans, Benito Mussolini was determined to conquer Egypt. He had two good reasons: Axis control of the Suez Canal would cut off the British from their vital oil supplies in the Middle East; and Mussolini's prestige would be significantly enhanced. In the fall of 1940, over 100,000 Italian soldiers based in Libya advanced 60 miles into Egyptian territory to the coastal town of Sidi Barrani. By December, superior British air and sea power had driven the Italians out of Egypt. Fierce fighting ensued in the coastal cities of Tobruk and Benghazi as the Italian army was pushed back deeper into Libya. A brilliant flanking maneuver through the forbidding desert by British forces set the stage of the final battle at Beda Fomm. The Italian generals were stunned to find their path of retreat totally cut off by the Allies. More than 140,000 Italian prisoners were taken by the Allies throughout the campaign, with a loss of fewer than 2,000 British troops. Mussolini's delusions of grandeur had been totally crushed!

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