Operation Compass

E10520

Operation Compass was a major early World War II British-led offensive in North Africa that resulted in a decisive defeat of Italian forces in Egypt and eastern Libya.

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All labels observed (2)

Label Occurrences
Operation Compass canonical 32
British Operation Compass 1

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf World War II battle
military operation
alsoKnownAs First British offensive in the Western Desert
battle Battle of Bardia
Battle of Bardia
surface form: Battle of Beda Fomm

Battle of Nibeiwa
Battle of Sidi Barrani
Siege of Tobruk
surface form: Battle of Tobruk (1941)
belligerent British Empire
British Commonwealth forces
surface form: Commonwealth forces

Italy
United Kingdom
campaign Cyrenaica campaign
capturedEquipment large quantities of Italian tanks and guns
casualtiesInflicted tens of thousands of Italian prisoners
codeName Compass
commander Lord Wavell
surface form: Archibald Wavell

Richard O'Connor
conflict North African campaign
surface form: Western Desert Campaign
country United Kingdom
endDate 1941-02-09
followedBy Operation Sonnenblume
arrival of Afrika Korps in North Africa
front North African campaign
surface form: North African front
historicalPeriod World War II
location Egypt
Western Desert
Cyrenaica
surface form: eastern Libya
militaryUnit 10th Army (Italy)
British Eighth Army
surface form: Western Desert Force
notableFor outnumbered British force defeating larger Italian army
use of mobile desert warfare tactics
objective destroy Italian Tenth Army in Cyrenaica
drive Italian forces out of Egypt
opposingCommander Italo Gariboldi
Rodolfo Graziani
opposingCountry Kingdom of Italy
partOf North African campaign
surface form: North African Campaign
precededBy Italian invasion of Egypt
result decisive British victory
defeat of Italian Tenth Army
startDate 1940-12-09
strategicConsequence collapse of Italian position in Cyrenaica
prompted German intervention in North Africa
theatre Mediterranean Theater of Operations
surface form: Mediterranean theatre of World War II
year 1940
1941

Referenced by (33)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

North African campaign hasPart Operation Compass
Western Desert notableBattle Operation Compass
7th Armoured Division notableBattle Operation Compass
10th Army (Italy) notableEngagement Operation Compass
Italian invasion of Egypt followedBy Operation Compass
Operation Sonnenblume followed Operation Compass
this entity surface form: British Operation Compass
Battle of Nibeiwa operation Operation Compass
Battle of Sidi Barrani hasOperationName Operation Compass
Battle of Sidi Barrani isPhaseOf Operation Compass
Battle of Bardia campaign Operation Compass
Cyrenaica campaign hasPart Operation Compass
Middle East theatre of World War II hasPart Operation Compass
Italian Tenth Army notableEngagement Operation Compass
Italian Army in North Africa engagedIn Operation Compass
5th Indian Infantry Brigade engagement Operation Compass
Desert Rats notableEngagement Operation Compass
Desert Rats (informal) engagedInBattle Operation Compass
subject surface form: Desert Rats
Operation Brevity precededBy Operation Compass
Fort Capuzzo battles Operation Compass
Battle of Beda Fomm campaign Operation Compass
African Theater hasPart Operation Compass
Lieutenant-General Richard O’Connor notableFor Operation Compass
subject surface form: Richard O’Connor
Lieutenant-General Richard O’Connor militaryCampaign Operation Compass
subject surface form: Richard O’Connor
Sidi Barrani historicalEvent Operation Compass
Nibeiwa, Egypt conflictOccurredAt Operation Compass
British 7th Armoured Division engagement Operation Compass
British Western Desert Force engagement Operation Compass
Libyan campaign hasPart Operation Compass
Egyptian campaign hasPart Operation Compass
Egyptian campaign notableBattle Operation Compass
Battle of Mechili precededBy Operation Compass