← Previous Item

The Oath of Kufra

Next Item →

http://wargame-scenarios.com/images/m44french.jpg
http://wargame-scenarios.com/images/m44logo.jpg

Title
The Oath of Kufra
Description
Philippe de Hauteclocque, alias Colonel Leclerc, arrived in Chad in November 1940 with the aim to launch offensive operations against Italian troops. Immediately, he wanted to strike a decisive blow by the capture of the oasis of Kufra in south-east …
Subject
Publisher
Date
1941-02-18
Scenario#
7004
Scenario Description
Philippe de Hauteclocque, alias Colonel Leclerc, arrived in Chad in November 1940 with the aim to launch offensive operations against Italian troops. Immediately, he wanted to strike a decisive blow by the capture of the oasis of Kufra in south-east of Libya. With less than 250 soldiers, a single 75mm mountain gun and some worn trucks, he crossed the desert to reach the Italian oasis. The first battle was against the "Compagnia Sahariana di Cufra", a motorized unit and was a success. So the Italian garrison was isolated surrounded by the Free french. Besieged during 10 days in the fort El Tag, the garrison was demoralized. A last bluff by Colonel Leclerc entering alone in the fort to force the Italians to capitulate was a success : the 1st of March 1941, the whole Italian garrison surrendered. The day after, Colonel Leclerc swore the famous oath of Kufra to his soldiers : "Swear not to lay down arms until our colors, our beautiful colors, float on the Strasbourg Cathedral."
Location
Kufra, Libya
Battle Name
Battle Narrative
The Capture of Kufra was part of the Allied Western Desert Campaign during the Second World War. Kufra is a basin and oasis group in the Kufra District of south-eastern Cyrenaica in the Libyan Desert. In 1940, it was part of the colony of Italian Libya Libia Italiana, which was part of Africa Settentrionale Italiana (ASI), which was established in 1934. With some early assistance from the British Long Range Desert Group, Kufra was captured by Free French Forces when the Italian and Libyan garrison surrendered after a siege from 31 January to 1 March 1941.
Narrative Source
Wikipedia: Capture of Kufra
Combatants
Italian
French
Additional Information
Game Type: Standard
Board Type: Desert
Website Access: Available

Geolocation