North African and the Mediterranean

Jeffrey, Gary, illustrated by Allesandro Poluzzi. North African and the Mediterranean. Part of the Graphic Modern History: World War II series. 2012. 48p. ISBN 9780778741930. Available at 940.54 JEf on the library shelves.

In the summer of 1942, the Germans had triumphed on all fronts, and were deep in the Soviet Union. Allies had been pushed out of Europe, and in North Africa Rommel and the Afrika Korp were driving towards Egypt. Three key moments of the Mediterranean campaign have been illustrated in this short volume. The 1941 German conquest of Crete, an island off the coast of Greece, was the first aerial paratrooper assault in history. Thousands of Germans jumped out of gliders and secured airports that could be used to land more troops. But in 1942, the Allies stopped the German advance towards Egypt, and began to push back, eventually defeating the Germans and securing the south shore of the Mediterranean. In 1943, the invasion of Sicily saw the Allies expand in Italy and begin the slow process of moving up the peninsula towards the south of Germany.

Fans of the Second World War will appreciate the details provided by this brilliantly illustrated book.