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LIBYA
July 11 – The British overrun the 382nd German regiment as well as part of the Trieste and Sabratha.
Middle of July - The Folgore Parachute Division under the name of 185th “Cacciatori d’Africa” (Hunters of Africa) are sent to the North African front occupying the extreme southern end of the Italo-German deployment, an area between Deir el Munassib and Qaret el Himeimat heights.
General Gariboldi conversing with Rommel
July 19 – Mussolini writes to Cavallero understanding the exhaustion of Axis forces in Africa and that they were too weak to overrun the British at El Alamein earlier in the month. Mussolini orders that a future attack should be prepared by assembling all Axis artillery in Africa and made available to Rommel, with as many “Semoventi” to adjust for the obsolete M14′s. The Bologna, Giovani Fascisti, Folgore, Pistoia and Brennero divisions shall be sent to the front. The ports of Tobruk, Sollum and Marsa Matruh as well as the Sidi Rezegh-Marsa Matruh railroad to supplement Axis trucking.
Mussolini also ordered the Headquarters to be placed closer to the front to boost morale.
July 21 – Mussolini flies back to Italy, never to witness the conquest of Egypt. His health failing, many begin to fear of the collapse of the Fascist state in Italy.
Italian forces advance to Siwa. Rommel noted that “If the Italians needed the German before, by mid July, the German formations [were] much too weak to stand alone.” Rommel considers a retreat, only to be pressed on by Cavallero and Bastico, who are enjoying the latest in Italian successes.
July 22 - Trento, Brescia and Ariete capture 1,400 British POW’s and destroy 146 tanks in a unsuccessful British strike.
July 27 - The Axis supply crisis ends and the Trento artillery destroy 27 tanks, 30 vehicles and capture 1,000 POW’s during an Axis counterattack after the 9th Australian and I Armoured Brigades overran the Trento 61st Battalion and the German 361st Regiment. The British are now just as exhausted and the Italian XX Corps maul the New Zealanders, thanks mostly to Italian artillery and mines which destroy 86 of the XXII Armoured Brigade’s 97 Valentines and 120 New Zealand anti-tank guns.
End of July – The British try to break through the Folgore Parachute Division at Deir el Munassib, but Folgore’s strong defense repel the attack and cause the British substantial losses in men and vehicles.
RUSSIA
August – Russians near Serafimovich launch a counterattack against the Italians holding the Don River in the hope of holding back the advances to Stalingrad. The Italians were outnumbered yet told to stand their ground and fight to the end. They eventually beat back the Russian tanks with Molotov cocktails. The battle in Serafimovich cost the Italians 1,700 men, but capture 1,600 Russian POW’s and many small arms.
MEDITERRANEAN
August 6 – Italian Torpedo Boat Pegaso sinks British submarine HMS Thorn off Tobruk, Libya. (Note: Pegaso sinks 3 British submarines in 4 months.)
August 2 – The most important convoy to set sail to Malta, Operation Pedestal is underway. A 14 ship convoy that is desperately needed to keep Malta alive.
August 13 – Operation Pedestal concludes with the arrival of 4 merchant ships in Malta. Malta is saved.
EGYPT
August 13 – General Bernard Law Montgomery assumes command of the British Commonwealth forces Eighth Army.
MEDITERRANEAN
August 22 – Italian torpedo boat Antonio Cantore sinks after hitting a mine.
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