XXᵉ siècle – XXᵉ siècle
Libya and western Egypt
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
Sanusi resistance during the First World War connected the anti-Italian struggle in Libya with Ottoman and German wartime diplomacy. After responding to the Turkish call to jihad, Sanusi forces invaded western Egypt in November 1915, captured al-Sallum, and advanced toward Sidi Barrani and Mersa Matruh. British counter-operations drove them back into Libya, while Sanusi and other Libyan fighters later defeated Italian forces at al-Karadabiyya and pushed the Italians toward the coast by 1917.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
The Sanusi Sufi brotherhood was still resisting Italian occupation in Libya when the Ottoman Empire entered the First World War on Germany’s side. The Turkish call to jihad produced less response among Africa’s Muslim populations than Allied authorities feared, but the Sanusi leadership acted militarily. In November 1915, Sanusi forces crossed into western Egypt and attacked the British position at al-Sallum.
The attack achieved an initial success. The Sanusi force captured the Egyptian port of al-Sallum, and three-quarters of the Egyptian garrison defected to its side while British personnel escaped by sea. The force then advanced toward Sidi Barrani and Mersa Matruh, creating a direct challenge to British authority on Egypt’s western frontier and exposing the fragility of imperial control during wartime.
The British subsequently seized the initiative and drove the Sanusi forces back into Libya. Defeat in Egypt did not end the movement’s military importance. Sanusi members and other Libyans inflicted a decisive defeat on the Italians at al-Karadabiyya, described as Italy’s worst defeat since Adowa in 1896. The Italians then withdrew toward the coast, partly because they had to divert most of their troops to the Austrian front.
XXᵉ siècle – XXᵉ siècle
Libya and western Egypt
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
Sanusi resistance during the First World War connected the anti-Italian struggle in Libya with Ottoman and German wartime diplomacy. After responding to the Turkish call to jihad, Sanusi forces invaded western Egypt in November 1915, captured al-Sallum, and advanced toward Sidi Barrani and Mersa Matruh. British counter-operations drove them back into Libya, while Sanusi and other Libyan fighters later defeated Italian forces at al-Karadabiyya and pushed the Italians toward the coast by 1917.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
The Sanusi Sufi brotherhood was still resisting Italian occupation in Libya when the Ottoman Empire entered the First World War on Germany’s side. The Turkish call to jihad produced less response among Africa’s Muslim populations than Allied authorities feared, but the Sanusi leadership acted militarily. In November 1915, Sanusi forces crossed into western Egypt and attacked the British position at al-Sallum.
The attack achieved an initial success. The Sanusi force captured the Egyptian port of al-Sallum, and three-quarters of the Egyptian garrison defected to its side while British personnel escaped by sea. The force then advanced toward Sidi Barrani and Mersa Matruh, creating a direct challenge to British authority on Egypt’s western frontier and exposing the fragility of imperial control during wartime.
The British subsequently seized the initiative and drove the Sanusi forces back into Libya. Defeat in Egypt did not end the movement’s military importance. Sanusi members and other Libyans inflicted a decisive defeat on the Italians at al-Karadabiyya, described as Italy’s worst defeat since Adowa in 1896. The Italians then withdrew toward the coast, partly because they had to divert most of their troops to the Austrian front.
Continuer le voyage
D’autres chemins liés à cette histoire.