Chad during World War II

[Gregorus]

Hi, you know anything about this German air raid?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonderkommando_Blaich

[phylo_roadking]

OP, here's the context - http://worldatwar.net/timeline/france/empire40-45.html

[Orwell1984]

Hi, you know anything about this German air raid?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonderkommando_Blaich

The thread here has some more details and a nice collection of photographs.

http://www.luftwaffe-experten.org/forum ... owtopic=81

[gttf]

Hello,
it is worth mentioning a recon mission on the area of Lake Chad, performed on May, 19th, 1942 by a S83 of the Nucleo Comunicazioni LATI, temporarily given to the 610^ Squadriglia of 145.Gruppo Trasporti, equipped with photocameras, to reconnoitre the path of the allied supply from Guinea to Egypt, leaving from Gatrun. The mission lasted 9 hrs and 25 minutes; S83 came back to Gatrun.
The CO was ten. Col. Felice Mazzetti (Crew: Mazzetti - Allevi - Piccaglia - Zallocco).
Regards

Fabrizio

Source Brotzu, Casolo "Dimensione Cielo N. 7 .- Trasporto", pag. 72-73, Rome 1974

[Gregorus]

http://www.forum-der-wehrmacht.de/threa ... ee34649e64

[charlesk]

I was just in Chad recently and was wondering if anyone knew of a good book on German operations/Vichy operations in Africa? Obviously they are on extremely small scale and are just an interesting footnote in the history of WW2 but still. The story of the Braith's raid on Fort Lamy is fascinating, as well as the story of the French gold reserves in West Africa. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks guys!

[Loïc]

Does anybody know what was the fate of the Italian garrison of Cufra? I have read that the 64 Italians and 352 Libyans were allowed by the French to reach the oasis of Tazerbo (Taizerbo). Was then Tazerbo occupied? By who? I've found in this page
(...)
In my previous post I've listed the number of survivors at the end of the siege (64 Italians and 352 Libyc). In another source instead the initial forces in Cufra are listed as follows:
59a and 60a compagnie mitraglieri
compagnia sahariana
20mm battery
for a total of only 367 men, commanded by a captain (?).
I don't know why there is such a difference among various sources.

On March 1, 1941 the Italian troops surrendered and were allowed to go away but I have no precisions about where and in which conditions. I think it should be towards Tazerbo like the remnants of the Compania Saharina di Cufra ... On March 31 is perhaps besieged but in February and beginning March probably not.
Regards
David

hello DrG maybe since 2004 you have already found your reply...

so nel chaso que no...

327 Italian (and Libyans) prisoners of wars taken (Ingold wrote 332 : 12 officers 47 Italian NCO's and soldiers more 273 Libyans)
and 74 more of the motorised saharian company

as following (Italians Officers, NCO's and soldiers, Libyan Askaris = total)
-Compagnia Sahariana di Cufra (2/4/13/64 = 83)
-59a Compagnia Mitraglieri (5/8/11/71 = 95)
-60a Compagnia Mitraglieri (2/1/-/90 = 93)
-Batteria Sahariana 20mm (2/2/1/40 = 45)
-others 3 Italian NCOs and 8 Askaris (11)
-Motorized Saharian Company (4/6/13/51 = 74)

77 Italians 324 Libyans

the 324 Libyans : released
the 77 Italians : should be sent and interned in Faya and Fort Lamy (N'Djamena today) Chad, then in an Depot for Officers and NCO's in Berbérati (former Oubangui-Chari today Centrafrican Republic) while troopers remaining in Fort Lamy Depot

Internés et prisonniers de guerre Italiens dans les camps de l'Empire Français 1940-1945
Colette Dubois
Guerres Mondiales et Conflits Contemporains n°156

Regards
Loïc L.

[DrG]

Thank you Loïc! Meanwhile, I found information about this topic in this book: Il Sahara italiano nella seconda guerra mondiale.