Fighting conditions in Northern Africa during the war

[Henri Winkelman]

Hello guys,

I have not found much information about the fighting conditions in the desert wars of 1941-1943. When we speak about the Eastern Front, one of the first subjects is always the terrible conditions and the many deaths due to the cold winter.

Honestly, it sounds even worse to fight in the desert to me. Extremely hot weather, no water available for hundreds of miles. Does anyone know how the weather and climate affected the Germans, Italians and Brittish? Did many people die because of it? And who could resist it the best?

Greetings,

Henri

[RandJS]

Henri,

My father, US soldier, did not like to talk about his experiences during the war, but did say that he was never hotter- or colder- than when he was in Northern Africa. Apparently at night, temps would fall with no humidity. He mentioned frying eggs on metal surfaces in the sun and sand storms. He very much disliked camels, and the anti malaria medicine made him sick.

Regards,
Rand

[Henri Winkelman]

Henri,

My father, US soldier, did not like to talk about his experiences during the war, but did say that he was never hotter- or colder- than when he was in Northern Africa. Apparently at night, temps would fall with no humidity. He mentioned frying eggs on metal surfaces in the sun and sand storms. He very much disliked camels, and the anti malaria medicine made him sick.

Regards,
Rand

Thanks, I really appreciate the personal comment! When I first heard about the Africa front as a kid, I couldn't imagine Germans and Brittish fighting in the desert. (It always seemed like a battle between Germans and Brittish to me, I know there were many more countries involved) That simply didn't seem likely to me, because of the terrible conditions. (and Germany and England are supposed to be 'cold' countries) But it sounds horrible, wearing your uniform during sandstorms, the freezing cold nights and the extremely hot temperatures. These troops really experienced the worst, might be a little underestimated.

And moving through the sand must have been really tough as well.

[dgfred]

I have read where the flies were horrendous... getting on and in everything.

[Urmel]

This may help:

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/CSI ... e.asp.html

The desert was a very unhealthy environment, with extremely high levels of sickness amongst soldiers.

[Gooner1]

This may help:

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/CSI ... e.asp.html

The desert was a very unhealthy environment, with extremely high levels of sickness amongst soldiers.

Generally much higher levels of sickness amongst the Axis troops though

Hygiene Aspects of the El Alamein Victory
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl ... 0-0003.pdf

Eighth Army sickness rate before the battle of Wadi Akarit - admittedly that was Tunisia - was 1 in 1,000 men.

[Dr Eisvogel]

This may help:

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/CSI ... e.asp.html

The desert was a very unhealthy environment, with extremely high levels of sickness amongst soldiers.

Dear Urmel,

I have read the book by Major General Alfred Toppe, Desert Warfare: German Experiences in World War II to which you have posted the above link
and I highly recommend it as an interesting read.

Best regards,
Eisvogel

[Urmel]

This may help:

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/CSI ... e.asp.html

The desert was a very unhealthy environment, with extremely high levels of sickness amongst soldiers.

Generally much higher levels of sickness amongst the Axis troops though

Hygiene Aspects of the El Alamein Victory
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl ... 0-0003.pdf

Nice find.

I just found German numbers in my files. If I read the chart correctly (crappy copy, handwritten table), daily rates of total sickness for months with no major combat were 7.1/1,000 for October 41; 2.95/1,000 for February 42; 3.33 for March 42, and 3.33 April 42 again. The admission rates to hospital were 1.11/1,000 for February, 0.99/1,000 for March and 1.33/1,000 for April (don't have that for October).

Eighth Army sickness rate before the battle of Wadi Akarit - admittedly that was Tunisia - was 1 in 1,000 men.

It's definitely not the desert, so I don't think it is comparable or relevant.

[Henri Winkelman]

Thanks guys! Very informing stuff, especially the personal anecdotes. It seems strange to me that the Germans and Italians didn't pay much attention to hygiene.

This may help:

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/CSI ... e.asp.html

The desert was a very unhealthy environment, with extremely high levels of sickness amongst soldiers.

Generally much higher levels of sickness amongst the Axis troops though

Hygiene Aspects of the El Alamein Victory
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl ... 0-0003.pdf

Eighth Army sickness rate before the battle of Wadi Akarit - admittedly that was Tunisia - was 1 in 1,000 men.

At least, that's what I conclude after reading your article.

[Sarge3525]

It's anecdotal but my great grandfather fought in the Afrika Korps.
He said it was the worst part of the war, and he was in France and Russia.

He contracted Malaria, along with other diseases, and came back with various conditions.
If I remember correctly he told that the time spent surviving was as much or more as fighting the enemy.
He also said one the the things the troops did the most, was continuously fighting and killing monkeys.
Monkeys that would continuously follow the troops and steal their equipment/food/etc.