Tag Archives: Tripoli

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On this day: Italian defeat in Libya

Wrecked_Italian_aircraft_at_Tripoli_1943Wrecked Italian Fiat CR.42 and G.50 aircraft at Castel Benito airport, Tripoli, Libya, in 1943. 10th March 1943. Second World War. World War Two.

From the collection of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

Early in the twentieth century Italy took control of the North African nation of Libya. The country became known as Italian Libya after their victory in the Italo-Turkish War of 1911-12. However the Italians, aligned with Nazi Germany, began to lose ground in Africa as they were pushed back by the Allied troops in the early 1940s.

Many Muslim Libyans chose to fight with Italy during the Second World War, but by February of 1943 the Axis powers were forced out of the country, ending decades of Italian control.

The photograph above is dated the 10th of March, and was taken by the Australian armed forces as they advanced on Axis territory. It shows wrecked Italian aircraft at the destroyed Castel Benito airport in the capital city, Tripoli.

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On this day: Italian sailors arrive in Libya

Landing_of_Italian_sailors_on_5th_October_1911The first detachment of sailors landing underneath the Konak in Tripoli on 5th October 1911. Libya. Africa.

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This photograph shows Italian sailors arriving in Tripoli, the capital of the North African land of Libya, on the 5th of October, 1911.

Italy and Turkey fought a war in the region from late September, 1911 until October, 1912. The conflict resulted in an Italian victory, and the Kingdom of Italy captured what was to become known as Italian Libya.

Italy lost control of Libya in 1943, when losing ground to the Allies in the Second World War.