| Week
starting Saturday 10 September |
|
| Date |
Year |
Event |
|
| 10 |
1942 |
World War II: Madagascar
In an attempt to halt Vichy aid to the Axis, Britain invades the island of
Madagascar. |
| 10 |
1974 |
Guinea-Bissau, formally Guine Portuguesa,
achieves independence, the newly installed Chairman of the Council of State
is Luís de Almeida Cabral. |
|
|
For more on 10
September |
|
| 11 |
1950 |
Jan Christiaan Smuts (born 1 August, 1870), war hero,
twice prime minister of South Africa (1920-24; 1939-48) and international
statesman, dies. |
| 11 |
1952 |
Eritrea achieves independence from British
administration (which replaced Italian colonial occupation in 1941). |
|
|
For more on 11
September |
|
| 12 |
1940 |
World War II: North Africa
Italy troops under the command of General Rodolfo Graziani make the first
of three drives from Libya into Egypt. |
| 12 |
1977 |
Stephen Bantu (Steve) Biko, founder of the Black
Consciousness movement in South Africa, dies in a Pretoria prison cell. Find
out more... |
|
|
For more on 12
September |
|
| 13 |
1882 |
Battle of Tall al Kabir The forces of Colonel Ahmad
Urabi, leader of the Egyptian nationalist movement revolting against the
European backed rule of the Khedive Tawfiq, are defeated by the British
army under the command of Sir Garnet Wolsley. |
| 13 |
1940 |
World War II: North Africa
Italian troops cross the Libya-Egypt border with five divisions and 200
tanks and occupy Sollum. The British Western Desert Force withdraws. It is
planned that British forces will move back to Mersa Matruh with a delaying
action, and then stand and fight. |
|
|
For more on 13
September |
|
| 14 |
1941 |
World War II: North Africa
The 21st Panzer Division is joined by the 15th Panzer Division to form the
Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK) which Rommel will command, as well as 90th
Light Division and the XXI Italian Corps. |
| 14 |
1942 |
World War II: North Africa
Operation 'Agreement' - the raid by British troops on Tobruk, Barce, and
Benghazi. Suffering form excessive complications, involving the Long Range
Desert Group, the SAS, and others, the plan fell apart and many lives were
lost. Operation 'Lightfoot' - Montgomery's plan to attack Rommel's forces
at El Alamein is issued to his command. It is suggested that the attack
commence during the October full moon. |
|
|
For more on 14
September |
|
| 15 |
1952 |
Abandoned by Britain, the former Italian colony of
Eritrea is federated with Ethiopia. |
| 15 |
1994 |
The African Intervention Force opens fire on the
Liberian presidential palace in an attempt to remove leaders of the recent
coup. |
|
|
For more on 15
September |
|
| 16 |
1940 |
World War II: North Africa
Italian forces of the North Africa Supreme Command occupy Sidi Barrani,
approximately 85 kilometres from the border with Libya. Effectively stalled
by the British who are fighting a delaying action, the Italians dig in and
build a series of fortified camps. |
| 16 |
1975 |
After decades of inherent sexism, Rhodes Scholarships
are made available to women. |
|
|
For more on 16
September |
|
