During the fall of 1940, Mussolini began an assault on the countries of North Africa. The British troops stationed there fought back against the Italian invaders. Control of Egypt and Libya changed hands many times between the two countries, but by December of 1940, the British had control.

At this point, Hitler also sent troops into North Africa. The tanks units, known as the Afrika Korps, were led by General Rommel "The Desert Fox." During the spring, Rommel managed to recapture Libya and drove into Egypt. The British fought back and succeeded driving Rommel back to Libya. Rommel again broke through the British lines and drove them back, but he never reached the Suez Canal (Hitler’s goal for North America).

Rommel eventually learned that fighting the allies was futile, which he reported to Hitler, but Hitler refused to listen. Rommel was involved in an attempt to assassinate Hitler in 1941, which was unsuccessful. He was killed with poison for the act of treason against Hitler. The Germans never did go on the offensive in North Africa after Rommel was killed the British stopped the Germans from taking it’s empire onto African soil.