Why was Egypt of strategic importance in WW2?

Answer 1

Egypt was of strategic importance in WW2 because Egypt's Suez Canal was the key reaching the oil fields of the Middle East.

Added by VonRidel:

In addition, a large portion of the British Empire was located in the Far East. Australia, India, New Zealand, Singapore, New Guinea, Burma, N. Borneo, Somalia, Oceana, and much of E. Africa and islands around Malaya.

Men, raw materials, and oil all were supplying the British Empire's war machine through the Suez Canal. If they had to go around the southern tip of Africa, it would have taken several weeks longer to transit in very hazardous seas.

Answer 2

Egypt (and Sudan) was controlled by the British before and during the war. So during the war, the British had military forces there, because Italy controlled neighboring territory in modern Libya and Eritrea/Ethiopia. These British forces were able to pretty easily seize "Italian East Africa" (modern Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia), and also fought against the Italian and German forces in Libya.

In late 1942, a major Allied victory came at the second Battle of El Alamein, which is in northern Egypt, not far from Alexandria. One of Germany's best generals, Erwin Rommel, was decisively defeated by British general Bernard Montgomery, and within a few months, Axis forces were driven from Africa and the Allies were able to invade Italy. El Alamein and Stalingrad are often considered to be the major turning points in the European theater of the war.

Answer 3

Egypt controlled the Suez Canal, through which went all of the shipping traffic between Great Britain and the jewel of its overseas empire; India. Soldiers, rubber, and food from India helped England stay in the fight against Hitler's Germany. If Germany could wrest possession of the Canal from the British in Egypt, all commerce between England and Asia would have to go around the horn of Africa, greatly increasing shipping times and leaving the Mediterranean open to conquest by Germany and Italy.

Nazi General Rommel "The Desert Fox" was charged with that task. Because Italy was an ally of Germany, Rommel was able to transport an invasion force of Panzer tanks from Sicily over the short water distance to Tunis. From there he fought his way east. The ultimate goal was control of the Suez Canal, and then up through the Middle East to conquer the Arabian and Persian oil fields.

The British and Americans were able to stop him, but just barely, as Rommel was a master (some even say a genius) of tank warfare.

Answer 4

Egypt is home to the Suez Canal, and this was very important because it led to the oil fields in the Middle East

Answer 5

Egypt was of strategic importance as it guarded the Suez Canal