This second volume begins with the account of Mussolini attempting to
mirror Hitler in acts of aggression by thrusting towards Egypt and
capturing the important artery of the British Empire; the Suez Canal.
The Italian initiative failed and when its army was driven back with
heavy losses, Mussolini asked for help and Hitler sent Rommel.
Beginning in the spring of 1941, Axis forces, under a dynamic General
Rommel, pushed the British back to Egypt. In the meantime, Mussolini
decided on another easy target to spread his new 'Roman Empire' and
invaded Greece. Once again, his superior numbers were repelled and the
Greeks sent his army back to its starting point in Albania.
Hitler came to the aid of his Axis ally and Churchill sent the British
to help Greece, but in doing so, depleted his forces in North Africa.
During the Battle of Greece, Greek and British forces in the north of
the country were overwhelmed by a rapid German advance. The British
embarked for Crete and the Germans promptly captured the island with
their much-vaunted Fallschirmjager.
Matters were disheartening for the British people following these
defeats in North Africa and Greece. However, a morale boost came with
the sinking of the Bismarck and the defection of Rudolf Hess, Hitler's
deputy, in an amazing flight to Scotland. Then it came: in June, the
German Führer took on his greatest military challenge; the invasion of
Soviet Russia. By the end of the second year of the war, the Axis forces
were deep into Stalin's territory. Britain now had a major ally at last.
