Where to start if you want to read good books about World War Two in North Africa? To be frank, history lovers have tons to choose from. Older books and memoirs provide impeccable accounts of British tank divisions, General Rommel and the Afrikakorps, and the battle of El Alamein. These include excellent works like Take These Men (first published in 1955), Rommel: The Desert Fox (1950), Foxes of the Desert: The Story of the Afrikakorps (1960), and Alamein to Zem Zem (1946).
More recent books deserve our attention too, highlighting the North African campaign from new angles. They analyze the impact and tactics of both sides through close studies of individual military divisions and specific cities. Today we explore some of these newer works, looking at daring raids by an elite British unit, the exploits of Italian paratroopers, the arrival of American forces, and more.
A huge thank you to my friend Hoyt Cruze for the suggestions and advice that led to this post. Hoyt is a veteran, an avid history buff, and the author of this beautiful article on the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial in Tunisia. On the side, he also runs a fantastic LEGO/Military History account on Instagram.
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An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa, 1942-1943
Rick Atkinson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book is a prominent feature in any booklist about North Africa in World War Two. Reviewers describe it as monumental, a masterpiece, and an exceptional work. It covers U.S. involvement in North Africa from the Allied invasion in November 1942 (Operation Torch) through the fall of Tunis in 1943. This book excels in its historical detail and rich narrative, drawing on scores of books, periodicals, transcripts, diaries and personal narratives. Readers see the intricate planning of the landings in Morocco and Algeria, before joining the soldiers for the assault itself. As Allied forces capture cities and push eastward, the book’s maps and pictures further strengthen the narrative.
This work is actually the first part of a World War Two trilogy by Atkinson. Each book focuses on the American Army’s experience, starting here with North Africa, then continuing in Sicily and Italy, and into Western Europe. Start with this volume for an excellent study of the conflict in North Africa from 1942-43.
The Long Range Desert Group in World War II
Allied engagement in North Africa did not start in 1942 however. This book by award-winning author Gavin Mortimer shows the impact of British forces in the region. As early as 1940, the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) launched raids behind enemy lines and guided other units across the desert. Using a mix of interviews, photos and archival materials, Mortimer relates the origins of the unit and its daring exploits. These soldiers traversed the desert with relative ease, using striped down vehicles retrofitted for the harsh environment. The book relates stories of their deep reconnaissance and surprise attacks, such as their raid on Murzaq airfield deep in southern Libya.
Mortimer concludes the book with tales of the LRDG outside of North Africa. After the surrender of Tunis, the unit shifted to Yugoslavia, Albania, Italy and Greece, excelling there in operations by boat and on foot. Detailed photos punctuate all these stories, further enhancing this fascinating book.
Italian Folgore Parachute Division: Operations in North Africa 1940-43
This superbly researched book provides a rare account of an Italian unit’s influence on the North African campaign. Military historian Paolo Morisi describes the formation, training and battles of the Folgore paratroop unit. Originally created for an attack on Malta that never materialized, the Folgore distinguished themselves in North Africa with their skill and bravery, despite a lack of equipment.
Morisi’s book begins with the unit’s training and recruitment before shifting to their specific battles and exploits. Used as an elite light infantry, the Folgore fought at Alam El Haifa against troops from Britain and New Zealand, formed a fierce defense against Operation Lightfoot at El Alamein, and then reinforced the Axis lines during battles in Tunisia. Overall, this work is an excellent addition to the field of World War Two history, where books on North Africa predominantly focus on the British and German forces.
Destination Casablanca: Exiles, Espionage, and the Battle for North Africa in World War II
Meredith’s Hindley’s excellent book explores World War Two in North Africa using a different approach. Rather than focusing on one division, battle, or commander, she studies the war through a detailed history of one city, Casablanca. In the war era, this city was the site of a dizzying struggle between politicians, soldiers, spies and resistance fighters. And Hindley packs her work with intricate stories of people and events over the course of the war.
It starts with Casablanca under Vichy leadership and we see the influx of refugees, and then the city’s capture in 1942. Allied forces took the city in a matter of days, securing a key military objective, including the valuable port and airbases. Over the course of the book, readers see the strategic role of Casablanca through the eyes of both sides, as political and military leaders struggle for control, both openly and covertly.
What Next?
Start reading! Look for these books at your local library. Or, better yet, support these authors by purchasing their work for yourself. Go to your neighborhood bookstore, click the links above, or visit online sites like Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or Powell’s.
Then look at other books too, including those that cover World War Two beyond North Africa. A Bridge Too Far, by Cornelius Ryan, is a bestseller and one of Hoyt’s favorites as well. It covers Operation Market Garden, the Allied assault into Holland in September 1944, an attempt to cross the Rhine River into Germany. The author astutely tells the perspective from all sides. We see the field from the generals’ point of view down to the soldiers actually fighting the battle. We see the views of Dutch civilians as well as Allied troops and German forces. Other excellent authors include British historian Anthony Beevor (start with Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-43 or Ardennes 1944: The Battle of the Bulge). And British-American historian Alex Kerhsaw (try The First Wave: The D-Day Warriors Who Led the Way to Victory in World War II).
My blog has much more explore as well. Subscribe here if you haven’t already! And check out previous posts where we’ve seen poet Nizar Qabbani’s lyrical imagery, marveled at the decor in the Regional Theater of Oran, studied the stunning colors and modern art brushstrokes of eight Iraqi painters, and taken a trip through the history of Marrakesh as seen in six beautiful buildings.
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