Situated close to the borders of Sudan, Egypt and Chad; Khoufra was one of Libya's key positions in WW2 and consequently had a permanent Italian Guard throughout the early stages of the war, as they did with other oases in the area. The Fort of El Tadj protects the vitally important town of El Djof and it's airfield. The permanent garrison was 400 strong, backed up with a flight of fighter/bombers.
On the 26th January 1941, with a small detachment, Colonel Leclerc left Faya (Chad) and marched on the oasis; 800 kms to the North! He repulsed an Italian Saharian company which had come over to investigate his column, and succeeded in isolating the Fort of El Tadj by skirting around it. For six days the Fort was bombarded by the single 75mm gun carried by the Leclerc Column until finally, on the 1st March the white flag was hoisted above the citadel.
The Flag of the Free French Forces was hoisted above the fort. Leclerc had captured nearly 400 men, 53 machine guns and four cannon. On the 2nd March at the official flag hoisting ceremony, Leclerc took an oath not to cease combat until the French flag flew over Strasbourg and Metz. He kept that oath.
My build will encompass several of the "colonial" soldiers from the French Territories of Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and La Legion Etrangere also have a couple of camels and a Donkey or two just to add something different. Researching some of the uniforms produced some interesting results with a good mix of colours. The first few pictures are the first weekend's work on the build. Oh, by the way, there will be a motorbike in the build, probably a Gnome-Rhone.
Some camels, a donkey, a Legionnaire and some locals.
On this occasion, two of the Goumiers (Moroccan Berbers), one headless the other ok. The striped robe they wore was there tribal identity. Apparently they were vicious litt!s buggers!
BMW and a Zundapp in Afrika Korps livery. They may or may not feature.
On the 26th January 1941, with a small detachment, Colonel Leclerc left Faya (Chad) and marched on the oasis; 800 kms to the North! He repulsed an Italian Saharian company which had come over to investigate his column, and succeeded in isolating the Fort of El Tadj by skirting around it. For six days the Fort was bombarded by the single 75mm gun carried by the Leclerc Column until finally, on the 1st March the white flag was hoisted above the citadel.
The Flag of the Free French Forces was hoisted above the fort. Leclerc had captured nearly 400 men, 53 machine guns and four cannon. On the 2nd March at the official flag hoisting ceremony, Leclerc took an oath not to cease combat until the French flag flew over Strasbourg and Metz. He kept that oath.
My build will encompass several of the "colonial" soldiers from the French Territories of Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and La Legion Etrangere also have a couple of camels and a Donkey or two just to add something different. Researching some of the uniforms produced some interesting results with a good mix of colours. The first few pictures are the first weekend's work on the build. Oh, by the way, there will be a motorbike in the build, probably a Gnome-Rhone.
Some camels, a donkey, a Legionnaire and some locals.
On this occasion, two of the Goumiers (Moroccan Berbers), one headless the other ok. The striped robe they wore was there tribal identity. Apparently they were vicious litt!s buggers!
BMW and a Zundapp in Afrika Korps livery. They may or may not feature.