Frontier Wire (Libya)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Frontier Wire was 271 kilometer obstacle in Libya, near the border of Egypt, running from El Ramleh (located in the Gulf of Sollum between Bardia and Sollum) down to Al-Jaghbub.[1] It was built by Italian forces, under the command of General Rodolfo Graziani, in the winter of 1931/1932[2] due the Italian's struggle with Omar Mukhtar's Senussi resistors.[1] The purpose of the wire was to hinder the resistances movement of men and materials with Egypt, as they were supplied by British forces in that region.[1]
The obstacle itself was four lines of 1.7 meter high stakes laced with barbed wire in-between.[3] It was patrolled by Italian forces and had nine outposts along its length; the three larger forts were located at Amseat, Scegga, and Al-Jaghbub, the smaller ones were at El Ramleh, Sidi Omar, Sceferzen, Vescechet, Garn ul Grein, and El Aamara.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Fallen Eagles: The Italian 10th Army in the opening campaign in the Western Desert, June 1940 - December 1940, pg. 14
- ^ Time Magazine: Peace in Libya
- ^ 28 (Maori) Battalion, pg. 142
