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An idealized image of the take over of Ottoman Libya by Italy in 1912.
Italian North Africa was the aggregate of territories and colonies controlled by Italy in North Africa from 1912 until World War II. Italian North Africa, unlike Italian East Africa existed in two phases: from 1912 to 1934, as Tripolitania and Cyrenaica, and after 1934, as Libya. Indeed, from 1934 to 1940, Italian North Africa was then known as Libya as the North African territories were consolidated into one colony, Italian Libya. Lybia was even called by Mussolini the Fourth Shore (in italian the "Quarta Sponda") of Italy.
From 1940 to 1943, Italy attempted to conquer Egypt and Tunisia to enlarge the Italian North Africa. Rommel's military advances in North Africa were done on the behalf of Italy which allowed Italy to lay claim to significant portions of western Egypt from 1941 to 1942 and to claim Tunisia from 1942 to 1943. Tunisia was considered part of the Fourth Shore in november 1942. All legally established territory of Italian North Africa was dissolved by 1943, Tunisia remained the last de facto Italian administered territory before Tunisia fell to American and British forces in mid 1943.
[edit] Colonies and Territories within Italian North Africa
From 1912 to 1927, Italian North Africa was an entity to itself, and from 1934 to 1941, Italian North Africa was united into the single colony of Italian Libya.
From 1942 to 1943 Tunisia was added, and was administered as part of the Fourth Shore of Italy.
[edit] 1927-1934
[edit] 1934-1941
[edit] 1941-1943
[edit] See also
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