Frontier Wire (Libya)
Encyclopedia
The Frontier Wire was a 271 km (168.4 mi) obstacle in Italian Libya
, along the with border of Egypt
, running from El Ramleh (located in the Gulf of Sollum between Bardia
and Sollum) down to Jaghbub. It was built by Italian forces
—under the command of General
Rodolfo Graziani
—in the winter of 1931/1932 due the Italian's struggle
with Omar Mukhtar
's Senussi
resistors. 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.
The obstacle itself was four lines of 1.7 meter high stakes laced with barbed wire
in-between. It was patrolled by Italian forces and had nine outposts along its length; the three larger forts were located at Amseat (Fort Capuzzo
), Scegga (Fort Maddalena), and Jaghbub, the smaller ones were at El Ramleh, Sidi Omar, Sceferzen, Vescechet, Garn ul Grein, and El Aamara.
Italian Libya
Italian Libya was a unified colony of Italian North Africa established in 1934 in what represents present-day Libya...
, along the with border of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, running from El Ramleh (located in the Gulf of Sollum between Bardia
Bardia
Bardia is a geographic region in the Democratic Republic of Nepal.Bardia comprises a portion of the Terai, or lowland hills and valleys of southern Nepal. The Terai is over 1,000 feet in elevation, and extends all along the Indian border...
and Sollum) down to Jaghbub. It was built by Italian forces
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
—under the command of General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Rodolfo Graziani
Rodolfo Graziani
Rodolfo Graziani, 1st Marquis of Neghelli , was an officer in the Italian Regio Esercito who led military expeditions in Africa before and during World War II.-Rise to prominence:...
—in the winter of 1931/1932 due the Italian's struggle
History of Libya as Italian Colony
The History of Libya as an Italian colony began in the 1910s and lasted until February 1947, when Italy officially lost all the colonies of the former Italian Empire.-First years:...
with Omar Mukhtar
Omar Mukhtar
Omar Mukhtar , of the Mnifa, was born in the small village of Janzour, near Tobruk in eastern Barqa in Libya. Beginning in 1912, he organized and, for nearly twenty years, led native resistance to Italian colonization of Libya. The Italians captured and hanged him in 1931...
's Senussi
Senussi
The Senussi or Sanussi refers to a Muslim political-religious order in Libya and the Sudan region founded in Mecca in 1837 by the Grand Senussi, Sayyid Muhammad ibn Ali as-Senussi. Senussi was concerned with both the decline of Islamic thought and spirituality and the weakening of Muslim political...
resistors. The purpose of the wire was to hinder the resistances movement of men and materials with Egypt, as they were supplied by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
forces in that region.
The obstacle itself was four lines of 1.7 meter high stakes laced with barbed wire
Barbed wire
Barbed wire, also known as barb wire , is a type of fencing wire constructed with sharp edges or points arranged at intervals along the strand. It is used to construct inexpensive fences and is used atop walls surrounding secured property...
in-between. It was patrolled by Italian forces and had nine outposts along its length; the three larger forts were located at Amseat (Fort Capuzzo
Fort Capuzzo
Fort Capuzzo was a fort in the Italiancolony of Libya, near the Libyan-Egyptian border. It is famous for its role during the World War II.Within a week of Italy's 10 June 1940 declaration of war upon Britain, the British Army's 11th Hussars captured Fort Capuzzo...
), Scegga (Fort Maddalena), and Jaghbub, the smaller ones were at El Ramleh, Sidi Omar, Sceferzen, Vescechet, Garn ul Grein, and El Aamara.
External links
- Time Magazine: Peace in Libya (Feb. 08, 1932)
- Fallen Eagles: The Italian 10th Army in the opening campaign in the Western Desert, June 1940 - December 1940
- 28 (Maori) Battalion: CHAPTER 6 — Sollum and Gazala
- http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/collection/limitsinseas/ibs061.pdf
- The wire at Fort Maddalena http://wikimapia.org/#lat=30.8739402&lon=24.982996&z=15&l=0&m=b