Koufra

Koufra is a Oasis of Libya whose coordinates are. Very isolated in South-east from Libya, it with the characteristic to be surrounded by three Side S by depressions.

Agriculture with Koufra

The Libyan State launched in Koufra a very wide agricultural project aiming to develop agriculture in the desert mediums. It is about the irrigation of cultures thanks to fossil subterranean water, therefore nonrenewable, only aquifer sources of the area. The irrigation is done through a radial system, the circles thus obtained have a diameter of approximately a kilometer and can be seen since space.

The battle of Koufra

December 21st 1940, the column Leclerc, made up of 400 men and 55 motor vehicles under the orders of the colonel Philippe Leclerc lance an action towards the Libya.

The light reconnaissance patrol reaches Koufra the February 7th 1941 and brings back its observations to the remainder of the group: the bombardments carried out by the French aviation, including 12 Lysander and 6 Blenheim, on Koufra had not given great results.

The February 16th the French arrive at the accesses of Koufra and put in rout the Italy NS of the Sahariana di Cufra . Begin the head office of Koufra then.

The single gun of lieutenant Ceccaldi draws a few tens of blows per day while constantly moving its part, one 75 of mountain, in order to make accept the enemy who an important armed force the attack. In the same time of the patrols defenses of the position test.

Badgered by 10 days with combat, the Italy NS try parlementer. Leclerc promises a honourable treatment in the event of rendering to them. The captain ordering the Italian forces accepts the offer and signs the capitulation of the fortified town. It included/understood 400 Europeans, 800 natives, 4 guns and 53 machine-guns.

BBC will announce a little later the remote battle of Koufra in very eulogistic terms.

The Oath of Koufra

The March 2nd 1941, the colonel Philippe Leclerc lends with his men the “oath of Koufra”:

I swear to deposit the weapons only when our colors, our beautiful colors, float on the cathedral of Strasbourg .

It will respect this oath by releasing Strasbourg the November 23rd 1944 with the head of the 2 {{E}} armor-plated division.

Sources

Hope n°107 p6; The Leclerc General and Free French Africa 1940-1942/Actes of the International symposium p297; Chronicles of the History: Leclerc p27.
Troops of navy

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