Suez canal and oil transports

[charlie don't surf]

How important was the suez canal in world war two?

Why did the axis try to take it?

Did great britain transport oil through the suez and mideterranean or did they go around africa?

regards

[sid guttridge]

The Suez Canal was only important as long as the rest of the Mediterranean was open to British shipping. However, for most of the period June 1940 - July 1943 (or even later) the Mediterranean was not freely open to transit by Allied shipping. During this period it (and the oil from the Gulf) was sent round Africa at enormous expence in time wasted, fuel used, ships risked and lost etc. One reason why virtually the entire Commonwealth land war effort was tied down fighting only 2-4 German divisions and their Italian allies in North Africa for most of this time was that it was enormously difficult to supply the theatre around Africa while the Mediterranean was closed.

I do not think that the Suez Canal itself was of particular significance to Rommel or the Germans over 1940-42 as it was already rendered largely redundant as a strategic waterway by Axis dominance of the central Mediterranean. The canal was simply an unavoidable obstacle and important psychological marker on the route to a much more significant target - the oil of the Gulf.

[charlie don't surf]

Excellent reply, thanks1

regards

[charlie don't surf]

I also understand it as there was a big naval base at suez which was evacuated due to the axis advance. Is there any available resources online about the importance of suez and the british oil transports.

regards