In March 19, forces in Tripoli under the command of İsmail Enver Pasha, launched an attack on Sollum. This was quite unexpected for the Egyptians. They had no fortifications, no trenches, nothing to stop the Turks at all. Millitias in Enver Pasha's command made quite alot of problems. His much more disciplined mountaineers and cavalry were quite eager, but on the other hand, Arabic reserve infantary were not. Still, Egyptians were just too few to stop the attack. Enver's plan was to reach El Alamein and trap the Egyptian troops in the west of El Alamein. They had no chance of crossing Qattara or Great Sand Sea. Battle of Sollum saw the start of 1st El Alamein Offensive. Meanwhile, Forces that were fighting the Egyptians in the East of Suez and the ones fighting aganist Hedjaz were assinged to the command of Cihangirzade İbrahim Pasha. This force was led by a Lt. General, and was named 'Army Group Lighting' for historical reasons.
Battle of Sollum, an easy victory.
Meanwhile, Ahmed Zogollu, Prime Minister of Albania made a coup aganist Wilhelm I, with the help of Midhat Frashieri. Ottoman Empire responded this with a declaration of war, trusting the local Ottoman garrison. But, the garrison was mostly made of Albanians and led by an Albanian. They surrendered without a fight. This led to Hungarian declaration of war on the Empire, followed by Crotian. Although no attack was expected from either sides, this wasn't a good sign for Ottoman plans on Albania.
Albania declares independence from the Empire.
Hungary doesn't like the Ottoman answer to Albanian independence.
As the things raged on Europe, Enver Pasha gave no rest to Egyptians or his own soldiers. The same forces that faced Trablusgarb Ordusu were once again under fire in Sidi Barrani.
Battle of Sidi Barrani.
While on the march, Enver Pasha ordered Libyan soldiers under his command to take Rabia. Meanwhile, he issued a nonstop move order to El Alamein. If he was lucky, Egyptians were more worried about defending Suez then the Turkish march on their west.
Enver Pasha starts his march to El Alamein, while Libyans fought the lone Egyptian division marching across their own border.
Meanwhile, Greece made a gambit: They declared war on Albania. Although Albania was no longer under Ottoman protection, Hungary and Crotia proved to be very eager to defend this small country. Ottoman Empire acted uncaring about this, as Albania was already lost.
Greek declaration of war on Albania.
Meanwhile, Trablusgarb Ordusu had reached Mersa Matruh. As they were moving on to Fuka, they met resistance. This time, it was two fresh Egyptian divisions. Ottoman forces outnumbered the Egyptian ones, but still, they were too tired and disorganised. Enver Pasha was forced to cancel the attack.
Heavy resistance met in Fuka.
Hungary and Crotia responded to Greece with a declaration of war. Things were getting warmer in Eastern Europe.
Gambit Greeks played fails horribly, putting Serbia under great risk.
Meanwhile, Enver Pasha orders the Libyan division protecting his rear to attack Nibeiwa. They the resistance of a division there, but with the support of Enver Pasha's soldiers, Egyptians are pushed back.
Battle of Nibeiwa.
As an Egyptian division reached Al Jaghub, crossing the Libyan border, Enver Pasha responded by ordering a Libyan divisino to attack Siwa. This would encircle Egyptians, as they couldn't march into the Great Sand Sea, but still, they would keep their supplies running.
Manouvers near Libyan border.
Egyptians launched an attack on Libyans in Nibeiwa, putting Enver Pasha's flank at risk. Attackers came from Fuka, and so, Enver Pasha launched an attack at their flank at Fuka. Both of the battles ended with victory for the Empire
Egyptian attack on Nibeiwa.
Ottoman response.
Enver Pasha continues his march on El Alamein, not allowing his soldiers rest. Egyptians are also tired, so, Empire managed to win the battle. He managed to push them out of El Alamein. He later cancels his march, as Egyptians garrison the area once more, his soldiers are just too tired.
March on El Alamein, which had to be canceled later.
Libyan soldiers that reached Siwa are greeted with attacks on their both flanks. They are forced to retreat by Egyptians.
Egyptian attack on Siwa.
As soon as his soldiers rest, Enver Pasha once again launches an attack on El Alamein. He manages to push Egyptians back at the start, but they come back before he takes the control of the City. His soldiers are tired again, and so, he cancels the attack. First El Alamein Offensive is not a defeat, but Ottomans are unable to reach their target.
At first, Egyptian resistance was not enough to stop the Ottoman forces.
They come back fastly to El Alamein, and manage to stop the Ottomans.
Battle of Sollum, an easy victory.
Meanwhile, Ahmed Zogollu, Prime Minister of Albania made a coup aganist Wilhelm I, with the help of Midhat Frashieri. Ottoman Empire responded this with a declaration of war, trusting the local Ottoman garrison. But, the garrison was mostly made of Albanians and led by an Albanian. They surrendered without a fight. This led to Hungarian declaration of war on the Empire, followed by Crotian. Although no attack was expected from either sides, this wasn't a good sign for Ottoman plans on Albania.
Albania declares independence from the Empire.
Hungary doesn't like the Ottoman answer to Albanian independence.
As the things raged on Europe, Enver Pasha gave no rest to Egyptians or his own soldiers. The same forces that faced Trablusgarb Ordusu were once again under fire in Sidi Barrani.
Battle of Sidi Barrani.
While on the march, Enver Pasha ordered Libyan soldiers under his command to take Rabia. Meanwhile, he issued a nonstop move order to El Alamein. If he was lucky, Egyptians were more worried about defending Suez then the Turkish march on their west.
Enver Pasha starts his march to El Alamein, while Libyans fought the lone Egyptian division marching across their own border.
Meanwhile, Greece made a gambit: They declared war on Albania. Although Albania was no longer under Ottoman protection, Hungary and Crotia proved to be very eager to defend this small country. Ottoman Empire acted uncaring about this, as Albania was already lost.
Greek declaration of war on Albania.
Meanwhile, Trablusgarb Ordusu had reached Mersa Matruh. As they were moving on to Fuka, they met resistance. This time, it was two fresh Egyptian divisions. Ottoman forces outnumbered the Egyptian ones, but still, they were too tired and disorganised. Enver Pasha was forced to cancel the attack.
Heavy resistance met in Fuka.
Hungary and Crotia responded to Greece with a declaration of war. Things were getting warmer in Eastern Europe.
Gambit Greeks played fails horribly, putting Serbia under great risk.
Meanwhile, Enver Pasha orders the Libyan division protecting his rear to attack Nibeiwa. They the resistance of a division there, but with the support of Enver Pasha's soldiers, Egyptians are pushed back.
Battle of Nibeiwa.
As an Egyptian division reached Al Jaghub, crossing the Libyan border, Enver Pasha responded by ordering a Libyan divisino to attack Siwa. This would encircle Egyptians, as they couldn't march into the Great Sand Sea, but still, they would keep their supplies running.
Manouvers near Libyan border.
Egyptians launched an attack on Libyans in Nibeiwa, putting Enver Pasha's flank at risk. Attackers came from Fuka, and so, Enver Pasha launched an attack at their flank at Fuka. Both of the battles ended with victory for the Empire
Egyptian attack on Nibeiwa.
Ottoman response.
Enver Pasha continues his march on El Alamein, not allowing his soldiers rest. Egyptians are also tired, so, Empire managed to win the battle. He managed to push them out of El Alamein. He later cancels his march, as Egyptians garrison the area once more, his soldiers are just too tired.
March on El Alamein, which had to be canceled later.
Libyan soldiers that reached Siwa are greeted with attacks on their both flanks. They are forced to retreat by Egyptians.
Egyptian attack on Siwa.
As soon as his soldiers rest, Enver Pasha once again launches an attack on El Alamein. He manages to push Egyptians back at the start, but they come back before he takes the control of the City. His soldiers are tired again, and so, he cancels the attack. First El Alamein Offensive is not a defeat, but Ottomans are unable to reach their target.
At first, Egyptian resistance was not enough to stop the Ottoman forces.
They come back fastly to El Alamein, and manage to stop the Ottomans.
