Rubuta ci gaba don wannan sakin layi - Sojojin Italiya (da abokansu na Libya na asali - game da ƙungiyoyi biyu na karshen) sun mamaye Misira a farkon Satumba 1940 amma sun dakatar da ci gaban su bayan mako guda kuma suka yi ta tonowa a Sidi Barrani. A farkon watan Disamba, sojojin Daular Burtaniya - wani rukuni na sulke da rukuni biyu na sojoji - sun kaddamar da wani hari mai suna Operation Compass. A baya dai Italiya ta mamaye Albania
da kuma mamaye wani ɓangare na kudancin Faransa, kuma yanzu ya yi wani soja mamayewa a cikin wani Birtaniya protectorate.