Cyrenaica

Wrapping up the Western Desert Campaign.

This detailed map of the North African region of Cyrenaica covers a large portion of the Mediterranean coast between Eastern Libya and Western Egypt, including the heavily fortified island of Crete. It is a revised copy of the Second Edition, issued in June of 1943 by the Geographical Section of the General Staff (G.S.G.S.) at the British War Office.

The image presents a large variety of relevant data including geographic features, primary settlements, barbed wire emplacements, transportation routes, and more according to the two keys in the lower margin. In November of 1942, the British won a decisive and important victory at the Second Battle of El Alamein. The town for which the engagement was named can be seen situated on the railway line in the far right.

The results halted the Axis eastward advance into Egypt and allowed an Allied counterattack, pushing back across the deserts of Libya. A subsequent battle took place at El Ageila (far left) in December, while earlier engagements (as part of the German offensive) occurred at Tobruk, Sidi Barrani, and Mersa Matruh.

Source.