Analyze why North Africa was a key location for the British to defend.(1 point)
Responses
The Allies needed to protect the Cape of Good Hope from invasion.
The Allies needed to protect the Cape of Good Hope from invasion.
The Axis powers wanted to gain control of oil fields in Iraq.
The Axis powers wanted to gain control of oil fields in Iraq.
The Allies wanted to protect the cotton production in North Africa.
The Allies wanted to protect the cotton production in North Africa.
The Allies needed to maintain shipping lanes through Egypt.
Correct response: The Allies needed to maintain shipping lanes through Egypt.
North Africa, particularly Egypt, was a key location for the British to defend because it provided a vital link between Europe and Asia. The Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, served as a crucial shipping route for the Allies to transport troops, supplies, and resources between these two regions. By maintaining control over North Africa, particularly Egypt, the Allies were able to secure and protect these shipping lanes, which were crucial for sustaining their war effort in the Middle East and beyond.