Sir Claude John Eyre Auchinleck (June 21, 1884- March 23, 1981) was a British Indian Army General during the Second World War. He spent most of his military career in India and he quickly rose through the ranks becoming commander in chief of the Indian Armies in World War II.
Biography[]
Claude Auchinleck was born on June 21, 1884 in Aldershot, Hampshire, England. His Military Career began in 1904 and he fought in the First World War in the Middle Eastern Campaigns. In 1940, at the outbreak of World War II, Auchinleck was assigned to command the British IV Corps during the Norwegian Campaign of World War II against the Nazi Wehrmacht Invasion Force which consisted of primarily the Kriegsmarine, the German Navy from World War II. In 1941, Auchinleck was promoted to a general and commanded British Commonwealth Forces to defeat the Pro-Axis Forces in Iraq under Prime Minister Rashid Ali. The Anglo-Iraqi War resulted in a British Commonwealth Victory. In July 1941, Claude Auchinleck was put in charge of the Middle East Command. In November 1941, Auchinleck commanded British Commonwealth Forces in the British Offensive codenamed Operation Crusader in Egypt and Libya against the Italo-German Forces in North Africa under the command of Erwin Rommel, the battle resulted in an Allied Victory on December 30, 1941. In June 1942, Claude Auchinleck commanded British Commonwealth Forces in the Gazala defenses against The Italo-German Forces, the battle resulted in an Axis Victory with the retreat of the British Forces into Egypt where the Battles of El Alamein would take place and end with the British Commonwealth Victories and the end of the Axis threats in Egypt. Auchinleck was relieved from command of the British 8th Army in 1942. Claude Auchinleck passed away in Morroco on March 23, 1981.