BATTLE OF THE DESERT: 40 & 8

Data on the comparative fighting abilities of Germans and Italians: > Axis prisoner arrivals in Egypt via Alexandria totaled 8,108 by mid-December (as against the 180,000 Italians captured in the first Libyan campaign). > Captured Italians from Libya and German fifth columnists from Iran were landed in Australia. For every eight Germans: one guard. For every 40 Italians: one guard.

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