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Today we solemnly remember those who served and sacrificed all in the defense of the values we all hold dear. On this Memorial Day and every day... we will never forget you. ... See MoreSee Less
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First run of the new M36 Jackson 90 mm Gun Motor Carriage / Tank Destroyer that will be publicly unveiled this weekend at the Tank Demonstration Weekend! Get tickets for the event and book a ride on the M36 Jackson ($195 per person) via the links at www.americanheritagemuseum.org/event/tank-demonstration-weekend-may-2023/ ... See MoreSee Less
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The weather this weekend looks perfect for our Tank Demonstration Weekend - May 27th and 28th at the American Heritage Museum from 9am to 5pm daily! Get a taste of what you might see at this video! Get tickets at: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/event/tank-demonstration-weekend-may-2023/ ... See MoreSee Less
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Our WWII Tank Demonstration weekend is coming up on May 27th and 28th. We have some special guests! WWII Veterans Bill Purple, Alfred Consigli and Russ Phipps (101!) will be joining us for a WWII Veteran talk around 10:30 and 1:30 both Saturday and Sunday. Amazing, incredible stories from these gentleman! Not to be missed. ... See MoreSee Less
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Get ready for our first Summer living history weekend next week with Tank Demonstration Weekend on Memorial Day Weekend - May 27th and 28th! Event details & tickets at: ahmus.me/23-05 - See some of the most historic American WWII tanks in operation all weekend including the M4 Sherman, M26 Pershing, M5 Stuart, M24 Chaffee, M18 Hellcat, and the first public appearance of our new M36 Jackson tank destroyer! All museum buildings are open and part of event admission... including the hangar and the car museum! ... See MoreSee Less
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North Africa


M3 Lee
– USA | TANK

Matilda MK.II – UK | TANK

Sd.Kfz 10 1-Ton – GER | PERSONNEL CARRIER/PRIME MOVER

Leichter Panzerspähwagen SdKfz 222 – GER | SCOUT ARMORED CAR

BMW R75 & Sidecar – GER | MOTORCYCLE & SIDE CAR

7.5 cm Pak 40 – GER | ANTI-TANK GUN

The North African Campaign of the Second World War started June 10th, 1940, when Fascist Italy declared war on Britain and France. It lasted until May 13th, 1943, when the last Axis troops in Africa surrendered in Tunisia, including the defeated Afrika Korps sent by Hitler to prop up his faltering Italian ally.

The United States officially entered the war against Germany on December 11, 1941. Struggling against Japan while arming and training its brand new mass armies in haste, the United States began direct military assistance to Allied forces in North Africa on May 11th, 1942. Canada provided a small contingent of 348 officers and enlisted. Australians, Indians, and South Africans also fought under British command in Egypt and Libya, where Britain’s 8th Army and the ‘Desert Rats’ were led by General Montgomery. Meanwhile, Free French forces struck out for North Africa from deep inside West Africa, as the Allies sought to drive the Axis out of Africa as a preliminary to the invasion of Italy and Germany.

The training, build-up, and transport of green American forces took time. While tanks and troops were supplied to the British, large numbers of American troops did not arrive in North Africa to join in the Allied effort until the start of Operation Torch in November, 1942. With some American material assistance, including tanks and aircraft and intelligence assets, British and Commonwealth forces fought the Axis in campaigns in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts (Western Desert Campaign). Anglo-American landings in Morocco and Algeria (Operation Torch), as well as Tunisia (Tunisia Campaign) book-ended a coordinated Allied strategy of driving and squeezing the last Axis armies in North Africa from east and west, until their total defeat and surrender in Tunisia May 1943.

The battle for North Africa was primarily a struggle for control of the Suez Canal and access to oil from the Middle East and raw materials from Asia, but also an effort to drive Italy out of the war as a prelude to invasion of southern Europe and a planned bombing campaign against Germany. It was the place German and American armies first faced off against each other. After early and terrible losses to the Germans, soldiers from America joined the ongoing Allied effort in North Africa and helped turn the tide of war decisively against the Axis. Next would come landings in Sicily and southern Italy. Based in a secured North Africa, bombers and invading armies would next bring the war home to the heartlands of the fascist nations themselves.

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OPEN TODAY - MEMORIAL DAY

The American Heritage Museum is open today, Monday, May 29th from 10:00am to 5:00pm for Memorial Day,