Video: Jan. 23, 1943 (at 7:52)

(Saturday, January 23, 1943, 5 a.m. local time; part of the Western Desert Campaign of World War II) — The conquering British Eighth army wrested Tripoli from the Axis today and the conquest of Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini’s African empire, which British Prime Minister Winston Churchill pledged in 1940 would be torn “to shreds and tatters,” was all but complete.

Rear guards left behind by German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel to slow the pursuit of his main forces into Tunisia were overwhelmed and the British took possession of the burning city at 5 a. m., officials announced in Cairo. “Our forward troops entered Tripoli early this morning,” British headquarters announced.