Cunningham, Alan

Cunningham, Alan (1887–1983) British general defeated by Erwin Rommel in North Africa Far less well known than his older brother, Adm. Sir Andrew Cunningham, Lt. Gen. Sir Alan Cunningham started the war as commander of British forces in Kenya beginning in November 1940. He preformed very effectively in East Africa in 1941, which earned him promotion to overall command of the Eighth British Army, which had been formed of British and Commonwealth personnel to oppose the forces of German general Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel in North Africa. Cunningham led an offensive (Operation Crusader) in November 1941, and was promptly out-generaled by Rommel at the Battle of Sidi Rezegh. When Gen. Claude John Ayre Auchinleck, British commander in chief of the Middle East, demonstrated his lack of confidence in Cunningham by intervening in Operation Crusader, Cunningham was removed from combat command and reassigned to rear-echelon administrative posts.