On June 21, 1884, Oginlake was born in Aldershawt, England. At the age of 12, Auchinleck entered the prestigious Wellington College in the United Kingdom, he was very personal, self-confident, and had excellent results in history, geography and English, but not ideal in mathematics. In January 1902, Auchinleck was admitted to the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, and after graduating in December of the same year, he went to serve in India.
In 1914, when World War I broke out and British and Turkish troops fought fiercely in Mesopotamia, Auchinlake gained valuable practical combat experience and became suspicious of traditional military theory. In 1919, Auchinlake was sent to the Quetta Staff College for further study. After graduating from the Quetta Staff College, Auchinleck first served as a staff officer at Quartermaster Command in Shimla and then back to the field forces. In 1927, Okinlake was sent to the Imperial Defence Academy for further study. After graduating, Auchinleck served as a regimental commander and then as an instructor at the Quetta Staff College. In 1935, Auchinleck was promoted to major general and the following year he became deputy chief of staff of the British and Indian armies.
In 1939, war broke out on the European continent, and Auchinlake was transferred back to Britain. He served successively as commander of the army and commander of the British Southern Military District, and was promoted to lieutenant general. In January 1941, Auchinleck returned to India as Commander-in-Chief of the British Army. In July 1941, when the war in North Africa was critical, Auchinlake was transferred there, succeeding Wavell as commander-in-chief of the British Army in the Middle East and promoted to general.
In early 1941, British forces in North Africa drove the Italians out of western Cyrenaica. But with the arrival of Rommel, the British began to retreat. If the Germans captured Egypt, the Allies' sea lines of communication from the Mediterranean to India would be cut off, and the war situation would be unimaginable. Churchill therefore demanded that Oginlake attack quickly.
The first battle Auchinleck commanded in North Africa was the Crusader Campaign. In the early morning hours of November 18, 1941, the British 30th Army quietly crossed the border and headed straight for Tobruck. The move was unexpected by Rommel, who was preparing to attack Tobruk with all his might. On the evening of the 18th, the British repelled the German cover forces in the desert to the south. Advance forces captured the sidi Rajg airfield, just 12 miles from the Tobruk Ring Line. On 21 November, Rommel gradually ascertained the British deployment and ordered the German 15th and 21st Panzer Divisions to move closer and first attack the British advance force in Sidi Rajge. On 22 November, the British 13th Army on the front of the border was ordered to attack. One of the New Zealand divisions of the army marched towardSidirajg and captured the African Army Command in the early morning of the 23rd. On the same day, two German panzer divisions suddenly launched an attack on the British forces in Sidi Rajg, and the British troops who had entered the area were divided by the Germans, and the Germans were also severely damaged, leaving only more than 90 of the more than 170 tanks.
Cunningham, commander of the 1st Army, believed that the battle had been lost and considered letting the British retreat into Egypt. At this critical moment, Auchinleck flew from Cairo to the front, judging the Heavy Losses of the Germans and opposing the retreat of the British. Ochinleek later recalled: "My opinion was different from Cunningham's, and I think Rommel must have been as embarrassed as we were, especially since Tobruk was still standing unyieldingly behind him." So I ordered the attack to continue. ”
In the end, Auchinlake led LinkedIn army to repel Rommel's Army of North Africa, saving the situation in North Africa. The Battle of the Crusaders was Britain's first military victory over Germany in World War II, and even Churchill exclaimed: "Auchinleck saved the battle, and he proved with his actions his outstanding qualities as a field commander."
After the victory of the Crusaders, Churchill again urged Oginlake to attack the Germans. However, Auchinleck insisted that the British needed sufficient time to complete their own reorganization and further strengthen their equipment and training, and that if they launched an immature offensive too early, not only would the British suffer huge losses. And Egypt is also in danger of losing. However, the optimistic but impatient Churchill was reluctant to heed advice for political reasons. In January 1942, after receiving reinforcements from his own country, Rommel prepared to launch an offensive against the British. In early February, the British built fortifications along the Jazara line and prepared to hold on. In May 1942, the British War Cabinet formally ordered That Auchinlake must attack by June 1 or he would be dismissed. Rommel preemptively launched an attack on the British on 26 May, and Auchinleck was spared disobedience. In the ensuing period, the two sides fought fiercely, and Auchinleck successfully withstood Rommel's fierce attack, and Rommel was forced to rest. But at this time, Churchill flew to Cairo, and for political propaganda needs and morale boost, Churchill demanded that Oginlake launch an offensive. However, as a soldier and battlefield commander, Auchinleck could not avoid the objective reality on the battlefield, and could not make unnecessary sacrifices for the lives of soldiers. Oginleck staunchly resisted and insisted that the offensive would not be launched until September anyway. In a fit of rage, Churchill dismissed Auchinleck as commander-in-chief of the British Army in the Middle East and commander of the 8th Army, and the two positions were taken over by Alexander and Montgomery respectively.
Auchinleck was commander-in-chief of the British Army in the Middle East for only one year, but he made great contributions to Britain. Thanks to his efforts. It was only then that the British were able to withstand Rommel's offensive momentum and survive the most difficult moment in the history of the Second World War. Just a month after O'Kinlake's departure, the British forces in North Africa won the Battle of El Alamein in accordance with the battle plan that Oginlake had drawn up. In 1946, Auchinlake was awarded the rank of Field Marshal.
In 1981, Auchinlake died in the United Kingdom.