Following the losing Cyrenaica, Italy asked for a German intervention, as well as in February 1941 the initial troops of that which was to become the famous Deutsche Afrika Korps led by General Erwin Rommel had been sent to North Africa. The troops regarding the Axis in a few months took right back Cyrenaica and Tobruk, and advanced level into Egypt. Constantly short on supplies, these people were beaten by the 8th British Army at El Alamein. The extra pressure brought on by the American arrival in Morocco forced the Afrika Korps to slowly retreat in Tunisia during 1943.