In 1942, the Axis powers appear to be in ascendence in both eastern Europe and Africa. The Wehrmacht attacks in Operation Barbarossa have been making great advances through the Soviet Union. In North Africa, the Afrika Korps, led by Generalleutnant Erwin Rommel have pushed back the Allied forces and begun the Siege of Tobruk, a major garrison. With the success of these two campaigns, Nazi Germany was poised to push through the Middle East to India, joining Japanese forces striking from China and Burma.