[2] On 1 January 1941, while the Western Desert Force was fighting the Italian Tenth Army during Operation Compass, it was redesignated "13th Corps".

Allied forces in the Western Desert took a defensive posture as Middle East Command focused on the Battle of Greece.

[3] The Corps remained part of the Eighth Army throughout the rest of the North African Campaign, which finally ended in May 1943.

[3] 13th Corps then fought as the right wing of the Eighth Army along the Adriatic coast until the end of 1943, participating in the Moro River Campaign.

This victory was of enormous significance as it collapsed or bypassed the German defenses of Gustav Line and led to the capture of Rome.

2nd New Zealand Division, operating with the corps, confronted Yugoslav troops at Trieste, entering and capturing the city.