In 1943 the British Armies and its allies liberated Libya from its 32 year occupation by the axis powers during World War II; leading to Libya's independence in 1951, the first country to gain independence through the United Nations. Half a century after independence, the United Kingdom was once again at the side of the Libyan people in helping to overthrow the oppressive regime of Qadhafi after more than 40 years of autocratic rule.