Share beginning on 10th april, 1941, and lasting 240 days, the siege of tobruk is a mesmerising tale of human endurance and heroism, as the libyan ports 24,000 defenders met increasingly desperate attempts by rommels panzer divisions to break through the hurriedly thrownup defences. Abstract tobruk is remembered for the eightmonth siege and the aggressive policy of. G herman gill, royal australian navy, 19391942, australia in the war of 19391945, series 2 navy, vol. The siege of tobruk lasted 240 days during which the gallant garrison of allied soldiers, primarily the australian 9th division, held out against constant attacks from rommels afrika korps. Visit to know about the historic tobruk information. Behind two old outlying forts, they constructed an innovative fortification, consisting of a double line of concretelined trenches 54 km 34 mi long, connecting 128 weapons pits protected by concealed antitank ditches.
The garrison land battles air attacks supplying tobruk relief efforts. Rats of tobruk final bibliograohy history bibliographies in harvard style. The town later became a way station on the coastal caravan route. Is there a list of persons who are rats of tobruk answers. A hexand counter batallion and regimentlevel wargame depicting the battles for tobruk, north africa from april to june 1941. For his victory and the capture of tobruk, rommel was promoted to field marshal by hitler. The patrolling war in tobruk australian war memorial. Jan 27, 2016 tobruk was the one rock that stood firm against rommels inexorable advance in the desert. The italian invasion of ottoman libya the battle of.
In the aftermath of the battle he was also able to capture tobruk, which had held out for eight months in 1941, but fell after. German radio started calling the australians poor desert rats of tobruk, which they took immense pride in, calling themselves the rats of tobruk. The eighth army, formed in september 1941, was a diverse formation made up of units from all corners of. At the time the port was surrounded by a strong line of. Rats of tobruk final bibliograohy history bibliographies. War books on the australian siege of tobruk 194142. The siege of tobruk 1721 june 1942 was one of the more embarrassing british defeats in north africa, and helped to reduce churchills confidence in general auchinlecks abilities as a commander in 1941 tobruk had held out for eight months 10 april1617 december 1941, after being besieged towards the end of rommels first offensive.
Battle of gazala important battles throughout history. Rommels greatest victory serves well if all you need is a quick, synthesized look at this important battle, but it fails to provide even a glimmer of new information for historians, specialist readers or military professionals. Built from the inspiration of a board wargame of the year, ats was nominated for this very same award and has expanded into a popular system with over a dozen years development and going strong. Churchill urged that the port should be held to the death without thought of retirement. Pdf sidi rezegh and tobruk are the largest disasters suffered by south africa in its military history.
Simpson and duffy ww1 australian hero gallipoli childrens book not only a hero. The defence of tobruk was essential as germany was starting to grow their size and power. It was the site of antipyrgos, an ancient greek agricultural colony, and thereafter of a roman fortress guarding the cyrenaican frontier. Tobruk departed sydney for nukualofa on 27 may and arrived on 2 june. The siege of tobruk was lifted in december 1941 in the course of operation crusader.
Pdf most quarters of the allied camp greeted the fall of tobruk on 21 june. Tobruks strategic significance dates back millennia. The battle of tobruk personal stories although on the 31st of march in 1941, the german and italian troops had had to retreat, they quickly regained that same land and even more, pushing right up to the small town of tobruk where the australian 9th division and the brittish troops were stationed. The battle of tobruk marked a rare defeat for german armoured forces at this stage of the war. The siege continued for 240 days up to 27 november 1941.
Eighth army order of battle crusader 18 november 1941. The battle of gazala cost the allies around 98,000 men killed, wounded, and captured as well as around 540 tanks. The new zealand division attacks germanitalian strongpoints near the libyan border. It changed hands between the axis and allies twice. This action was later named the battle of the salient. Operation agreement, a british landing at tobruk during the night of 14 september, to rescue allied prisoners, was a failure. The successive failures by the italian and german troops to break through caused rommel to shift strategy. In late 1940, the allies had defeated the italian 10th army during operation compass 9 december 1940 9 february 1941 and trapped the remnants at beda. The capture of tobruk was essential for an advance on alexandria and suez. Siege of tobruk, aprildecember 1941 military history. The weapons they used were mostly bayonets and guns that were captured. Because he was preparing to take tobruk, rommel didnt fall into the trap. The battle of gazala near the modern town of ayn al ghazalah.
The f14s from vf32 were directed to intercept the mig23s, while the f14s from vf14 covered the a6s as they departed to the north. However, he chafed at being forced to conduct deliberate operations such as besieging tobruk. Tropical cyclone isaac struck tonga in early march and was the worst storm in tongas history, claimed six lives and leaving some 45,000 homeless. The tale of one of the longestrunning sieges in british military history, and a potent symbol of resistance. The siege of tobruk was the first occasion in the war that german panzer units had been stopped. The australian 9th division the rats of tobruk pulled back to tobruk to avoid encirclement after actions at er regima and mechili and.
The siege started on 11 february 1941, when tobruk was attacked by an italogerman force under lieutenant general erwin rommel, and continued for 240 days up to 27 november 1941, when it was relieved by the allied 8th army. The siege of tobruk lasted for 241 days in 1941, after axis forces advanced through cyrenaica. Battlegroup tobruk contains a general overviewof the early north africa campaign, from the italian invasion of egypt, throughthe long siege of tobruk, to operation crusader and the afrika korpscounterstroke that would bring them to the gazala line in early 1942. A brief history of the eighth army and the desert war. Tobruk was deployed to the korean war twice, and served with the far east strategic reserve on three occasions during the late 1950s. Siege of tobruk, by the axis from april to november 1941. The last rats were evacuated from tobruk and the japanese bombed pearl harbour, bringing the usa into the war. Siege of tobruk simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The siege of tobruk, 1941 timeline timetoast timelines. The battle started on 11 april 1941, when tobruk was besieged by an italian and nazi german force commanded by lieutenant general erwin rommel. However, the italians later reinvaded these strategic sites with superior forces in january 1912 and since then occupied the area of tobruk until their final victory. Operation crusader was launched on november 18 to december 30 to achieve what battle axe failed to do. British, indian, commonwealth and allied forces attacked italian forces of the 10th army marshal rodolfo graziani in western egypt and cyrenaica, the eastern province of libya, from december 1940 to february 1941. The siege of tobruk was a confrontation that lasted for 241 days between axis and allied forces in north africa during the western desert campaign of the second world war.
Because it is libyas only natural harbour, tobruk was. Axis forces recaptured the port on 21 june 1942, after defeating the eighth army in the battle of gazala. The last rats were evacuated from tobruk and the japanese bombed. The axis force was led by erwin rommel while general claude auchinleck commanded the allied forces. When the two brooks tobruk came together rommel pushed back the allies tobruk a strategically important port on the mediterranean coast of libya in north africa was the scene of some of the most prolonged fighting in world war ii, and changed. With the afrika korp distracted, tobruk could be relieved. Jun 04, 2012 does anyone know where i can find a good detailed order of battle for the axis forces during the first siege of tobruk in 1941. Racing around the advancing enemy, he tried to cut them off from the rear. Operation crusader was launched on november 18 to december 30 to achieve what battle. What you need to know about the siege of tobruk imperial war. The 1941 siege of tobruk, birth of the rats of tobruk. The defenders of tobruk and their besiegers were at a stalemate.
The battle of gazala 26 may14 june 1942 was rommels most impressive victory in north africa, and saw him force the british to abandon the defences of the gazala line and retreat back towards the egyptian frontier. The axis capture of tobruk, also known as the fall of tobruk and the second battle of tobruk 1721 june 1942 was part of the western desert campaign in libya during the second world war. But then, having captured allied battle plans and stopped an advance on tobruk, he saw an opportunity. Note in the interests of historical accuracy it must be noted that rommel also. For his part in the battle, morshead was made a knight commander of the order of. The siege of tobruk lasted 240 days during which the gallant garrison of allied soldiers, including the famous desert rats held out against constant attacks from rommels afrika korps. May 19, 2015 the battle of gazala was fought in north africa in 1942 and culminated with the allies losing tobruk a defeat winston churchill called a disgrace. The fall of the fortress town of tobruk south african. The history of tobruk has many interesting and brave stories for the future generations.
In 1941 tobruk had held out for eight months 10 april1617 december 1941, after being besieged towards the end of rommels first offensive. German experiences in desert warfare during world war ii pdf. Leah riches, the patrolling war in tobruk australian war memorial 1 tobruk is not a siege, nor a defence. From the 10 april to 27 november 1941, the forces defending tobruk stood firm against rommels surrounding troops. The siege of tobruk 1721 june 1942 was one of the more embarrassing british defeats in north africa, and helped to reduce churchills confidence in general auchinlecks abilities as a commander. The road to tobruk pdf 98 pages 53 megabytes tobruk 194042 note. The battle of tobruk, located on the north coast of africa, was a battle in world war 2 in which a contingent of australian and british soldiers held out against a superior force led by erwin.
Tobruk was the only deep water port in eastern libya and as a consequence it had been heavily fortified by its former italian garrison. An illustrated life of simpson, the man with the donkey a is for anzac primary school gallipoli book brief history of the third reich by m. In 1960, she was damaged beyond economical repair by sister ship hmas anzac during a gunnery exercise. Read tobruk s easter battle 1941 the forgotten fifteenths date with rommels champion by john mackenziesmith available from rakuten kobo. Built at the cockatoo island dockyard, the destroyer was completed in 1950. Also called as the siege of tobruk, this conflict lasted 241 days, from 10 april. Libya and the siege of tobruk 1941 timeline timetoast. Battle of tobruk 1911, an engagement in december 1911 during the italoturkish war capture of tobruk, the capture of tobruk by the allies in january 1941. Battle of gazala, 26 may14 june 1942 military history. Battlegroup historical rules for wwii visit for the. The axis consisted of the germans and the italians and the allied consisted of british, south african, indian and free french.
Australians, backed by british artillery and tanks, captured the fortress in the first allied drive through cyrenaica libya, and australian troops, again backed by british artillery, held it against as great odds as have been faced by any garrison in history. An infantry division against tanks tobruk, libya, 1941 dtic. Hmas tobruk d37 was a battle class destroyer of the royal australian navy ran. Axis losses were approximately 32,000 casualties and 114 tanks. In midfeb 1941, german forces began to arrive in north africa. The siege of tobruk 10 april1617 december 1941 saw a beleaguered allied garrison hold out for eight months against german and italian attacks, and helped prevent rommel taking full advantage of his victory in his first offensive, which had seen him conquer cyrenaica only a few weeks after it had fallen to the british. Men of the 2th battalion going out through the wire in tobruk, 30 april 1941 awm 007. What you need to know about the siege of tobruk imperial. I can find lots about the british forces but nothing about the germansitalians involved. Various patrol reports, the siege of tobruk, awm 52221. The siege of tobruk was a battle in libya during the north african campaign of world war ii. Tm 366g1 artists note readers may care to note that the original paintings from which the colour plates in this book were prepared are available for private sale. Siege of tobruk the siege of tobruk took place in the western desert of north africa in 1941 at the height of the second world war. It is a permanent offensive day after day, night after night.
Tobruk was captured by the germans and the 35,000strong garrison taken prisoner of war. Jun 05, 2017 this battle took place in tobruk, libya from may 22nd to june 21st, 1942. Tobruch is a port city on libyas eastern mediterranean coast, near the border with egypt. The battle was fought by panzer army africa panzerarmee afrikaarmata corazzata africa a germanitalian military force in north africa, which included the afrika korps, led by generalleutnant erwin. The siege of tobruk took place in the western desert of north africa in 1941 at the height of the second world war. In april 1941, german field marshal erwin rommel made its capture the main objective of his first offensive in north africa. The road to tobruk the north african campaign, 19401942. Siege of tobruk simple english wikipedia, the free. There are moments in military history that forever alter the flow of human events. Axis troops of the panzerarmee afrika generaloberst erwin rommel consisting of german and italian units fought the british eighth army general sir claude auchinleck, also.
The name rats of tobruk was given to the soldiers that took tobruk during the siege of tobruk during 1941. What was the cause of the battle of tobruk answers. Allies surrender at tobruk, libya on this day in 1942, general erwin rommel turns his assault on the britishallied garrison at tobruk, libya, into victory, as his panzer division occupies the. Lieutenant general erwin rommel, untried before the french campaign but by now a proven effective field commander, took command of this force. Tobruk history, history of tobruk, tobruk city information. While he gathered strength for the next attack, he placed tobruk in a state of siege by 5 divisions of italian troops ariete, trieste, pavia, bologna, and brescia. The battle of gazala came after there had been a lull in the war in north africa from february to midmay 1942. The german afrika corps under the command of general erwin rommel had commenced the offensive which drove the british forces eastwards across the desert to the egyptian frontier.
Battle of the atlantic conscription introduced evacuation declaration. The siege of tobruk ends with enemy forces retreating the german and italian forces retreat after a long seven and a bit months. Ebook or pdf edited book email encyclopedia article govt. The krieg ohne hasse war without hate in effect, mid1942. In australia in the war of 19391945 1967 the australian official history, maughan recorded 9th australian division casualties from 8 april 25 october. The initial australian and british victory over rommels afrika korps on easter monday 1941 at tobruk was germanys first. She departed the next day for vila, vanuatu, where, on 6 june, she unloaded defence cooperation program cargo for the vanuatu. Tobruk campaign map, 19411942 the british launch operation crusader in november 1941 to destroy the afrika korps german africa corps and lift the siege of tobruk.
The siege of tobruk was a battle in libya during world war ii. Rats of tobruk north africa ww2 battlefield v history. As we prepare for the 78th anniversary of the siege of tobruk, we. When planning the relief of tobruk in late 1941, british eighth army commanders brusquely discounted the opposition they would face from italian armored forces. The battle became one of the longest sieges in british military history and a potent symbol of british resistance. The battle of tobruk resulted in the allied victory over the germans. The small port of tobruk in italian cyrenaica had been fortified by the italians from 1935. Military books about the siege of tobruk 194142 books. Some of the far less mobile italian armored force was sent northwards and successfully used as a diversion which freed the german panzers to concentrate along the south a tactic used multiple times in previous desert battles which claimed. The battle of gazala, held just outside of tobruk began on may 26th and would last until june 21st, 1942. It is the capital of the butnan district formerly tobruk district and has a population of 120,000 2011. This battle was an important but secondary step for hindering the italian advance into tobruk in december 1911.
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