WW2/Battles of WW2/Date-by-Date/North Africa & Mediterranean • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
The eight-month siege in which a besieged Commonwealth garrison — the "Rats of Tobruk" — held a vital Libyan port against Rommel's Afrika Korps until relieved. (10 April – 27 November 1941)
Chronological Storyline (17 Milestones)
Apr 10, 1941 CE
Afrika Korps reaches Tobruk
Advance elements of Rommel's Afrika Korps and Italian armoured units reach the Tobruk perimeter after their rapid advance across Cyrenaica, beginning the investment of the strategically vital port. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Tobruk
Soldiers from each of five different allied armies fighting together against the Germans and Italians in Tobruk, Libya. From the left they are Polish, British, Indian, Australian and Czech. By Unknown author - This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing for more information., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=92964473Siege of Tobruk | WW2 Documentary
Apr 11, 1941 CE
Tobruk fully encircled
Axis forces complete the encirclement of Tobruk. Major General Leslie Morshead's 9th Australian Division, with British artillery and tank units, prepares defensive positions along the 30-mile perimeter. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Tobruk
Soldiers from each of five different allied armies fighting together against the Germans and Italians in Tobruk, Libya. From the left they are Polish, British, Indian, Australian and Czech. By Unknown author - This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing for more information., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=92964473
Apr 14, 1941 CE
First Axis assault repulsed
The Italian Ariete Division and German 5th Panzer Regiment launch the first major assault on the Tobruk perimeter. Australian infantry and British artillery repulse the attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers. Source — Wikipedia:
Soldiers from each of five different allied armies fighting together against the Germans and Italians in Tobruk, Libya. From the left they are Polish, British, Indian, Australian and Czech. By Unknown author - This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing for more information., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=92964473
Apr 30, 1941 CE
Rommel launches Easter Battle
Rommel personally directs a renewed assault on the Tobruk perimeter, committing the 15th Panzer Division and Italian infantry in an attempt to break the defences at Ras el Medauar. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Tobruk
Soldiers from each of five different allied armies fighting together against the Germans and Italians in Tobruk, Libya. From the left they are Polish, British, Indian, Australian and Czech. By Unknown author - This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing for more information., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=92964473
May 1, 1941 CE
Germans capture Ras el Medauar
German troops seize the Ras el Medauar height on the perimeter, creating a small salient. Australian counterattacks fail to dislodge them, but the position cannot be exploited to break into Tobruk. Source — Wikipedia:
Soldiers from each of five different allied armies fighting together against the Germans and Italians in Tobruk, Libya. From the left they are Polish, British, Indian, Australian and Czech. By Unknown author - This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing for more information., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=92964473
May 4, 1941 CE
Easter Battle ends in failure
Rommel calls off the Easter Battle after sustaining heavy casualties without achieving a breakthrough. The Afrika Korps loses over 1,000 men and numerous tanks, settling into a siege posture. Source — Wikipedia:
Soldiers from each of five different allied armies fighting together against the Germans and Italians in Tobruk, Libya. From the left they are Polish, British, Indian, Australian and Czech. By Unknown author - This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing for more information., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=92964473
May 15, 1941 CE
British launch Operation Brevity
General Wavell launches Operation Brevity, a limited offensive on the Egypt-Libya frontier aimed at improving positions for a future relief attempt, but gains are minimal and the operation stalls. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Brevity
A map of the area in which Operations Brevity and Battleaxe were fought By Jappalang - Based on en:File:BattleaxeContestedArea.JPG, with verifiable data from: Google Maps en:File:Operation Brevity.jpg Latimer, Jon; Chandler, David (2001) "The Campaign: Operation 'Battleaxe'" in Tobruk 1941: Rommel's Opening Move, Osprey Publishing, pp. pp. 78–79 Retrieved on 10 January 2009. ISBN: 1841760927. Jentz, Thomas (1998) Tank Combat in North Africa: The Opening Rounds, Operations Sonnenblume, Brevity, Skorpion and Battleaxe, February 1941 - June 1941, Schiffer Publishing Ltd, pp. p. 131 ISBN: 0764302264., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5677184
Jun 15, 1941 CE
Operation Battleaxe begins
Wavell launches Operation Battleaxe, a major offensive intended to relieve Tobruk by destroying Axis forces between the frontier and the port. British forces attack the Halfaya Pass and Capuzzo areas. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Battleaxe
INDIAN FORCES IN NORTH AFRICA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR Soldiers of the 4th Indian Division decorate the side of their lorry 'Khyber pass to Hellfire Pass'. 'Hellfire Pass' was the nickname for the strategically important Halfaya Pass, fortified by the Germans and which the British attacked, unsuccessfully, during Operation Battleaxe. 21 June 1941 By Vanderson, William George, No. 1 Army Film and Photo Section, Army Film and Photographic Unit - This photograph E 3660 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=953865
Jun 17, 1941 CE
Battleaxe fails, siege continues
Operation Battleaxe collapses after British armoured losses against dug-in German 88mm guns at Halfaya Pass. Over 100 British tanks are destroyed; Tobruk remains besieged and Wavell is replaced by Auchinleck. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Battleaxe
INDIAN FORCES IN NORTH AFRICA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR Soldiers of the 4th Indian Division decorate the side of their lorry 'Khyber pass to Hellfire Pass'. 'Hellfire Pass' was the nickname for the strategically important Halfaya Pass, fortified by the Germans and which the British attacked, unsuccessfully, during Operation Battleaxe. 21 June 1941 By Vanderson, William George, No. 1 Army Film and Photo Section, Army Film and Photographic Unit - This photograph E 3660 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=953865
Aug 18, 1941 CE
Polish brigade arrives by sea
The Polish Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade begins arriving in Tobruk by sea to reinforce the garrison, marking the start of the staged relief of the Australian 9th Division. Source — Wikipedia:
Memorial badge of the Polish Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade By Image taken by User:Mathiasrex Maciej Szczepańczyk - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14206927
Sep 25, 1941 CE
Morshead hands over command
Major General Leslie Morshead hands command of the Tobruk garrison to Major General Ronald Scobie of the British 70th Division, as the Australian units are progressively withdrawn by sea. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Morshead
AWM Caption: "1941-08. TOBRUK. COMMANDING TOBRUK GARRISON - MAJOR GENERAL MORSHEAD". By (NEGATIVE BY G. SILK) - This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing for more information., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7883221
Nov 18, 1941 CE
Operation Crusader launched
General Auchinleck's Eighth Army launches Operation Crusader, a major offensive aimed at destroying Axis forces and relieving Tobruk. The British XXX Corps advances westward while XIII Corps moves north. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Crusader
British Crusader tank passes a burning German Panzer IV tank during Operation Crusader By Lt. L. B. Davies – No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit - This photograph E 6751 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-32), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=430392
Nov 20, 1941 CE
Battle of Sidi Rezegh begins
The 7th Armoured Division engages the 15th and 21st Panzer Divisions near Sidi Rezegh, southeast of Tobruk. Fierce tank fighting develops as both sides attempt to control this critical crossroads. Source — Wikipedia:
British Crusader tank passes a burning German Panzer IV tank during Operation Crusader By Lt. L. B. Davies – No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit - This photograph E 6751 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-32), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=430392
Nov 23, 1941 CE
Totensonntag tank battle
On 'Totensonntag' (Sunday of the Dead), the most intense tank battle of the campaign erupts at Sidi Rezegh. The 7th Armoured Division suffers catastrophic losses but Axis armour is also heavily depleted. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Crusader
British Crusader tank passes a burning German Panzer IV tank during Operation Crusader By Lt. L. B. Davies – No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit - This photograph E 6751 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-32), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=430392
Nov 24, 1941 CE
Rommel's Dash to the Wire
Rommel leads the 15th and 21st Panzer Divisions in a bold dash toward the Egyptian frontier wire, hoping to disrupt British rear areas and supply lines. The raid causes alarm but fails to achieve decisive results. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Crusader
British Crusader tank passes a burning German Panzer IV tank during Operation Crusader By Lt. L. B. Davies – No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit - This photograph E 6751 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-32), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=430392
Nov 26, 1941 CE
NZ Division breaks through
The New Zealand 2nd Division of XIII Corps fights its way northward toward the Tobruk perimeter, engaging Axis rearguards. Rommel orders a withdrawal from the Tobruk area as his position becomes untenable. Source — Wikipedia:
British Crusader tank passes a burning German Panzer IV tank during Operation Crusader By Lt. L. B. Davies – No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit - This photograph E 6751 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-32), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=430392
Nov 27, 1941 CE
Siege of Tobruk lifted
The New Zealand 6th Brigade links up with the British 70th Division garrison at Ed Duda on the Tobruk perimeter, ending the 242-day siege. Axis forces withdraw westward, ending Rommel's investment of the port. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Tobruk
Soldiers from each of five different allied armies fighting together against the Germans and Italians in Tobruk, Libya. From the left they are Polish, British, Indian, Australian and Czech. By Unknown author - This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing for more information., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=92964473
