DK - World War II Map by Map

142 THE WIDENING WAR 1942

J

e

b

e

l^

A

l^

A

k

hd

ar

Libyan

Plateau

CYRENAICA

Gulf of

Sirte

M e d i t e r r a

n e

a n

S e a

Derna

Al Marj

Tmimi

Gazala

Tobruk

El Adem

El Duda

Sidi

Rezegh

Gambut

Sidi Barrani

Bir Bir el Gubi

Hakeim

Mechili

Msus

Soluch

Agedabia

El Haseiat

El Agheila

Mersa

Brega

Mersa Matruh

Maktila

El Daba

Fuka

Alam Halfa

Alexandria

Sollum

Bardia

Benghazi

Halfaya

Pass

Sidra

Ridge

E G Y P T Q

a

tt

ar

a^

D

ep

re

ss

ion

L

I

B

Y

Panzer Group A

Africa

Italian

21st Corps

German Afrika

Korps

Italian Ariete

Division

British

8th Army

9th Australian

Division

2nd New Zealand

Division

British

8th Army

El Alamein

1–22 Jul 1942

By early January 1942, the Allied Operation Crusader (see pp.76–77)

had forced Rommel all the way back from the Egyptian border to

El Agheila, on Libya’s Gulf of Sirte. This major retreat left the Axis

forces (consisting of Italian and German corps) exhausted and their

supply lines disrupted. The British assumed that Rommel would

be unable to regain the initiative for some time, and so took the

opportunity to refit their equipment and allow their troops time

to relax. However, Rommel acted swiftly to restore his troops to

fighting order and began to advance eastward on January 21,

overrunning Benghazi on January 28 and Tmini by early February.

The Allies regrouped behind the Gazala Line—a defensive barrier of

minefields interspersed with small, fortified keeps—which ran from

ROMMEL’S

FINAL ADVANCE

By the start of 1942, the war in North Africa had seemingly

turned against Rommel, but the man known as the “desert fox”

countered with a new attack. He pushed the Allies into a retreat

deep into Egypt, leading to confrontation at El Alamein.

May 30 Under fire, Rommel

moves his troops into the

heavily defended “Cauldron.”

Feb 4 The British 8th Army

establishes a new front line

west of Gazala.

Jan 29 The British

abandon Benghazi.

May 26 Italian forces

make feint attacks

against the north of

the Gazala Line.

May 26 German forces

attack around the south of

the Allied defensive line.

THE AXIS ADVANCE FROM EL AGHEILA

JANUARY 21–MAY 26, 1942

On January 21, Rommel and Panzer Group Africa

(redesignated Panzer Army Africa on January 30,

1942) began their advance from El Agheila east to

Gazala, surprising the British 8th Army, which fell back

before them. The threat of encirclement forced the

British out of the strategic port of Benghazi. The

British established a new front line behind defensive

positions and minefields west of Gazala.

1

Axis advance

British withdrawal

Minefields

Gazala Line

Axis feint attacks The Cauldron

Axis main attacks

BATTLE OF GAZALA MAY 26–JUNE 18, 1942

After feint Axis attacks in the north, Rommel began his

main offensive, sending the Afrika Korps around the

south of the Gazala Line. Under fire and running

short of supplies, Rommel moved his forces into the

“Cauldron,” a defensive perimeter. He overcame the

Allied attacks, and on June 11 broke out of the Cauldron.

Axis forces inflicted heavy casualties on Commonwealth

troops south of El Adem, and as the Allies retreated,

Rommel’s forces looped back to surround Tobruk.

2

Jan 21 British troops

retreat from Axis ground

forces and air attacks.

THE FALL OF TOBRUK JUNE 20–21, 1942

At first light on June 20, 1942, Rommel attacked

Tobruk from the south-east, breaching its perimeter

defenses and capturing two airfields. The first panzer

division entered the town at 7 pm and fighting continued

through the night until the Allied commander, the South

African General Klopper, surrendered at 8 am on June

21. More than 35,000 Allied prisoners were captured
    and the strategic port was in German hands. Following
    this success, Rommel was promoted to field marshal.

3

Axis advance

Battle

Defensive line

Airfield

KEY

ACROSS THE DESERT

In the first half of 1942, Rommel and his

Axis forces pushed east across Libya

to confront the Allies in Egypt. Two

inconclusive battles then followed

in July and August.

2

3

4

5

6

1

TIMELINE

JAN 1942 MAR MAY JUL SEP NOV

Axis advance by Aug 30

Allied territory, Aug 30

Axis forces

Allied forces

Battle of

Alam Halfa

SURPRISE ATTACK

After driving Rommel back to El Agheila,

the Allies expected him to take time to

recuperate. Instead, he launched a new

offensive and forced the Allies into a retreat.

US_142-143_Rommels_final_advance.indd 142 22/03/19 11:48 AM