76 GERMANY TRIUMPHANT 1939–1941
Rommel’s orders on arriving in Libya were to stand on the defensive
and prevent any further Italian retreats, but the German general—
who had proved his flair for tank warfare in France—had an instinct
for attack. Knowing that the British forces facing him had been
weakened by the diversion of troops to Greece (see pp.80–81), he
launched a probing offensive in late March and found that his tanks
could outmaneuver the British with ease.
Rommel soon began an eastward advance, forcing the Allies
to retreat in disarray from Libya into Egypt. In early April, the 9th
Australian Division found itself marooned in the port of Tobruk,
surrounded by the enemy, and far behind the new front line.
Rommel had orders to take Tobruk, but the Australian forces there,
resupplied by sea, held a defensive perimeter against attack by
superior German forces throughout the next six months. British
counterattacks from Egypt in May and June failed to break the
ROMMEL ENTERS
THE DESERT WAR
By February 1941, the Italians were struggling in their war against
the Allies in North Africa. Their incursions into Egypt had failed,
and they had been chased out of Cyrenaica in northern Libya.
Hitler was anxious to save Italy from defeat and sent his favorite
general, Erwin Rommel, with a German armored expeditionary
force—the Afrika Korps—to rescue the situation.
Apr 2 Rommel takes
Agedabia and then advances
across Cyrenaica.
Dec Axis forces
retreat from
Benghazi.
Dec Allied armies
pursue Rommel’s
forces as they retreat
across Cyrenaica.
CHANGING FORTUNES
The arrival of General Rommel in Libya in February
1941 transformed the war in North Africa. The
British were pushed back toward Egypt, and
Tobruk was besieged for 241 days. Allied forces
briefly rallied in November 1941, forcing Rommel
to retreat west toward Tunisia.
KEY
Axis territory,
Mar 23, 1941
Axis forces
2
4
1
TIMELINE
3
JAN 1941 APR JUL OCT JAN 1942 APR
Farthest extent of Axis advance
into Allied territory, Apr 25, 1941
Allied forces
Forts
Airfield
Roads
Fort Mechili
Italian Ariete
Division
9th Australian
Division
German
Afrika Korps
Fort
Capuzzo
British
8th Army
15th Panzer
Army
El Agheila
Mersa Brega
Al Bayda
Benghazi
Agedabia
Msus
Derna
Gazala
Tmimi
Gambut
Bir el Gubi
Bir Hacheim
El Adem
Sidi
Rezegh
Al Marj
Tobruk
Sollum
Sidi Barrani
Buqbuq
Maktila
Bardia
Gabr Saleh
Sidi Omar
Qaminis
Beda
Fomm
Shahhat
Gulf of
Sirte
From Alexand
ria
M
e
d
i
t
e
r
r a
n e
a n
S
e
a L I B Y A
EGYPT
CYRENAICA
J
e
b
e
l^
A
l^
A
k
h d
a r
T
R
I P
O
L I
TA N
I A
Halfaya
Pass
Fr
om
(^) T
rip
oli Mar 24 Rommel seizes
El Agheila with almost
no resistance.
ROMMEL ARRIVES
FEBRUARY 12–APRIL 25, 1941
Rommel arrived in Libya on February 12, 1941,
followed by the first of his Afrika Korps two days
later. Realizing that the British had no plans to
attack, Rommel began his advance toward Egypt,
seizing El Agheila on March 24 and Benghazi on
April 4, and overcoming weak Allied defenses.
He crossed Cyrenaica to besiege Tobruk on
April 10 and advanced to the borders of Egypt
by April 25, taking the strategic Halfaya Pass.
1
Axis army advances, Feb 12–Apr 25, 1941
Allied army retreat
Proposed Allied defensive line
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