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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
US_076-077_Rommel_desert_war.indd 76 19/03/19 7:27 PM