Operation Battleaxe was a British Army offensive during the Second World War to raise the Siege of Tobruk and re-capture eastern Cyrenaica from German and Italian forces. It was the first time during the war that a significant German force fought on the defensive. The British lost over half of their tanks on the first day and only one of three attacks succeeded.
Soldiers of the 4th Indian Division decorate the side of their lorry "Khyber Pass to Hell-Fire Pass".
Erwin Rommel in his command halftrack, Sd.Kfz. 250/3.
German tanks advance in the desert shortly before the Battle of Sollum.
Italo Gariboldi
The Siege of Tobruk took place between 10 April and 27 November 1941, during the Western Desert campaign (1940–1943) of the Second World War. An Allied force, consisting mostly of the 9th Australian Division, commanded by Lieutenant-General Leslie Morshead, was besieged in the North African port of Tobruk by German and Italian forces. The tenacious defenders quickly became known as the Rats of Tobruk. After 231 days, they were finally relieved by the British Eighth Army.
Soldiers of the victorious Allied armies: Polish, British, Indian, Australian and Czech.
Australian troops occupy a front line position at Tobruk
One of many Italian convoys heading towards North Africa
Italian troops and arms on their way to Tobruk 1941