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Tobruk |
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Tobruk was an Italian port fortress captured in January 1941. It became an important port and supply base. When the German Afrika Korps under General Erwin Rommel began its advance against British and Australian forces in March 1941, many British and Australian troops retreated within the fortress - thus began the famous siege of Tobruk. Some of the first troops to face the Germans in North Africa were members of the 9th Division AIF. Forward units were deployed around Benghazi. The German forces, well supported by aircraft and tanks, pushed hard against the defending troops. They fell into retreat. Such was the pace of this retreat that it became known (drawing on a horse racing term) as the 'Benghazi Handicap'. Several hundred Allied troops were captured but over 30,000 made it to Tobruk, where the original Italian defences were largely intact. About half the forces contained inside Tobruk were Australian. Most were members of the 9th Division AIF, with three infantry brigades (20th, 24th and 26th Brigades). There was also one infantry brigade from the 7th Division AIF, the 18th Brigade, along with many 7th Division motor transport troops. Others included artillery, medical, engineer and supply troops. The fortress was ringed by trenches, tank traps and minefields. On 14 April 1941 the troops at Tobruk were placed under the command of the Australian Major-General Leslie Morshead, commander of the 9th Division. He was dubbed by the German propaganda broadcaster, Lord Haw Haw, 'Ali Baba Morshead and his 40,000 thieves'. Lord Haw Haw also gave those at Tobruk their most famous nickname, the 'Rats of Tobruk', by broadcasting that they were caught like 'rats in a trap'. In April, the German and Italian forces began probing the defensive lines around Tobruk. German forces attempted combined infantry-armour attacks but the German tanks suffered mounting casualties at the hands of Australian anti-tank gunners, who used a mix of Australian, British and captured Italian guns. A number of assaults were made, with one breaking through the Australian perimeter and creating 'The Salient', scene of some of the hardest fighting during the siege. Troops in the forward positions faced hard fighting - occupying hot trenches for several days at a time before being relieved and moved back to the secondary lines. The first Australian in World War II to be awarded the Victoria Cross was Corporal John Edmondson, 2/17th Battalion, killed in action on 17 April 1941 during a counter-attack against German forces that had penetrated the perimeter. Many others would be decorated during the long siege - but Edmondson's would be the only Australian Victoria Cross of this campaign. The Royal Australian Navy also played an important role in the battle. The 'Tobruk ferry' carried reinforcements and supplies to Tobruk from Egypt, and returned with casualties and any units being withdrawn. The voyages to and from Alexandria, Egypt were hazardous and costly. German and Italian aircraft and submarines attacked the British and Australian warships and merchant ships, and a number were sunk in Tobruk's harbour or en route. The approaches to Tobruk were known as 'Bomb Alley'. Several older British and Australian destroyers, part of the 'Scrap Iron Flotilla', took part in these operations. Two Australian ships were sunk during the siege, the destroyer HMAS Waterhen and the sloop HMAS Parramatta. As well as infantry, many supporting troops also were 'Rats of Tobruk'. Supply depots and medical posts were established at various points within the perimeter, often utilising caves and underground bunkers that could not be bombed. German and Italian bombers flew many missions over the fortress meaning the siege was dangerous for all involved. The British attempted to relieve the garrison at Tobruk but it took over seven months for a breakthrough to be made with British forces linking up with the Tobruk garrison in early December. By this time, most of the Australian forces had been relieved and transported to Egypt on warships. Only one Australian battalion, the 2/13th Infantry Battalion, was still at Tobruk when the British lifted the siege. The Australians had suffered about 3000 troops killed and wounded during the siege, with another 941 taken prisoner. Some of those captured were taken when German forces made small advances, while others were captured while on patrol 'outside the wire'. These fighting patrols were especially dangerous, as troops often were ordered to attack enemy troop concentrations, which required them to advance stealthily, attack and then withdraw across fireswept ground. After the Australians were evacuated, Tobruk was again besieged when German forces counter-attacked in January 1942. The British and South African garrison was forced to surrender. |
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