Table of Contents
How many Rats of Tobruk are still alive?
Today, out of 14,000 Aussie Rats that held Tobruk against Rommel’s forces 78 years ago, only around 30 are still alive to tell the story.
Who was involved in the Rats of Tobruk?
For eight long months, surrounded by German and Italian forces, the men of the Tobruk garrison, mostly Australians, withstood tank attacks, artillery barrages, and daily bombings. They endured the desert’s searing heat, the bitterly cold nights, and hellish dust storms. They lived in dug-outs, caves, and crevasses.
Why did Rommel take Tobruk?
Tobruk was the only deep water port in Eastern Libya and as a consequence it had been heavily fortified by its former Italian garrison. Realising that he had a chance to capture Tobruk before the Allies had time to organise a defence, Rommel pushed forward.
How many Aussies died in Tobruk?
Casualties
| Forces | Killed | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Australian | 744 | 3,194 |
| British | 88 | 509 |
| Indian | 1 | 26 |
| Polish | 22 | 107 |
What did Japanese soldiers think of Australian soldiers?
Japan thought Australians were poorly equiped and trained. Japan smashed Australia in Malaysia and Singapore, and would have landed in Darwin had it not been for the U.S. It was the fastest battle Japan ever fought taking over Singapore, and they saw Australian troops in action there !
Who won the first battle of El Alamein?
| First Battle of El Alamein | |
|---|---|
| British infantry manning a sandbagged defensive position near El Alamein, 17 July 1942. | |
| Date 1–27 July 1942 Location El Alamein, British-occupied Egypt 30°50′N 28°57′ECoordinates: 30°50′N 28°57′E Result Stalemate | |
| Belligerents | |
| Italy Germany | United Kingdom India New Zealand Australia South Africa |
What was the date of the Siege of Tobruk?
The siege of Tobruk (17-21 June 1942) was one of the more embarrassing British defeats in North Africa, and helped to reduce Churchill’s confidence in General Auchinleck’s abilities as a commander. In 1941 Tobruk had held out for eight months (10 April-16/17 December 1941),…
How many German tanks were lost in the Battle of Tobruk?
Czechoslovak 11th Infantry Battalion defending Tobruk The German tanks were engaged head on by the 1st RHA and veered away, only to drive into the path of the British cruiser tanks, waiting hull-down and received anti-tank fire from three sides, losing sixteen of 38 tanks and retreated.
Who was the Australian commander at Tobruk in World War 2?
Tobruk was garrisoned by troops of the Australian 9th Division under Lieutenant General Leslie Morshead; the 20th, 24th, and 26th Brigades of Australian 9th Division held their ground, killing Prittwitz on the first day of the attack. Overall, Morshead had about 25,000 fighters, British, Australian, and Indian, available for the defense.
When did the Allies retreat from Tobruk in 1941?
During early 1941, much of the Western Desert Force (WDF) was sent to the Greek and Syrian campaigns. As German troops and Italian reinforcements reached Libya, only a skeleton Allied force remained, short of equipment and supplies. Operation Sonnenblume (6 February – 25 May 1941), forced the Allies into a retreat to the Egyptian border.