Italian engineers lifted mines from the west side of the minefields to create a supply route through to the Axis side. Rommel retired to a defensive position backing onto Allied minefields (the Cauldron), forming a base in the midst of the British defences. Unexpected resistance at the south end of the line around the Bir Hakeim box by the Free French garrison, left Panzerarmee Afrika with a long and vulnerable supply route around the Gazala Line. The Axis troops made a decoy attack in the north as the main attack moved round the southern flank of the Gazala position. Axis troops of the Panzerarmee Afrika ( Generaloberst Erwin Rommel) consisting of German and Italian units fought the British Eighth Army ( General Sir Claude Auchinleck, also Commander-in-Chief Middle East) composed mainly of British Commonwealth, Indian and Free French troops. The Battle of Gazala (near the village of Gazala) was fought during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War, west of the port of Tobruk in Libya, from 26 May to 21 June 1942. Many damaged tanks were returned to action by both sides. 33,000 prisoners at Tobruk) ġ,188 armoured vehicles damaged or destroyed – Panzerarmee Afrika/Gruppo Corazzato Africaĩ0,000 men (60,000 Italian, 30,000 German)Ĥ00 armoured vehicles damaged or destroyedĥ0,000 killed, wounded or captured
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |