1942 âļ 1st South African Division Withdraws from Gazala
1st South African Division is able to withdraw along the coa...
Year
1942
đââī¸ 1st South African Division Withdraws from Gazala
1st South African Division is able to withdraw along the coastal road, but the road cannot accommodate all the troops at once, and this route is in any event is under threat of being cut by Rommel's forces; so troops including 50th Division must first breakout to the southwest, through the area occupied by Italian X Corps, and then turn east to rejoin 8th Army. This somewhat daring operation is concluded successfully. The RAF forces available, although outnumbered, make a valiant effort to cover the retreat. Churchill sends Auchinleck a telegram beginning, 'To what position does Ritchie want to withdraw the Gazala troops? Presume there is no question in any case of giving up Tobruk.'âļ
North AfricaGazalaretreatDesert WarSouth African Armymilitary maneuvers8th Army
đŖ 'Black Saturday' at Gazala
'Black Saturday' for the 8th Army at the Battle of Gazala; during the course of the day Rommel does great damage to the British armour. At the end of the day not only have unsustainably large amounts of British armour been destroyed, but both 50th Division and 1st South African Division, who have largely retained their forward positions along the Gazala Line, are threatened with envelopment. The position of 50th Division is especially grave since Rommel's armour now ranges freely between them and safety.âļ
North AfricaGazalabattlesDesert WarRommelarmored warfareBritish Armytank battle
âŠī¸ British Begin Withdrawal from Gazala Line
At the Gazala Line, the British position has become untenable, and General Auchinleck authorizes General Ritchie to make a concerted withdrawal from forward positions along the line.âļ
North AfricaGazalawithdrawalDesert WarBritish Armymilitary strategytactical retreat