1942 âļ Battle of Gazala: British Counter-Attack Fails
At Gazala, British forces of the Eighth Army commanded by Ge...
Year
1941
1942
đī¸ Rommel Defeats 'Brevity' Counter-Attack
Rommel defeats a counter-attack, "Brevity", at Halfaya Pass. The two sides trade alternating control of Fort Capuzzo and Halfaya Pass.âļ
North AfricaRommelMilitary OperationsBattle of Halfaya PassDesert WarfareWorld War II
âī¸ Battle of Gazala: British Counter-Attack Fails
At Gazala, British forces of the Eighth Army commanded by General Ritchie launch a major counter-attack against Rommel's forces in the Cauldron. The attack fails, partly because Rommel has already recovered his critical logistics situation and has established an excellent defensive position, but also in large part due to German anti-tank tactics; 32nd Army Tank Brigade, for example, loses 50 of 70 tanks. By early afternoon Rommel is clearly in control of the situation and attacks the British position known as "Knightsbridge" with the Ariete and 21st Panzer divisions. Several British tactical headquarters positions are overrun and command and control of the British forces becomes problematic; as a result, several brigades are stranded in the Cauldron when the British retirement begins. In addition, the British suffer further heavy tank losses.âļ
North AfricaBattle of GazalaEighth ArmyRommelTank BattleGerman ArmyBritish ArmyDesert WarfareMilitary Strategy
đŦđ§ British Deploy Sherman Tanks at Gazala Line
British use American Sherman tanks in attempts to stop Rommel's attacks on the Gazala line.âļ
North AfricaGazala LineTank WarfareBritish ArmyAmerican EquipmentMilitary TechnologyBattle of GazalaRommel
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
đī¸ Auchinleck's Second Offensive Fails at El Alamein
A second attack by the British under Auchinleck fails against Rommel. First Battle of El Alamein may be said to be over.âļ
North AfricaEl AlameinBritish ArmyRommelDesert WarfareMilitary StalemateSecond Battle of El AlameinAfrika Korps