1942 ⟶ British Forced Out of Knightsbridge
At Gazala, the British are forced out of the defensive posit...
Year
1942
🛡️ British Forced Out of Knightsbridge
At Gazala, the British are forced out of the defensive position known as 'Knightsbridge;' it is only approximately fifteen miles from the Tobruk perimeter (some sources give a date of 13 June for this; the withdrawal may have been in operation on both calendar days).⟶
North AfricaGazalabattlesDesert WarBritish Armyarmored warfaremilitary tactics
🇬🇧 British Advance to El Agheila
The British advance continues to El Agheila, on the western edge of Libya.⟶
British ArmyNorth AfricaLibyaEl AgheilaDesert WarWorld War IIMilitary OperationAfricaWestern Desert Campaign
⚔️ Rommel Drives Out Free French at Bir Hakeim
Rommel pushes the Free French forces out of Bir Hakeim, a fortress south-west of Tobruk. Although the 1st Free French brigade is largely surrounded, their commander, General Koenig, is able to find and fight his way through gaps in Rommel's widely dispersed forces.⟶
North AfricaDesert WarFree FrenchRommelBir Hakeimbattlesmilitary tactics
💣 '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.⟶
North AfricaGazalabattlesDesert WarRommelarmored warfareBritish Armytank battle
↩️ 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.⟶
North AfricaGazalawithdrawalDesert WarBritish Armymilitary strategytactical retreat
💥 British Tank Breakthrough West of El Alamein
The British make a critical breakthrough with tanks west of El Alamein; Rommel's mine fields fail to stop the Allied armour.⟶
El AlameinNorth AfricaTank WarfareBritish ArmyRommelMinefieldsTactical VictoryDesert War