For you the war is over – 1946 Memoir of the Desert While not strictly related to CRUSADER, this was something I could not pass up. Jim Heriott over on WW2talk posted pictures of this self-published memoir from 1946, and and it would be criminal to …

On 4 June 1942 2/Lt Horner of 72 Field Regiment was captured in the 150 Bde box on the Gazala line. His beautifully illustrated memoir of his time in the desert can be found here.

@cedricmas.bsky.social @alanallport.bsky.social

#WW2 #desertwar #eightharmy

Black-and-white picture of a group of Italian infantry men, equipped with a light machine gun, in a desert setting. There are three men, two armed rifles and one operating a light machine gun, photograph from the front. They are in what seems to be an improvised position in very one moment and Rocky territory. It is possible the men are from 17 ‘Pavia’ Infantry Division. Istituto LUCE via Facebook.

A position in the depth of the Egyptian west, the northern end of the Qatarra Depression, with the escarpment clear in view.

Our manuscript for a new book on 1st Alamein is about to go to the publisher, BTW.

#ww2 #desertwar #italianarmy #eightharmy

@cedricmas.bsky.social @alanallport.bsky.social

21 January 1942 – And they are off! Background Today is the 79th anniversary of the Axis forces’ riposte, which led to the reconquest of Cyrenaica up to the Gazala line, where both sides stopped, exhausted, by 6 February. The l…

#OTD in 1942 #Rommel pulled off what was probably his most successful audacity, the fourth instance of what the British called the 'Benghazi Handicap'.

@cedricmas.bsky.social #ww2 #militaryhistory #history #eightharmy #afrikakorps

rommelsriposte.com/2019/01/21/2...

A black and white picture of a German 8.8cm Flak 18 operated by Italian soldiers in the western desert of Libya, January-June 1942. The gun is in battery and has been engaged in a shoot, with six Italian soldiers operating it. Cartridges are on the ground. An officer, possibly the commander of the battalion, is supervising the crew.

Great picture from LUCE, showing the German 88mm AA Gun under Italian management during what looks like a ground shoot in the desert, January/June 42 period. It is likely that this was one of the guns equipping 5th Group, 132nd Artillery Regiment of Ariete.

#artillery #ww2 #eightharmy

Panzergruppe Intel Assessment, 17 January 1942 1. Enemy Behaviour 17 January 1942 The enemy reconnaissance battalion in the area Mn. Burruei and south of it was reinforced through tanks (about 1 company). During the course of the afternoon it w…

#OTD in 1942, it was the calm before the storm in the western desert, with both sides operating reconnaissance in front of their lines, but nothing else in the operational zone of Marada - Mersa el Brega and Agedabia.

#desertwar #history #militaryhistory #ww2 #eightharmy #

Panzergruppe Intel Assessment 12 January 1942 1. Enemy Behaviour 12 January 1942 Also today along the whole front strong enemy reconnaissance activity. Most southerly reconnaissance unit at Mn. Burruei (reconnaissance squadron Gialo group). 7t…

#OTD in 1942 #rommel is said to have understood that for a short period of time the Axis would have superior strength in the battle zone. This made him decide to counterattack on 21 January.

@cedricmas.bsky.social

#eightharmy #militaryhistory #ww2 #afrikakorps #history

Panzergruppe Intelligence Assessment 10 January 1942 Enemy Behaviour 10 January 1942 The German rearguard holding today at 12km east of Marsa el Brega did not have enemy contact. Enemy patrol activity as on previous day against sector Maaten el Cleib…

#OTD in 1942 the Allied forces continued to not do very much. Helpfully, they radioed that in clear, letting Axis radio intel know that they had no major plans to attack, or sumfink. 🙄

@cedricmas.bsky.social #desertwar #militaryhistory #history #ww2 #rommel #afrikakorps #eightharmy

Panzergruppe Intelligence Assessment 5 January 1942 1. Enemy Behaviour on 5 January 1942 Also today only weak enemy reconnaissance and artillery activity on the Agedabia front. On the northern front the reconnaissance battalion C.I.H. was identified…

#OTD in 1942 Eighth Army continued its slow progress west.

@cedricmas.bsky.social

#ww2 #history #desertwar #militaryhistory #afrikakorps #eightharmy

Panzergruppe Intelligence Assessment, 4 January 1942 Enemy Behaviour on 4 January 1942 The enemy forces noted yesterday in the area Giof el Matar – el Haselat (1 – 2 reconnaissance battalions of the Gialo group) did today not push further than El Has…

#OTD in 1942 Allied forces closed on Agedabia from the north and south-east. But there was no action on the ground, as Eighth Army waited for 1 Armd Div to come up, and "E" Force was biding its time.

@cedricmas.bsky.social #ww2 #history #militaryhistory #afrikakorps #desertwar #rommel #eightharmy

Panzergruppe Intel Assessment 31 December 1941 1. Enemy Behaviour on 31 December 1941 The heavily knocked 22nd Armoured Brigade has retreated up to the area south of Msus, according to radio intercepts. Based on aerial reconnaissance the 22nd G…

#OTD in 1941 the battle of Uadi al Fargo had ended with a complete defeat of 22 Armd Bde of #Eightharmy. It had been the last change to cut off the retreating Axis forces.

@cedricmas.bsky.social

#ww2 #desertwar #afrikakorps #militaryhistory

rommelsriposte.com/2014/01/21/p...

Reading the report by OC 69 Inf Bde on the preparation for MANHOOD and Jesus Christ #EighthArmy was a shitshow during First Alamein.

#desertwar #ww2 #afrikakorps #elalamein #rommel

Panzergruppe Intel Assessment 22 December 1941 Cleared for transmission around 2330 on 22 Dec, sent to Rome at 0319 23 Dec. Enemy Behaviour on 22 December 1941: Enemy has the intent to cut the retreat south of the forces still remaining in the …

#OTD in 1941 Panzergruppe #intelligence started building up a better picture of what it was facing.

#desertwar #ww2 #eightharmy #afrikakorps #rommel

rommelsriposte.com/2014/01/21/p...

Panzergruppe Intel Assessment 21 December 1941 Enemy Behaviour on 21 December 1941: Enemy northern column most forward elements in combat against weak Italian rearguards at Beda Littoria. According to radio reconnaissance 4th Indian Division ap…

#OTD in 1941 the Allied pursuit continued, slowly in the north through the Jebel, not very pushy in the centre, and with a more ambitious drive in the south around Antelat. The idea was to cut off the Axis forces south of Magrun.

#ww2 #militaryhistory #desertwar #eightharmy #afrikakorps #rommel

Panzergruppe Intelligence Assessment 18 December 1941 Enemy behaviour on 18 December 1941: Enemy advanced today on broad front towards the west. With the Polish Brigade on the right, and 5 New Zealand Brigade advancing on the left of the Via Balbia, h…

#OTD in 1941, #eightharmy was in full pursuit of Panzergruppe Afrika, following the latter’s retreat the day before.

#militaryhistory #desertwar #ww2

@cedricmas.bsky.social

War diary text 3 Company, 3 South African Armoured Car Regiment

I was today days old when I found out that among the first Allies into Benghazi in December 1941 were four South African armoured cars. The parting shot (ha!) from the CO, No.3 Coy 3 SAAC is chef's kiss.

#militaryhistory #southafrica #eightharmy #afrikakorps #desertwar

Panzergruppe Intel Assessment 15 December 1941 1. Enemy Behaviour on 15 December 1941 Enemy continued his attack. In area 8km south Ain el Gazala 4th Indian Division, supported by 32nd Army Tank Brigade, succeeded in a breakin of 4km width. Sou…

#OTD in 1941 Panzergruppe Afrika managed to deliver another severe blow to the Allied forces. A combination of Gruppe Menny and what remained of Ariete annihilated the exposed position at Bir Temrad/#alemhamza. #desertwar #afrikakorps #eightharmy #rommel #ww2 #militaryhistory #history

Panzergruppe Intel Assessment 13 December 1941 Enemy Behaviour on 13 December 1941 a) Enemy continued his reinforced attacks against the front sector direction B. Temrad (Italian Motorised Corps) by concentrating his forces. Uses 4th Indian Div…

#OTD in 1941 the pressure on the Gazala front began to increase noticeably, and combat in the line intensified.

#ww2 #desertwar #rommel #afrikakorps #eightharmy

rommelsriposte.com/2014/01/05/p...

Panzergruppe Intelligence Assessment 10 December 1941 Enemy Behaviour 10 December 1941 The opponent frontally followed the retreating Panzergruppe, which moved in north-westerly direction. Most forward elements stood on the line Hacheim – Acroma. Acco…

#OTD in 1941, the blocks were falling into place for the first battle of the Gazala line as Allied forces were following close on the heels of the Axis.

Unlike the more famous battle in 1942, this one ended with an Allied victory.

#militaryhistory #ww2 #desertwar #eightharmy #afrikakorps

Tobruk Fortifications Background In preparation for the attack on Tobruk, Division z.b.V. Africa issued a number of detailed drawings of the Tobruk fortifications to the assault troops, to help them in overcoming these.…

Full disclosure, our site was used for some of the background research.

#militaryhistory #siegehistory #eightharmy #afrikakorps

@karljames1945.bsky.social @ernestmalley.bsky.social @mike-bechthold.bsky.social

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Panzergruppe Intelligence Assessment 9 December 1941 Enemy Behaviour 9 December 1941 The enemy follows Panzergruppe, which retreats in a northwesterly direction from the area B. el Gubi on both sides of the Trigh el Abd. Radio reconnaissance recognis…

#OTD in 1941 Panzergruppe Afrika retreated further, being pursued by the Allied forces.

#ww2 #militaryhistory #desertwar #eightharmy #rommel #afrikakorps

Panzergruppe Intelligence Assessment 8 December 1941 Enemy Behaviour on 8 December 1941 Enemy forces followed up from the area east and south-east el Adem (probably 1 South African and 7 Rifle Brigade) and the area around B. el Gubi (11 Indian, 22 Gu…

#OTD in 1941 thing continued to deteriorate for #rommel outside #tobruk. While no major developments were noted in the main battle area, reconnaissance screens of the Allied forces were now recognised far to the west.\

#militaryhistory #ww2 #desertwar #afrikakorps #eightharmy

Bardia, Halfaya, and the January Offensive Bardia, Cyrenaica, Libya. Re-captured by Allied forces on 2 January 1942, Bardia was repeatedly attacked from the air. The harbour seen during a raid by bomber aircraft of the South African Air For…

Good evening class. Today’s topic:

“Rommel’s most meaningful success in Operation CRUSADER was his failure to rescue the Bardia/Halfaya garrisons.”

Discuss.

#ww2 #militaryhistory #itsthelogisticsstupid #afrikakorps #eightharmy

Discuss.

rommelsriposte.com/2019/02/06/b...

Panzergruppe Intelligence Assessment 5 December 1941 1. Enemy Behaviour 5 December 1941 Because of heavy enemy pressure from Tobruk via Ed Duda towards the south, the southeast front had to be abandoned. The D.A.K., advancing from the area west of El…

#OTD in 1941 the other shoe dropped on Rommel. First, a new Brigade was recognised, 11 Indian Infantry.

#militaryhistory #ww2 #desertwar #eightharmy #rommel #afrikakorps

rommelsriposte.com/2013/12/08/p...

Panzergruppe Intelligence Assessment 4 December 1941 Enemy Behaviour on 4 December 1941 22 Guards Brigade and 4 Armoured Brigade advanced from the area B. el Gubi and east of it on both sides and east of the track B. el Gubi – El Adem. During evening…

#OTD in 1941 it dawned on Panzergruppe that they were in deep trouble. Instead of retreating into Egypt, #Eightharmy advanced, shelling positions south of El Adem. Worse, a new division had been recognised, 2 S.A.Inf Div.

#militaryhistory #WW2 #desertwar #afrikakorps

@cedricmas.bsky.social

The key event #OTD in North Africa 1941 was the ill-advised advance of 2 German forward detachments from Ed Duda to the border positions at Bardia and Sidi Omar.

They ran into 28 Maori Bn and the Central India Horse.

#militaryhistory #desertwar #eightharmy #rommel #afrikakorps #ww2

IWM E3261E

Panzergruppe Intelligence Assessment 3 December 1941 Enemy Behaviour on 3 December 1941 The security screen which was reported on 2 December 1941 in the line south Gasr el Arid – Bir Chelb – Bir el Gubi was reinforced by elements of 1 South African B…

#OTD in North Africa it started to dawn on Panzergruppe that the Allied forces were not actually retreating. This was bad news. #ww2 #militaryhistory #desertwar #rommel #afrikakorps #eightharmy #tobruk

rommelsriposte.com/2013/12/08/p...

Panzergruppe Intelligence Assessment 2 December 1941 This document was sent off on 2 December at 23.00 hours. Enemy Behaviour on 2 December 1941 While mopping up the cauldron in the area north of S. Rezegh the number of POW and volume of booty contin…

#OTD in 1941, Panzergruppe was confident it had won CRUSADER. The Zaafran cauldron was being mopped up, enemy forces in the south preparing to retreat.

Everything was coming up roses.

#ww2 #militaryhistory #desertwar #tobruk #eightharmy #rommel #afrikakorps

rommelsriposte.com/2013/12/08/p...

Setting the Record Straight – The First Night Attack By Tanks Background The below is a letter written in the course of the research for the New Zealand Official History, which I found of interest, since it shows rather nicely that battles are sometimes fough…

#OTD in 1941 the first night attack by tanks took place. As always, success had many fathers, leading to some letters being written after #ww2. #history #militaryhistory #eightharmy #desertwar #newzealand rommelsriposte.com/2015/01/26/s...

The Attack on Sidi Omar Nuovo Background After the failure of the attack on Tobruk on 1 May 1941, Rommel was paid a visit by General Paulus, Chief Quartermaster and the German army high command (OKH), who had the permission to …

#OTD in 1941 7 Indian Infantry Brigade and 44 RTR supported by a squadron of 42 RTR attacked Sidi Omar Nuovo, taking (most of) the fortified location with very heavy losses in infantry and tanks. #ww2 #desertwar #history #militaryhistory #britisharmy #eightharmy

rommelsriposte.com/2023/08/20/t...

I know that the question of how it came about that Allied tanks had white/red/white markings on them during Operation CRUSADER is keeping you up at night, and is affecting your relationships.
#ww2 #history #militaryhistory #desertwar #eightharmy #britisharmy