Operation Crusader
Part of World War II, North African Campaign
Operation Crusader November 18, 1941 - December 31, 1941 (Click to enlarge)
Date: November 18, 1941 – January 31, 1942 Location: Tobruk, Libya Result: Allied victory Casus belli: Territory changes:
Combatants
United Kingdom Australia New Zealand Poland	Germany Italy
Commanders
Claude Auchinleck Alan Gordon Cunningham Neil Ritchie	Erwin Rommel Ludwig Crüwell
Strength
8th Army comprising XIII Corps, XXX Corps and 70th Division. 700 tanks and 1,000 planes.	Panzergruppe Afrika including the Afrika Korps and the Italian 10th, 20th and 21st Corps 414 tanks and 320 (at start, later reinforced to over 800) aircraft
Casualties
18,600 total.	24,500 killed and wounded, 36,500 prisoners, 386 tanks, 850 aircraft.

Operation Crusader (November 18 - December 30, 1941) was the third, the largest, the longest and ultimately successful attempt to relieve the Siege of Tobruk. Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th century conflict that engulfed much of the globe and is accepted as the largest and deadliest... During World War II the North African Campaign, also known as the Desert War, took place in the North African desert from September 13, 1940 to May 13, 1943. ... Download high resolution version (1203x450, 120 KB)Auchinlecks offensive -- November 18, 1941 - December 31, 1941 Source: US ARMY License: US Government document. ... November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years), with 43 remaining. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film) 1941 (MCMXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film) 1941 (MCMXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years), with 43 remaining. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film) 1941 (MCMXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Tobruk or Tubruq (Arabic: طبرق) is a town, seaport, municipality, and peninsula in eastern Libya in Northern Africa. ... Casus belli is a Latin expression from the international law theory of Jus ad bellum. ... Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck Field Marshal Sir Claude John Eyre Auchinleck, GCB, GCIE, CSI, DSO, OBE (June 21, 1884 - 1981), nicknamed The Auk, was a British army commander during World War II. // Early life and career Born in Aldershot, he grew up in impoverished circumstances, but was able through... Alan Cunningham, British Army Officer Sir Alan Gordon Cunningham (1st May 1887 _ 30th January 1983) was a British Army officer noted for victories over Italian forces in the East African Campaign during World War II. He was the younger brother of the renowned Admiral Andrew Cunningham. ... General Sir Neil Ritchie (July 29, 1897 - December 11, 1983) was a British commanding officer during the Second World War. ... Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel ( â–¶ (help· info)) (November 15, 1891 – October 14, 1944) was one of the most distinguished German Field Marshals, and perhaps one of the greatest military leaders of all time. ... Ludwig Crüwell (March 20, 1892 - September 25, 1958), German General known for his involvement with the Afrika Korps. ... The seal of Afrikakorps The Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK; ) was the corps-level headquarters controlling the German Panzer divisions in Libya and Egypt during the North African Campaign of World War II. Since there was little turnover in the units attached to the corps, the term is commonly used to refer... The Western Desert Campaign was the primary early theatre of the North African Campaign of World War II. It is sometimes referred to as the Egypt-Libya Campaign. ... Operation Compass was a World War II Allied military operation in the Western Desert Campaign. ... The Siege of Tobruk was a lengthy confrontation between Axis and Allied forces, mostly Australian, in the North African Campaign of World War II. It started on 10 April 1941 as Generalleutnant Erwin Rommel invested the fort, besieging it for months, and launched attacks against the fort that were unsuccessful. ... Operation Brevity was the first, unsuccessful, attempt to relieve the Siege of Tobruk. ... Operation Battleaxe Conflict World War II Date June 15, 1941 – June 17, 1941 Place Tobruk, Libya Result Operation Failure, Axis Victory During World War II, Operation Battleaxe (June 15-17, 1941) was the second British attempt to relieve the Axis Siege of Tobruk. ... The Battle of Gazala was an important battle of the World War II Western Desert Campaign, fought around the port of Tobruk in Libya from May 26 to June 21, 1942. ... The Battle of Bir Hakeim (May 26, 1942 - June 11, 1942) was fought, during World War II, between the German/Italian Afrika Korps and the 1st Free French Brigade, with support from the British 7th Armoured Division. ... The First Battle of El Alamein 1–July 27, 1942 was a battle of the Western Desert Campaign of World War II, fought between the German–Italian Afrika Korps commanded by Erwin Rommel and the British Eighth Army, commanded by Claude Auchinleck. ... Battle of Alam Halfa Conflict World War II Date August 30–September 6, 1942 Place El Alamein, Egypt Result Allied strategic victory Axis tactical victory The Battle of Alam el Halfa took place between August 30 and September 6, 1942 during the Western Desert Campaign of World War II. The... Combatants Allies (mostly Commonwealth forces) Axis (mostly German and Italian) Commanders Bernard Montgomery Erwin Rommel Strength 200,000 men, 1,030 tanks, 900 guns, 530 aircraft 100,000 men, 500 tanks, 500 guns, 350 aircraft Casualties 13,500 men dead and 710 tanks 12,000 men dead 25,000 captured... November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years), with 43 remaining. ... December 30 is the 364th day of the year (365th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 1 day remaining. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film) 1941 (MCMXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Siege of Tobruk was a lengthy confrontation between Axis and Allied forces, mostly Australian, in the North African Campaign of World War II. It started on 10 April 1941 as Generalleutnant Erwin Rommel invested the fort, besieging it for months, and launched attacks against the fort that were unsuccessful. ...

Background

Following the costly failure of Operation Battleaxe, General Archibald Wavell was relieved as Commander-in-Chief Middle East and replaced by General Claude Auchinleck. The Western Desert Force was reorganized and renamed the Eighth Army under the command of Lt. General Alan Cunningham with its main strength comprising 7th Armoured Division, 1st South African Division, the New Zealand Division and 4th Indian Division. The gallant but exhausted Australian 9th Division of the Tobruk garrison under General Morshead was replaced by the British 70th Infantry Division and the Polish Carpathian Brigade which were brought in by the Royal Navy. Eighth Army was reinforced to 7 divisions with 700 tanks (including many of the new Crusader Cruiser tanks, after which the operation was named, as well as the American light Stuart and heavy Grant and Lee tanks ). Tactical air support was provided by 1,000 planes of the Desert Air Force. Operation Battleaxe Conflict World War II Date June 15, 1941 – June 17, 1941 Place Tobruk, Libya Result Operation Failure, Axis Victory During World War II, Operation Battleaxe (June 15-17, 1941) was the second British attempt to relieve the Axis Siege of Tobruk. ... Archibald Percival Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell (May 5, 1883 - May 24, 1950) was a British Field Marshal and the commander of British Army forces in the Middle East during World War II. He led British forces to victory over the Italians, only to be defeated by the German army. ... Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck Field Marshal Sir Claude John Eyre Auchinleck, GCB, GCIE, CSI, DSO, OBE (June 21, 1884 - 1981), nicknamed The Auk, was a British army commander during World War II. // Early life and career Born in Aldershot, he grew up in impoverished circumstances, but was able through... The Western Desert Force, during World War II, was a British Commonwealth Army unit stationed in Egypt. ... The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations in World War II, fighting in the campaigns in North Africa and Italy. ... Alan Cunningham, British Army Officer Sir Alan Gordon Cunningham (1st May 1887 _ 30th January 1983) was a British Army officer noted for victories over Italian forces in the East African Campaign during World War II. He was the younger brother of the renowned Admiral Andrew Cunningham. ... The 9th Division of the Australian Army was formed to serve in World War II, as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force. ... Sir Leslie James Morshead (September 18, 1889 - September 26, 1959) was an Australian soldier with a distinguished career in both world wars. ... Polish Independent Carpathian Brigade (Polish Samodzielna Brygada Strzelców Karpackich) was a Polish military unit formed in 1940 in French Syria of the Polish soldiers exiled after the Polish Defence War of 1939. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services, being the oldest of its three branches. ... A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around ten to fifteen thousand soldiers. ... One of the primary cruiser tanks of the United Kingdom during World War II, the Cruiser Tank VI Crusader was perhaps the most important British tank of the North African Campaign. ... The cruiser tank (also called cavalry tank or fast tank) was a British tank design concept of the interwar period. ... The Stuart was an American light tank of World War II in use with British forces prior to the entry of the USA into the European theatre. ... The M3 Medium Tank was an American tank used during World War II. In Britain the tank was called Lee and its modified version, with a new turret, was called Grant. As a rush job intended to be brought from design to production in a short period, the M3 was... The Desert Air Force (DAF) was a formation made up of squadrons from the Royal Air Force and Commonwealth air forces . ...

Opposing them were the hardened veterans of General Erwin Rommel's German Afrika Korps comprising the 15th Panzer Division, 21st Panzer Division (total of 260 Panzers ) together with the 90th light infantry division. Supporting them were 6 weak Italians divisions with 154 tanks organized into 3 corps. Axis Air support consisted of 120 German and 200 Italian planes. Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel ( ▶ (help· info)) (November 15, 1891 – October 14, 1944) was one of the most distinguished German Field Marshals, and perhaps one of the greatest military leaders of all time. ... The Deutsches Afrikakorps (often just Afrika Korps or DAK) was the corps-level headquarters controlling the German Panzer divisions in Libya and Egypts Western Desert during the North African Campaign of World War II. Since there was little turnover in the units attached to the corps the term is... 33rd Infantry Division 15th Panzer Division 15th Panzergrenadier Division History This unit was created as the 33rd Infantry Division in 1936, and mobilized in 1939, but it did not take part in the invasion of Poland. ... 5th Light Division 21st Panzer Division Created as 5th Light Division or 5th Light Afrika Division in Africa in early 1941, from an ad hoc collection of smaller units rushed to support the collapsing Italian army. ... Panzers is a popular World War II computer game created by German game developer Stormregion. ... Division zbV Afrika 90th Light Infantry Division 90th Light Afrika Division 90th Panzergrenadier Division Created in August 1941 as Division zbV Afrika, from units already in Africa under the control of . ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

The Battle

Crusader Mk II Tank, Namesake of the operation

On 18 November, Eighth Army launched a surprise attack, striking to the northwest from its base at Mersa Matruh. The plan was to destroy the Afrika Korps with the British 7th Armoured Division, after which the infantry divisions would mop up the Italian and German units at Bardia and around Tobruk. But the offensive stalled when the British armour was heavily defeated by Afrika Korps in a swirling and confusing tank battle at Sidi Rezegh, near Tobruk. On 21 November, Rommel seeing an opportunity (together with a need to relieve pressure on the wavering Italians) gathered his Panzer divisions and counter-attacked, over the Egyptian frontier into the British rear areas. Near panic, Cunningham asked to withdraw, but Auchinleck insisted he stand his ground, and the audacious manoeuvre by Afrika Korps failed as it outran its supplies and ran into resistance from the 4th Indian Division. On the 27th, the New Zealand Division had linked up with the Tobruk garrison after further heavy fighting around Sidi Rezegh. The Afrika Korps was now in grave danger with its infantry divisions surrounded. The besiegers had suddenly become the besieged, and the Panzers were forced to withdraw to try and help the infantry divisions breakout, which they eventually succeeded in doing by 6 December. On 7 December 1941, Rommel began to withdraw his battered forces to a defensive line at Gazala to the southwest of Tobruk. Meanwhile Auchinleck, having relieved the situation himself, now relieved Cunningham of his command, replacing him with General Neil Richie whom he now promoted to Lieutenant General. Ritchie continued to aggressively pressure Rommel's line, forcing him to make a fighting withdrawal back to El Agheila (28-30 December) from whence he had first begun his offensive in March 1941. Image File history File links Crusader Mk II This image is protected by British Crown copyright. ... Image File history File links Crusader Mk II This image is protected by British Crown copyright. ... One of the primary cruiser tanks of the United Kingdom during World War II, the Cruiser Tank VI Crusader was perhaps the most important British tank of the North African Campaign. ... November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years), with 43 remaining. ... Mersa Matruh is a seaport in Egypt, Africa. ... November 21 is the 325th day of the year (326th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... December 6 is the 340th day (341st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... December 7 is the 341st day (342nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film) 1941 (MCMXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Operation Crusader November 18, 1941 - December 31, 1941 El Agheila is on the lower left (Click to enlarge) El Agheila is a coastal city on the Gulf of Sidra in far southwestern Cyrenaica, Libya. ...

Aftermath

Auchinleck's determination had removed the Axis threat to Egypt and Suez for the time being. The Italian garrison of Bardia surrendered on 2 January 1942, followed by another mass surrender at Halfaya on the 17th bringing the total number of German and Italian prisoners to 30,000. The Eighth Army now went to pursue Rommel at El Agheila, but it had taken heavy losses in the previous month's fighting and overextended itself. On 21 January, Rommel launched one his surprise counter-attacks against the tired and dispersed British forces, driving them back to Gazala where they took up defensive positions along Rommel's old line. Here a stalemate set in as both sides regrouped, rebuilt and reorganized. Operation Crusader, while it may have proved a limited success, showed Rommel's Afrika Korps could be beaten and is a fine illustration of the dynamic, back and forth fighting which characterized the North African Campaign. January 2 is the second day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Halfaya Pass (Hellfire Pass) is located in North Africa. ... January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... During World War II the North African Campaign, also known as the Desert War, took place in the North African desert from September 13, 1940 to May 13, 1943. ...

See also

• North African Campaign

During World War II the North African Campaign, also known as the Desert War, took place in the North African desert from September 13, 1940 to May 13, 1943. ...

References

• The Encyclopedia Of Military History: From 3500 B.C. To The Present. (2nd Revised Edition 1986), R. Ernest Dupuy, and Trevor N. Dupuy. PP 1072-1073, 1082.

External links

• BBC - WW2 People's War - Operation Crusader
• OPERATION CRUSADER and Rommel's Dash To The Wire
• Australian War Memorial
• WWII Operation Crusader