✦ History

Part of World War II, Western Desert campaign

Siege of Tobruk

April 10 – November 27, 1941 · Tobruk

Result Allied victory

Defence of the Libyan port of Tobruk by Allied troops, mainly Australian at first, against Axis forces under Erwin Rommel. The garrison held out for 241 days until it was relieved in November 1941.

On the map Overview Contemporaries

Allies

Axis

United Kingdom
Australia
British Raj
New Zealand
Czechoslovakia
Poland
Germany
Italy
Leslie Morshead military commander Ronald Scobie military commander
Erwin Rommel military commander Gastone Gambara military commander

Strength and losses

Strength
27,000
Casualties
5,989
Strength
35,000
Casualties
12,296
Aircraft lost
74–150

Units

3rd Carpathian Rifle Division 70th Infantry Division (United Kingdom) 7th Division (Australia) 9th Australian Division 18th Brigade (Australia) 20th Brigade (Australia) No. 8 (Guards) Commando
Afrika Korps 132nd Armored Division "Ariete" 17th Infantry Division "Pavia" 27th Infantry Division "Brescia" 55th Infantry Division "Savona"

Battles 2