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World War II
World War II was a global war between two opposing military forces, the Allies - lead by the United Kingdom and its commonwealth, France (until its defeat), the Soviet Union and the United States - and the Axis - a group of powers lead by Nazi Germany, the Kingdom of Italy and the Empire of Japan - hat began on the 3rd of September, 1939 and ended on the 2nd of September, 1945. The amount of civilan deaths was so great that the Second World War was also refered to as the Holocaust. -
Italy Declared War on the Allies
On the 10th of June, 1940, the Itallian force declared war of France and Brittain. This declration not only caused the East Afican Campaign but also it later caused the 'Siege of Tobruk'. The Siege took place in the Western Desert in North Africa in the height of the Second World War. The battle was a smaller part of the Western Desert Campaign, however it was so named the 'Siege of Tobruk' because the battle (which lasted 240 days) was fought in a small town named Tobruk on the Libyan coast. -
Italy Invades Egypt
On the 13th of September, 1940, Benito Mussolini's (the Italian politican that lead National Fascist Party) forces finally crossed the Libyan border into Egypt. This unofficially strengthend the bond of alliment between Germany and Italy. -
Australian 6th Division Troops Fight for Bardia Against the Italians
On the 3rd of January, 1941, Australian 6th Division troops attacked and captured Bardia from the Itallian force. The battle between the Australians and the Itallian forces had mch intensity, however the town fell to Australia after only two days (until the 5th of January) of fighting. This battle in Bardia, after the retreted Itallian troops recovered, had lead to Germany and Italy to invade Tobruk to gain some land. However in this battle the Australian army lost 130 soldiers in just 2 days. -
Bardia is Captered from the Italians
The battle in Bardia was finsihed two days after it had began, with the Austalian and Brittish troops conquring the Italian force. -
Tobruk is Captured from the Italians
On the 21st of January, 1941 Australian 6th Division and British troops attacked the Italian force in Tobruk and the town fell to them the next day, on the 22nd of January. The Allied troops were very prepared for capturing the town and as at Bardia, Allied infantry and tanks pick edoff the Italian machinegun posts, artillery batteries and dug-in tanks from within the defensive perimeter. This captuing was a major advantage for the Allied troops in the critical stage of the second world war. -
Australian 9th Division
On the 8th of March the Australian 9th Division took over the town of Tobruk from the Australian 6th Division. It was first created to serve as a defence division in 1940 during the Fall of France, however as the war progressed, it became well known that all of the soliders in the 9th division spent more time in combat than any other. It was also unique because it was on of the very few that served in the Middle East and South West Pacific Area. This division was profoundly Australian Troops. -
German and Italian Troops Attack in North Africa
On the 31st of March, 1941, Italian troops, lead by Benito Mussolini, attacked Noth Africa. However the Australian troops counterattacked and drew back the Italian forces, this victory for the Australian and Brittish troops saw the collapse of Italian power in North Africa and forced Hitler to intervene and send his own troops. Australian soldiers gained confidence and were proud of their successes. -
'The Siege of Tobruk' Begins.
The Battle of Tobruk - Personal StoriesAlthough on the 31st of March in 1941, the German and Italian troops had had to retreat, they quickly regained that same land and even more, pushing right up to the small town of Tobruk where the Australian 9th Division and the Brittish troops were stationed. They were lead by General Erwin Rommel and his famous troops that were know as 'Afrika Korps'. They were so well renound because the 'Afrika Korps' was made from orders by Adolf Hitler himself. -
'The Easter Battle'
On the 13th of April, 1941, Rommel launched his first attack on the town of Tobruk, this battle was so great that it was soon named 'The Easter Battle'. The Greman and Italian forces thought that they would be able to reach the water in 72 hours, however they failed and suffered harsh fire from the Allied forces, many of the Axis troops were killed and the rest were forced to retreat. -
'The Battle of the Salient'
On the 30th of April, 1941, Germany and the Italians advanced on the Allies and attacked. Although the Gremans were strong, their communication was weak which lead to them having chinks in their assult. Also the Australian Army was very strong and focused on the Axis weak point, which made the German and Italians eaiser to penetrate. Although the Axis were able to advance 3.2 kilometres, Rommel lost far too many troops which made it harder for them to hold their newfound position. -
The End of 'The Battle of the Salient'
On the 4th of May, 1941, the Australian and Brittish troops were able to defend Tobruk and defeat the Axis troops assult yet again. -
Operation Crusader
On the 18th of November, 1941, General Claude Auchinleck of the Brittish army and Allied troops launched Operation Crusader. The Axis forces were beginning to feel the strain and were hard pressed In fact Afrika Korps had been reinforced, and a few days after Auchinleck's wildly optimistic appreciation, struck at the weakened British forces, driving them back to their positions near Tobruk. However after many losses to both sides the Axis began to retreat out of Tobruk. -
'The Siege of Tobruk' had Finished.
By the 27th of November, 1941, the Allies had completely defeated the Axis and the 'Siege of Tobruk' had finally finished. The majority of the 9th Australian Division are withdrawn from Tobruk and the 2/13 Battalion were evacuated.
