On the night of 30th April 1941, Axis forces launched their second major assault on the port of Tobruk. If it fell, Lt General Erwin Rommel would gain a vital forward base for his advance towards Egypt.
With heavy artillery support, German troops and elements of the Italian Trento Division moved forward against the southwest perimeter at Ras el Madauur, an area mainly defended by the Australian 2/24th Battalion.
Here we see pioneers of the 33rd Engineer Battalion opening gaps in barbed wire for the infantry following behind them.
Although the Germans infiltrated the outer defences, many of the perimeter posts continued to hold out, and attempts to expand the breach with tank columns were repulsed. The heavy losses eventually forced Rommel to call off the attack on 4th May.
By Ibrahim Zamir
Empire of History 