Siege of Tobruk Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Siege of Tobruk

Part of the North African Campaign of World War II

Australian troops occupy a front line position at Tobruk

Date	10 April – 27 November 1941
Location	Tobruk, Libya
Result	Allied victory

Belligerents

Australia
United Kingdom

British India

Poland

Czechoslovakia

Germany

Italy

Commanders and leaders

Leslie Morshead (to Sept 1941)

Ronald Scobie (from Sept 1941)

Erwin Rommel

Strength

27,000

35,000

Casualties and losses

At least 3,836 deaths

12,296
At least 74–150 aircraft destroyed

The Siege of Tobruk was a battle in Libya during the North African Campaign of World War II. It lasted for 241 days. The battle was between Axis and Allied Forces. The battle started on 11 April 1941, when Tobruk was besieged by an Italian and Nazi German force commanded by Lieutenant General Erwin Rommel. The siege continued for 240 days up to 27 November 1941. On that date, the Allied 8th Army took control of Tobruk.

The reason that both sides wanted to control Tobruk is that it had a deep protected harbour. This made it a good place for ships to seek shelter. As well, the Italians had built fortifications. There were also escarpments and cliffs near Tobruk, which helped to protect the town from attack.

The Allies wanted to control Tobruk so that they could defend Egypt and the Suez Canal. When the Axis armies could no longer use the port at Tobruk, they had to bring in supplies at the distant port of Tripoli. This required the Axis armies to bring the supplies by truck through 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) of desert. After the Allies won Tobruk, the Axis armies continuted fighting to take it back. The Axis armies fired many artillery shells at Tobruk and dropped many bombs on the town.

Images for kids

Australian troops occupy a front line position at Tobruk
One of many Italian convoys heading towards North Africa
Italian troops and arms on their way to Tobruk 1941
Italian gunners in position at Tobruk
Czechoslovak 11th Infantry Battalion defending Tobruk
Ju 87 Stuka burning near Tobruk—souvenir hunters have taken the Nazi Swastika from the Vertical stabiliser.
British officers plan tank operations
Group of Italian officers, including generals Gastone Gambara and Alessandro Piazzoni, near Tobruk in autumn 1941
Australian entrenchment on the Tobruk perimeter
Operation Battleaxe (Day 1)
A group of smiling Indian soldiers in Tobruk, 4 October 1941
Men of the 2nd Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment in defences around Tobruk, 10 November 1941.
General Sikorski visiting Polish soldiers in Tobruk
Matilda tanks at Tobruk, September 1941

Siege of Tobruk facts for kids

Images for kids

See also