Narrow Escapes of World War II episode 9: Australian Leslie Morshead and his troops held off Rommel’s Afrika Korps at the crucial port of Tobruk for an astonishing eight weeks. By Easter 1941, all that stands between Afrika Korps commander Erwin Rommel and Egypts Suez Canal is Tobruk. Australias Gen. Leslie Morshead and his defenders are ordered to hold the Libyan port for eight weeks while the defenses of Egypt can be strengthened. The Rats of Tobruk are convinced that if they fail, the war against Germany will be lost. The heroic story of Australian General Leslie Morshead and his brilliant defence of Tobruk. In 1941 it was besieged by Hitler’s favourite General, Erwin Rommel.
The vital artery that led to Britain’s Empire, the Suez Canal was at stake. If Tobruk’s defenders could hold on, it would be the narrowest escape of WWII. Leslie Morshead is Australia s greatest general. Known as Ming the Merciless to his troops, for eight weeks he and his Aussie troops held off the might of German General Erwin Rommel s Afrika Korps at the key port of Tobruk. Surrounded by Germans, Morshead decided that the best form of defence was attack. For eight weeks his men repelled the Germans, one soldier even bayoneting to death an entire German patrol. The films features the extraordinary recollections of Sergeant Ray Ellis who who manned a howitzer throughout the siege.
Narrow Escapes of World War II tells the real stories of courageous and deadly fights against impossible odds. The extraordinary stories of heroes; men who stand up and fight when everything seems lost. Those brilliant generals, ferocious warriors and individual acts of courage that can turn the tide in a war, and whose stories can still be told as shining examples of bravery and courage. This series combines eyewitness and expert testimony with specially shot material, dramatic reconstruction and archive much of it previously unseen.
Revisit some of the most daring missions of World War II as recounted by leading historians, military experts, and occasionally by the participants themselves. These 13 gripping episodes feature operations that took place all over the world—from the jungles of Southeast Asia to the steppes of southern Russia, from the foothills of the Himalayas to the frozen waters of the Baltic and the skies over Nazi-occupied France. With the benefit of original film footage, informative maps, and dramatic recreations, Narrow Escapes tells stories of valor, suffering, dedication, and determination—exploits of bravery that helped shape the outcome of the Second World War and continue to inspire today.
Narrow Escapes of World War II episode 9
During World War II, the city of Tobruk in Libya was a strategically important port for the Allied forces. The German army launched a fierce attack on the city in April 1941, hoping to capture it and cut off the Allies’ supply lines. However, the Allied forces, led by General Leslie Morshead, held on to the city for 240 days, inflicting significant damage on the German army and earning a reputation for one of the most remarkable defenses in the war.
Firstly, General Morshead was a brilliant military strategist who deployed his troops in a manner that made it difficult for the German army to penetrate Tobruk’s defenses. He used trenches, minefields, and barbed wire to create a formidable obstacle for the German army, forcing them to adopt a slow and cautious approach to their attacks. Morshead’s leadership and tactical brilliance played a crucial role in the successful defense of Tobruk.
Secondly, the Allied forces’ ability to withstand the German army’s attacks for 240 days was due to their resilience and determination. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, the Allied soldiers fought with great courage and determination, knowing that the fall of Tobruk would be a significant blow to the Allied cause. The soldiers’ commitment to their mission, coupled with their willingness to endure extreme hardships, played a significant role in the successful defense of Tobruk.
Finally, the defense of Tobruk was a turning point in the North African campaign. The Allied forces’ victory showed that the Axis powers were not invincible and gave the Allied forces a much-needed morale boost. It also forced the German army to divert its attention and resources away from the Allied forces, giving the Allies an opportunity to regroup and plan their next moves.
The defense of Tobruk by General Morshead and the Allied forces was a remarkable feat of military strategy and courage. It demonstrated the importance of resilience, determination, and effective leadership in times of war. The defense of Tobruk will forever be remembered as one of the most significant battles of World War II, and the bravery of the Allied soldiers who fought there will continue to inspire generations to come.
