Tobruk is a coastal port in Libya, North Africa, which was a colony of Fascist Italy until 1943. The town was the scene for one of Australia's earliest actions in the Second World War.
Troops of the 6th Australian Division were part of the Allied Western Desert Force that captured Tobruk from the Italians in January 1941. When the 6th Division was sent to serve in the Greek Campaign in early March, the 9th Australian Division took over at Tobruk. Unfortunately, German and Italian forces besieged (surrounded) the Allies at Tobruk for 8 months, from April to December 1941.
Before taking Tobruk, the Allies had been fighting Italian forces in North Africa. The Italians suffered setbacks and lost ground to the Australians. The situation compelled Germany to send forces to help the Italians. The German forces, known as the Afrika Korps, were led by General Erwin Rommel, an excellent military strategist. Rommel's troops and the Italian forces were known as the Axis.
Tobruk was vital to Axis operations because it was the only deep-water harbour in Eastern Libya. Without the port, the Axis armies would be forced to bring most of their troops and supplies overland. The long, hot desert crossings would harm their front-line operations.
German and Italian troops mounted repeated ground and air attacks on Tobruk after the Allies took it. The British, Australian, Indian and Polish forces garrisoned there fought desperately against the attacks. German propaganda described the Allied forces as trapped rats. That description was the origin of the 'Rats of Tobruk' nickname the Allied forces gave themselves. It represented their survival in the harsh desert landscape.
Australian soldiers rest on high ground overlooking Tobruk and the Gulf of Bomba after having advanced on the town. Photographed by Frank Hurley, 23 January 1941. AWM 005603
On the perimeter
Italian troops had constructed defensive rings around Tobruk before the Allies took the town. The Allied troops worked hard to improve the existing defences they now occupied. They also added anti-tank ditches and more barbed wire to reinforce the strong-points (crucial positions in the defence).
An important part of the Allies' defence of Tobruk was the perimeter posts, where platoons of Allied soldiers were placed. Harry Locke describes some of his experiences of being sent to perimeter posts.
Watch the video:
Answer the questions:
- Harry describes being in a dust storm while preparing to fight the enemy. What effects would dust storms have had upon the activities of soldiers on both sides of the conflict?
- Each perimeter post housed a platoon of soldiers. That's around 40 troops in total. Imagine you were in a platoon at a perimeter post near the enemy line. How would you have felt in that situation?
- Harry and his mates went on night patrols along the perimeter at Tobruk. What would have been the advantages and disadvantages of patrolling at night?
Learn about the heroes of Tobruk.
Pride and service
The Australians serving at Tobruk faced a determined enemy. Fighting the Axis forces in a desert landscape took courage and resilience. Scorching hot days, cold nights and sand storms took their toll on everyone.
The 'Rats of Tobruk' earned a special place in Australia's military history. Vernon Hansen speaks of the pride he felt about his service in Tobruk.
Watch the video:
Answer the questions:
- Vernon refers to the German forces suffering one of their first defeats of the Second World War on land at Tobruk. What effect might that defeat have had on General Rommel and the Afrika Korps?
- Vernon says he and his mates 'did a good job'. What criteria might he have used when coming to that conclusion?
- How did the Siege of Tobruk contribute to the history of Australia's armed forces?
Discover more about this place they call Tobruk.
The damage done
General Erwin Rommel directed the Axis forces to attack Tobruk on land and from the sky. The attacks on the Allied positions were frequent and brutal.
The town of Tobruk and its harbour sustained critical damage during the siege. Hear John Pope talk about the damage and the ships sunk in the harbour.
Watch the video:
Answer the questions:
- The German forces had plans of the town of Tobruk and used them when organising their attacks. How might the Australian and other Allied leaders have responded to the knowledge that the Germans had those plans?
- Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships and crew participated in the siege. Squadrons from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) were part of the Allies' Desert Air Force. How might their aircraft have supported naval ships entering and leaving Tobruk harbour or docking at one of the piers?
- John says '… there were plenty of sunken naval ships in the harbour.' How might the sight of those ships have affected John and his mates?
Learn more about the Royal Australian Navy losses in the war.
Hardship and survival
In this short film, 4 Australian veterans of Tobruk speak about the incredible hardship of life in and around the town. They describe the unforgiving nature of the terrain and how it made surviving attacks more of a challenge. Their reflections on the siege provide insights into how it affected them personally.
Watch the video:
Answer the questions:
- How might the Tobruk veterans have tried to keep up their spirits while fighting a determined enemy and living in such a harsh climate?
- Fighting at Tobruk often took place between small groups of soldiers and sometimes between pairs and individuals. How did the landscape around Tobruk influence how soldiers engaged with the enemy?
- The Rats of Tobruk were often attacked by German dive bomber aircraft called 'Stukas'. The German pilots were very accurate in their attacks. One of the veterans in the film describes being bombed by Stukas while in the slit trenches. What might being an Allied soldier in that situation have been like?
Discover more about Libya and the Siege of Tobruk in 1941.
Beyond Tobruk
The Australian troops who survived Tobruk were often sent to other theatres of conflict later in the war. In this video, veteran Jack Calder talks about going to Syria in the Middle East.
Watch the video:
Answer the questions:
- Jack was wounded in action at Tobruk. Once he recovered from his wounds, he was sent back to his unit. He was made a platoon commander at the age of 19. How would you have felt if you had been in Jack's situation?
- Jack and his mates were sent to Palestine (modern-day Israel) after Tobruk to prepare for deployment to Syria. What thoughts might Jack have had as he and his unit prepared for the deployment?
- Jack's unit was deployed as garrison troops in Syria. A garrison is a unit of troops sent to a fortress or town for defensive purposes. How would their experiences in Tobruk have been useful to them in their new role?
Discover more about Syria and Lebanon in June 1941.
Curriculum notes for teachers
These videos and activities align with the Australian Curriculum Year 10 History, Strand: Knowledge and understanding; Sub-strand World War II:
- The places where Australians fought, and their perspectives and experiences during World War II, such as the fall of Singapore, prisoners of war (POWs), the Battle of Britain and Kokoda (AC9HH10K02)
- The significant events and turning points of World War II, including the Holocaust and use of the atomic bomb (AC9HH10K03)
- the commemoration of World War II, including different historical interpretations and debates (AC9HH10K06)
