Photograph dated 5 september 1941 showing guards at 9th division rear hq at tobruk negative by frank hurley. Allied troops, such as uk, indian, polish and czech service personnel, who served at tobruk during the siege period, are in many cases, also listed on my website. Controlling north africa would give the allied forces a base from which to attack. The rats of tobruk, a name adopted by australian soldiers who were at the siege of tobruk. Rats of tobruk association, nsw, created by nick woodward. Perry miniatures 8th army desert rats ww2 194043 28mm hard plastic 38 figures by perry miniatures. The rats of tobruk simple english wikipedia, the free. My husbands experiences of war pt2 the desert rats. Remembering the rats of tobruk harry ross sutherland, from the 18th brigade of the australian 7th division, recounts his experience while deployed in the libyan port of tobruk in 1941. The rats of tobruk controlling north africa would give the allied forces a base from which to attack occupied europe, across the mediterranean. The rats of tobruk was the name given to the soldiers who held the libyan port of tobruk against the afrika corps, during the siege of tobruk in world war ii. The australian 9th division the rats of tobruk pulled back to tobruk to avoid encirclement after actions at er regima and mechili and reached tobruk on 9 april 1941 where prolonged fighting against german and italian forces followed. Rats of tobruk history timeline rats of tobruk tribute.
Mosaic at the foot of the rats of tobruk memorial, queens park, mackay, queensland, australia, bearing the rats of tobruk association insignia. Anzac community grant recipients 20172018 office for veterans. Adolf hitler had prepared for war by socially engineering his followers into the perfect fighting machines. The rats of tobruk were soldiers of the australianled allied garrison that held the libyan port of tobruk against the afrika corps, during the siege of tobruk in world war ii. The replica memorial is based on the 1941 memorial in the tobruk war cemetery, built by australian soldiers during the siege, which has since been destroyed. The rats of tobruk was the name given to the soldiers of.
The fighting rats of tobruk 1944 the fighting rats of. Their story is based on the siege of the libyan city of tobruk in north africa by rommels afrika korps. The siege of tobruk, 1941 timeline timetoast timelines. I was a tobruk rat, and still am at 94 years of age one tobruk experience. The rats of tobruk was the name given to the soldiers who held the libyan port of tobruk against the afrika corps, during the siege of tobruk in world war ii the siege started on 10 april 1941. The siege of tobruk history bibliographies cite this for me. Moments in time is an interactive timeline presenting key events that occurred. Cdroms in the aiatsis library the cd australian institute of. Both the allies and axis needed control of the town in order to ensure a secure supply line for offensive operations. Rats of tobruk memorial pipes and drums home facebook.
The siege of tobruk was lifted in december 1941 in the course of operation crusader. The matron, the photographer and the tango dancing colonel, article, timelines, museum. The siege of tobruk, by charles w blanks in drab army lorries we. Wikimedia commons has media related to rats of tobruk memorial the replica memorial is based on the 1941 memorial in the tobruk war cemetery, built by australian soldiers during the siege, which has since been destroyed.
Tobruk was the first place that the german army had been beaten, and became a ray of hope for all the allied nations. However, one battalion, the 2th battalion remained in tobruk until the british offensive, operation crusader relived the town in december. This is the rats of tobruk timeline, taken from the awn, canberra, with minor modifications by owen carlton. The siege of tobruk ends with enemy forces retreating the german and italian forces retreat after a long seven and a bit months. Tobruk was an important contributor to that emerging trend. Richard burton did a fine hollywood based film, desert rats, about the same siege at tobruk and chips rafferty had a featured role in that. The film follows three drover friends who enlist in the australian army together during world war ii. The rats of tobruk is a 1944 australian film directed by charles chauvel.
The rats of tobruk memorial pipes and drums was formed in 1960 as a living memorial to the military units involved in the siege of tobruk of. These are the sources and citations used to research the siege of tobruk. Controlling north africa would give the allied forces a base from which to attack occupied europe, across the mediterranean. Combined german and italian troops had sealed off all land approaches to tobruk on april 11. Riverina rats of tobruk honour roll nsw war memorials register. The 1941 siege of tobruk, birth of the rats of tobruk. This site is dedicated to the famous rats of tobruk who were members of the allied forces who fought at.
The rats of tobruk was the name given to the soldiers of the garrison who held the libyan. The rats of tobruk australian war memorial, london. The siege started on 10 april 1941, when tobruk was attacked by an italogerman force under lieutenant general erwin rommel and continued for 241 days up to 27 november 1941, when it was relieved by the allied 8th army during operation crusader. Australian 9th division under morshead, take over from the 6th division on tobruk 31 march 1941 german and italian troops attack in north africa. Rats of tobruk is a twoplayer operationaltactical game that simulates rommels easter day attack on tobruk in april 1941. Britain declares war on germany, australia added to the war. Boost engagement with internal communication videos. The north african port of tobruk was the site of ferocious fighting during world war ii. Historical inquiry education resources for schools teachers and. It fell to the germans after the battle of gazala on 21 june 1942 but was recaptured five months later. This was an adf pr video extolling the values of the australian defence forces. Is there an actual list of names of the rats of tobruk.
June 2009 learn how and when to remove this template message. The siege of tobruk lasted 240 days but from august the australian were gradually relieved being evacuated by ship to alexandria. The secretary, rats of tobruk association 44 victoria avenue albert park victoria 3206 australia tobruk house 44. This provides the contact information for the rats of tobruk tribute website and owner details.
Between april and december 1941 the tobruk garrison, comprising british, australian and polish troops, was besieged by rommels forces. The soldiers dug extensive trenches and tunnels for defensive and offensive movement. The siege of tobruk was the first occasion in the war that german panzer units had been stopped. Over the centuries, tobruk also served as a waystation along the coastal caravan route. In this stateline program from 2008, abc reporters interview the. Nevertheless, morale remained high the australians adopting the ironic nickname the rats of tobruk, in response to reports that nazi radio propagandist lord haw haw had described them as being caught like rats in a trap in one of his broadcasts. Queenslands last rat of tobruk vernon hansen was in canberra yesterday to mark the 75th anniversary of the siege. Germans launch their attack known as the easter battle and are defeated. Erwin rommel, in a letter to his wife, lucie, wrote, today may well see the end of the battle of tobruk.
This underground living was the likely catalyst for the living like rats part, yet all it did was earn us the title of rats of tobruk and i am so proud to wear that name. Ms small dog guarding australian soldiers rifle and helmet. His experience in pipe bands spans 45 years, having also served as pipe major of the victoria police pipe band from 1980 to 1987, and retiring from that band in 20. Specifically, my question addresses the attitudes of australian peoples toward the rats of tobruk during 1941 when the siege took place, with further references supplied to prove that such attitudes have remained intact in the following decades.
Italy a german ally had occupied libya, right next to egypt where the british were heavily ensconced. The defenders of tobruk and their besiegers were at a stalemate. By 1911, tobruk had become an italian military post, but during world war ii, allied forces, mainly the australian 6th division, took tobruk on. This site is dedicated to those who fought at tobruk. A timeline created with timetoasts interactive timeline maker.
Our commander, majorgeneral morshead, told us the german tanks that were likely to lead the assault could only inflict minimal damage, with the following troops the. Tobruk was the site of an ancient greek colony and, later, of a roman fortress guarding the frontier of cyrenaica. United states discontinued its offensive program in the. The siege started on 11 april 1941 and was relieved on 10 december. Tobruk diaries timeline the australian war memorial. To prepare for that, rommel wasnt receiving the supplies and material he needed. The rats of tobruk was the name given to the australian soldiers defending the port of tobruk, in libya. An outstanding documentary series following the fortunes of australian and new zealand forces through world war 2. Commemorate the 14,000 australian soldiers that held out against repeated german attacks in the libyan port of tobruk in wwii from 10 april in 1941 and in particular, the rats of tobruk by. Programs, continued to represent the memorial on the. Ww2 peoples war homepage archive list timeline about this site. The only libyan territory still in british hands was the cyrenaican port of tobruk. Wwii and was a war hero as one of the rats of tobruk with the 2th battalion. Rommel arrives in tripoli with orders of attacking.
Mar 08, 2020 these are the sources and citations used to research the siege of tobruk. The siege of tobruk begins with german troops cutting landward communications with tobruk, besieging 9th australian division and 18th australian brigade. The rats of tobruk was the name given to the australian soldiers of the garrison who held the libyan port of tobruk against the africa corps, during the siege of tobruk in world war ii. From this insult emerged the honourable name rats of tobruk, adored by fellow australians back home. Australian troops of the australian 9th division and the 18th brigade of the australian 7th division under lieutenant general leslie morshead made up more than. Together they serve in north africa, fighting against the forces of rommel in what has now become one of australias greatest wartime legendsthe rats of tobruk. They endured the deserts searing heat, the bitterly cold nights, and hellish dust storms. David is currently the pipe major of the band having joined the rats of tobruk in 2003.
Supplies of food and water decreased, and the troops were plagued by flies, fleas and illness. This bibliography was generated on cite this for me on sunday, march 8, 2020. The 9th division suffered heavy causalities at tobruk amounting to 832 men killed, 2177 wounded and 941 captured. May 17, 2015 the memorial commemorates those who served at tobruk during world war two. Incorporated into the memorial is the original inscription stone, the only surviving relic of that memorial, and at one time a front step of the tobruk post office. Australian rats of tobruk lz click here to view list. What you need to know about the siege of tobruk imperial. The deserts of north africa were an important battleground in world war ii. Although he travelled with family, it would have been a lonely trip from his. Awm007494 some of australias first major battles of the second world war were the actions and campaigns fought in the middle east and the mediterranean, where the. On 22 january 1941, a joint force of british, australian, and indian troops captured the libyan port city of tobruk making it the only alliedheld city in axiscontrolled territory. Tobruk was just as vital for the allies as it was for the axis powers. On return home the soldiers formed the rats of tobruk association.
The rats of tobruk were soldiers of the australianled allied garrison that held the libyan port. The rats of tobruk november 23, 2008 by tim nash one of the lesser know battles of world war 2, fought by a small yet stubborn force of mostly australians in the port city of tobruk. Australian troops beseiged tobruk from the italians feb 12, 1941. Meet queenslands last rat of tobruk queensland times. An abridged version was released in the united states in 1951 as the fighting rats of tobruk. Their determination, bravery, and humour, combined with the aggressive tactics of their commanders, became a source of inspiration during some of the wars darkest days. Timetoasts free timeline maker lets you create timelines online. In so doing, they achieved lasting fame as the rats of tobruk. Mar 18, 2011 the defenders of tobruk did not surrender, they did not retreat. Rats of tobruk home tribute is a tribute to the rats of tobruk, who fought in tobruk, during the siege of tobruk, of 241 days from april 10 to december 1941. Over a million stunning new images at your fingertips.
The defence of tobruk was essential as germany was starting to grow their size and power. Identifying with authority, they obeyed rather than thought. Commanders, tobruk is a port town located in libya along the mediterranean coast. The victorian state branch decided to form a pipe band as a living memorial to the soldiers who died at tobruk and to keep alive the proud name the rats of tobruk. Australians, backed by british artillery and tanks, captured the fortress in the first allied drive through cyrenaica libya, and australian troops, again backed by british artillery, held it against as great odds as have been faced by any garrison in history. G herman gill, royal australian navy, 19391942, australia in the war of 19391945, series 2 navy, vol. May 18, 2011 this short film features memorial historian dr karl james discussing the exhibition rats of tobruk 1941. If you dont kill enough rats they can spread disease and eat your food. You can support us by purchasing something through our amazonurl, thanks. The rats of tobruk hold an identifiable place within the ranks of returned servicemen, particularly in australia, where there is the rats of tobruk memorial, canberra on 22 march 1944, the original members of the rats of tobruk formed the north bondi subbranch of the returned and services league of australia and it is still known in modern times as tobruk house or the rathouse. The largely australian defenders held the city for 250 days before being relieved by british forces. The siege of tobruk history bibliographies cite this. Nuclear timeline and information about the manhattan.
May 12, 2012 the famous story of the rats of tobruk and the ships that supplied them in ww2, as told by the rats themselves. For eight long months, surrounded by german and italian forces, the men of the tobruk garrison, mostly australians, withstood tank attacks, artillery barrages, and daily bombings. Axis forces recaptured the port on 21 june 1942, after defeating the eighth army in the battle of gazala. The rats who returned to melbourne formed as association which has branches in every state as well as in the united kingdom. There were also major oil fields in the middle east that were vital to fuel their tanks, planes and motorised transport. Is there a list of persons who are rats of tobruk answers. Programs order of service, british commonwealth youth sunday, melbourne, may item ht.
Tells the story of three menbluey, a tough two fisted drover taylor, milo, a laconic dingo trapper rafferty, and pete, an intellectual english new chum finch. German radio started calling the australians poor desert rats of tobruk, which they took immense pride in, calling themselves the rats of tobruk. Australian troops occupy a front line position at tobruk. Of course the production values were much superior, still the rats of tobruk shows a lot of care about the australian fighting man and his contribution in world war ii from the folks they were defending. Allies surrender at tobruk, libya on this day in 1942, general erwin rommel turns his assault on the britishallied garrison at tobruk, libya, into victory, as his panzer division occupies the. The fighting rats of tobruk by fox lorber by charles chauvel. Make educational timelines or create a timeline for your company website.
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