#12 - Three Against One (19-20 November 1941) - PzC 04 Tobruk '41

Mishefa, 19 November 1941: The overall plan, for the first phase of Operation Crusader, called for an advance, by 7th Armoured Division, to a position that threatened the rear of the Axis forces investing Tobruk. The Germans would of course react, and 7th Armoured was to defeat the panzer forces, which they believed they outnumbered. Phase two would then be launched It called for the Tobruk break-out, and link-up with 30th Corps, while the 13th Corps was to begin the reduction of the border forces. But as luck would have it, the approach move of 30th Corps went undetected until 18 November and, even then, Rommel refused to allow the Afrika Korps to be distracted from Tobruk. At dawn on the 19 November, 30th Corps was faced with having to force the issue, but instead of remaining concentrated, and pursuing a common objective, they chose to send the three armored brigades in three different directions. The 22nd would attack the Italian Ariete Division at Bir el Gubi, the 7th would advance to Sidi Rezegh, while the 4th would cover the gap, that would be opening, between 7th Armoured and the forces of 13th Corps. At noon, on 19 November, the German command finally put their forces in motion and, over the next two days, 7th Armoured Division would be engaged with THREE Axis armored divisions.