#18 - Sollumfront (22-23 November 1941) - PzC 04 Tobruk '41

Sidi Azeiz, 22 November: After believing that they had successfully defeated the Afrika Korps on 20 November, the British commanders gave the orders for the second phase of Crusader to begin. This involved the initiation of the Tobruk break-out and the start of operations to reduce the Axis frontier positions. The operations against the frontier would not involve a frontal assault, as had been the case with Brevity and Battleaxe. Instead, a page would be taken from the 1940 British offensive against the Italians. Early on 21 November, the 2nd New Zealand Division and 7th Indian Brigade began moving around the desert flank of the fortification line and, by the early hours of 22 November, contact with the enemy had been made. But unknown to the Commonwealth commanders, the German armor was still a strong force, and on 24 November, would turn their attention to the Sollumfront. Thus the Italian fortifications, that were taken on 22-23 November, would serve later to protect the New Zealanders and Indians.