Siege of Tobruk: Legendary WWII Battle Where 'Rats' Defied Rommel's Desert Blitz

The Siege of Tobruk was a crucial and fiercely fought battle lasting 241 days during World

War II, from April 10 to November 27, 1941, in the North African

desert campaign. Situated in eastern Libya, Tobruk was a vital deep-water port,

heavily fortified after Italian occupation, and its control was strategically important for supply

lines and advancing Axis or Allied forces in the region. The siege began when Axis forces,

led by the formidable German commander Lieutenant General Erwin Rommel, attacked the Allied

defenders consisting mainly of the Australian 9th Division along with British, Polish,

and other Commonwealth troops. These defenders quickly earned the nickname "The Rats