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During March 1941, Rommel defied orders from Rome to hold his ground around Tripoli and build up his strength. He attacked in what became known as his first desert offensive, taking advantage of the British Middle East Command decision to reinforce northen Greece, pushing the British Commonwealth forces back to the east, towards Tobruk.  He won control of the air with the Regia Aeronautica fighters and 20 Messerschmitt Bf 110s from ''ZG26'' based at Sirte, and he had over 1,000 trucks.

During March 1941, Rommel defied orders from Rome to hold his ground around Tripoli and build up his strength. He attacked in what became known as his first desert offensive, taking advantage of the British Middle East Command decision to reinforce northen Greece, pushing the British Commonwealth forces back to the east, towards Tobruk.  He won control of the air with the Regia Aeronautica fighters and 20 Messerschmitt Bf 110s from ''ZG26'' based at Sirte, and he had over 1,000 trucks.

On 18 February, a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) formation attacked 12 Ju 87s from ''StG3'', with  Flight Lieutenant Steege and Flying Officer Jaskson each shooting down three German dive-bombers. The next day, the Australians lost two Hurricanes in a doghfight with the Bf 110s.

On 18 February, a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) formation attacked 12 Ju 87s from ''StG3'', with  Flight Lieutenant Steege and Flying Officer Jaskson each shooting down three German dive-bombers. The next day, the Australians lost two Hurricanes in a doghfight with the Bf 110s.

At the start of Rommel's first desert offensive, he had at his disposal 130 panzers, over one-hundred German 88-mm Flak guns and 9,300 well-trained officers and other ranks from the ''Afrika Korps.''

When Axis aircraft bega bombing Benghazi, the Royal Navy withdrew, thus weakening the Allied supply line and ability to counter the Axis offensive.

General Morshead was named commander of The Tobruk garrison. He counted on the Italian concrete strongpoints and set about improving them. He established a series of posts, called the Red Line, around the garrison's 50km outer perimeter, concentrating his infantry behind a barbed-wire inner defence line.

General Morshead was named commander of The Tobruk garrison. He counted on the Italian concrete strongpoints and set about improving them. He established a series of posts, called the Red Line, around the garrison's 50km outer perimeter, concentrating his infantry behind a barbed-wire inner defence line.