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The '''Siege of Tobruk''' was the Axis encirclement of Allied forces dug in and around the port of Tobruk in Libya that lasted for 253 days in North Africa during the North African Campaign in the Second World War. The siege started on 10 April 1941, when Tobruk was attacked by an Italo–German force under Lieutenant-General [[Erwin Rommel]], and continued for 253 days to 10 December 1941, when it was finally lifted when Major-General [[Stanisław Kopański]]'s [[Carpathian Brigade]] attacked and captured White Knoll Hill during [[Operation Crusader]].<ref>''The Brigade fought along the western perimeter of Tobruk, and during the December break-out pushed past the Italian Brescia Division in the battle for the 'White Knoll' and captured Acroma." (The Polish Army 1939-45, Steven Zaloga, Richard Hook, p. 18, Osprey Publishing, 2013)</ref>

The '''Siege of Tobruk''' was the Axis encirclement of Allied forces dug in and around the port of Tobruk in Libya that lasted for 253 days in North Africa during the North African Campaign in the Second World War. The siege started on 10 April 1941, when Tobruk was attacked by an Italo–German force under Lieutenant-General [[Erwin Rommel]], and continued for 253 days to 10 December 1941, when it was finally lifted when Major-General [[Stanisław Kopański]]'s [[Carpathian Brigade]] attacked and captured White Knoll Hill during [[Operation Crusader]].<ref>''The Brigade fought along the western perimeter of Tobruk, and during the December break-out pushed past the Italian Brescia Division in the battle for the 'White Knoll' and captured Acroma." (The Polish Army 1939-45, Steven Zaloga, Richard Hook, p. 18, Osprey Publishing, 2013)</ref>

==First Desert Offensive==

==Benghazi handicap==

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 the "Benghazi handicap", 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 31 March he launched fifty tanks backed up by the Brescia Infantry and Ariete Armoured Divisions and drove the Allies back in confusion. The British 7th Armoured and Australian 6th Infantry Divisions had been replaced by the inexperienced 2nd Armoured and 9th Infantry Divisions.

On 31 March he launched fifty tanks backed up by the ''Brescia'' Infantry and ''Ariete'' Armoured Divisions and drove the Allies back in confusion. The British 7th Armoured and Australian 6th Infantry Divisions had been replaced by the inexperienced 2nd Armoured and 9th Infantry Divisions. The withdrawal cost the Australians heavily, with 1,000 men captured outside Mechili.  

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.''

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.''