Changes

==Benghazi handicap==

==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 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.

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 northern 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 The British 7th Armoured and Australian 6th Infantry Divisions had been replaced by the inexperienced 2nd Armoured and 9th Infantry Divisions. The withdrawal cost the Australians heavily, with 1,000 men captured outside Mechili.  

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 The British 7th Armoured and Australian 6th Infantry Divisions had been replaced by the inexperienced 2nd Armoured and 9th Infantry Divisions.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.  

On 13 April, German aircraft dropped leaftlets over Tobruk, urging the Australian garrison to surrender:

On 13 April, German aircraft dropped leaftlets over Tobruk, urging the Australian garrison to surrender:

''"The general officer commanding the German forces in Libya hereby requests that the British troops occupying Tobruk surrender their arms. Single soldiers waving white handkerchiefs are not fired on. Strong German forces have already surrounded Tobrk, and it it useless to try and escape. Remember Mekili. Our dive-bombers and Stukas are awaiting your ships which are lying in Tobruk."''<ref>The Australian 9th Division Versus the Afrika Corps, Colonel Ward A. Miller, p. 24, Pickle Partners Publishing, 2014]</ref>

''"The general officer commanding the German forces in Libya hereby requests that the British troops occupying Tobruk surrender their arms. Single soldiers waving white handkerchiefs are not fired on. Strong German forces have already surrounded Tobrk, and it it useless to try and escape. Remember Mekili. Our dive-bombers and Stukas are awaiting your ships which are lying in Tobruk."''<ref>The Australian 9th Division Versus the Afrika Corps, Colonel Ward A. Miller, p. 24, Pickle Partners Publishing, 2014</ref>

That night, a strong German night-fighting patrol attempted to captured strongpoint R33, but the attack failed when Lieutenant-Colonel Mackell personally led a counterattackalong with six of his men. The Australians claim 12 Germans were killed and one captured, and Corporal Jack Edmondson was posthumously awarded the [[Victoria Cross]] for his part in the action.

That night, a strong German night-fighting patrol attempted to captured strongpoint R33, but the attack failed when Lieutenant-Colonel Mackell personally led a counterattackalong with six of his men. The Australians claim 12 Germans were killed and one captured, and Corporal Jack Edmondson was posthumously awarded the [[Victoria Cross]] for his part in the action.

On 14 Aprl, seventy Ju 87s escorted by German and Italian fighters attacked Tobruk. No.73 Squadron intercepted the formation and Flight Lieutenant James Duncan Smith, a Canadian fighter ace, shot down two G.50s before the Italian fighters from ''351º Squadriglia'' shot him down, killing him in the process. Sergeant R. W. Ellis, who had shot down four ''Luftwaffe'' aircraft during the [[Battle of Britain]] shot down three German dive-bombers in the aerial battle.

On 14 April, seventy Ju 87s escorted by German and Italian fighters attacked Tobruk. No.73 Squadron intercepted the formation and Flight Lieutenant James Duncan Smith, a Canadian fighter ace, shot down two G.50s before the Italian fighters from ''351º Squadriglia'' shot him down, killing him in the process. Sergeant R. W. Ellis, who had shot down four ''Luftwaffe'' aircraft during the [[Battle of Britain]] shot down three German dive-bombers in the aerial battle.

==Battle of the Salient==

==Battle of the Salient==