Changes

The ''Bologna'' defences now extended some 8 miles, and on November 25th, the thinly spread-out division was assaulted again by 50 British tanks and forced to withdraw some distance, although not before the German ''Böttcher'' Group had inflicted considerable losses on the British tanks. The British advance had been hours earlier derailed by the timely arrival of crack Italian reinforcements in the form of a Bersaglieri battalion of the ''Trieste'' Division.<ref>"When the New Zealanders attacked again after the onset of darkness, they were able to take Balhamed in the course of the night. Early in the morning of 26 November, a portion of the Tobruk garrison, supported by 50 tanks, broke out once again. A crisis arose when El Duda fell. It was only through a bitter and bravely conducted immediate counterattack by the Bersaglieri of the Trieste Division that the positions in the north could be held." Das Afrika Korps: Erwin Rommel and the Germans in Africa, 1941-43, By Franz Kurowski, pg. 117, Stackpole Books, 2010</ref>

The ''Bologna'' defences now extended some 8 miles, and on November 25th, the thinly spread-out division was assaulted again by 50 British tanks and forced to withdraw some distance, although not before the German ''Böttcher'' Group had inflicted considerable losses on the British tanks. The British advance had been hours earlier derailed by the timely arrival of crack Italian reinforcements in the form of a Bersaglieri battalion of the ''Trieste'' Division.<ref>"When the New Zealanders attacked again after the onset of darkness, they were able to take Balhamed in the course of the night. Early in the morning of 26 November, a portion of the Tobruk garrison, supported by 50 tanks, broke out once again. A crisis arose when El Duda fell. It was only through a bitter and bravely conducted immediate counterattack by the Bersaglieri of the Trieste Division that the positions in the north could be held." Das Afrika Korps: Erwin Rommel and the Germans in Africa, 1941-43, By Franz Kurowski, pg. 117, Stackpole Books, 2010</ref>

The ''Bologna''defenders were gradually pushed back to the ''Leopard'' strongpoint, covering their retreat with mines and machine-gun nests, but by the end of the month the Tobruk breakout was judged a success among the British commanders.  

The ''Bologna'' defenders were gradually pushed back to their ''Leopard'' strongpoint, covering their retreat with mines and machine-gun nests, but by the end of the month the Tobruk breakout was judged a success among the British commanders.  

Despite the Elite German 90th Light Division withdrawing early from the Tobruk sector on December 4th, the ''Bologna'' Division held out over the next week when trucks were finally assigned to give them some support under the cover of darkness of December 8th.

Despite the Elite German 90th Light Division withdrawing early from the Tobruk sector on December 4th, the ''Bologna'' Division held out for nearly another week when trucks were finally assigned to give them some support under the cover of darkness of December 8th.

A further assault, this time by the Polish Carpathian Brigade (SBSK) supported by tanks and artillery, was required against the stubborn Italian defenders in the form of the rearguard of the  ''Brescia'' Division dug in on the White-Knoll, before the Axis siege of Tobruk was finally declared over on December 10th.

A further assault, this time by the Polish Carpathian Brigade (SBSK) supported by tanks and artillery, was required against the stubborn Italian defenders in the form of the rearguard of the  ''Brescia'' Division dug in on the White-Knoll, before the Axis siege of Tobruk was finally declared over on December 10th.