Changes

During the night, the 19th Brigade headquarters attempted to negotiate a ceasefire with the commander of the Italian garrison in Tobruk. It was hoped they would succeed, but a cable from the Italian Supreme Command put paid to their efforts. Mussolini himself had ordered that General Petassi Manella continue fighting, informing him that formations of Italian bombers were on their way to help the defenders. Later that night Italian SM.79s carried out a surprise low-level attack, but bombed some 8,000 prisoners who had been gathered inside a fenced enclosure, killing and wounding hundreds of their own men. This friendly-fire incident helped break the morale of the more determined units that were prepared to continue fighting.

During the night, the 19th Brigade headquarters attempted to negotiate a ceasefire with the commander of the Italian garrison in Tobruk. It was hoped they would succeed, but a cable from the Italian Supreme Command put paid to their efforts. Mussolini himself had ordered that General Petassi Manella continue fighting, informing him that formations of Italian bombers were on their way to help the defenders. Later that night Italian SM.79s carried out a surprise low-level attack, but bombed some 8,000 prisoners who had been gathered inside a fenced enclosure, killing and wounding hundreds of their own men. This friendly-fire incident helped break the morale of the more determined units that were prepared to continue fighting.

Next day, the capture of the remaining Italian strongpoints, from R1 to S11, was completed and assisted by tanks from the Support Group. The 2nd Rifle Brigade and 1st King's Royal Rifle Corps had also arrived as reinforcements that morning. Meanwhile, the 7th Armoured Division which had also entered the perimeter from the Derna road that morning stood by ready to advance into the Tobruk if needed. That afternoon, General della Mura and the remaining defenders surrendered. The Italians had lost 15,000-30,000 killed, wounded or captured (depending on the source) and 208 field guns, 87 tanks and 200 trucks. The Australian losses were 49 dead and 306 wounded. The Free French Force lost 5 killed and 40 wounded. Although, the 2nd/8th Battalion (according to the official war historian) captured 1,300 Italians, Lieutenant Stan Jacobs estimates the real number of prisoners his battalion marched off to captivity took to be around 3,000.<ref>"On arrival at Fort Capuzzo ... on the gate there was a British sentry. 'How many have you got'? he asked. 'About 3,500,' Jacobs replied. 'Oh hell,' exclaimed the sentry." An Unqualified Success, Peter Golding, Rosenberg Publising, 2013</ref>

Next day, the capture of the remaining Italian strongpoints, from R1 to S11, was completed and assisted by tanks from the Support Group. The 2nd Rifle Brigade and 1st King's Royal Rifle Corps had also arrived as reinforcements that morning. Meanwhile, the 7th Armoured Division which had also entered the perimeter from the Derna road that morning stood by ready to advance into the Tobruk if needed. That afternoon, General della Mura and the remaining defenders surrendered. The Italians had lost 15,000-30,000 killed, wounded or captured (depending on the source) and 208 field guns, 87 tanks and 200 trucks. The Australian losses were 49 dead and 306 wounded. The Free French Force lost 5 killed and 40 wounded. Although, the 2nd/8th Battalion (according to the official war historian) captured 1,300 Italians, Lieutenant Stan Jacobs estimates the real number of prisoners his battalion marched off to captivity took to be around 3,000.<ref>"On arrival at Fort Capuzzo ... on the gate there was a British sentry. 'How many have you got'? he asked. 'About 3,500,' Jacobs replied. 'Oh hell,' exclaimed the sentry." An Unqualified Success, Peter Golding, Rosenberg Publising, 2013</ref>That night, Senussi men entered Tobruk and pillaged the gutted shops and cafes of the town.

==Battle of Derna==

==Battle of Derna==