Product Description

Beginning on 10th April 1941, and lasting for 240 days, the siege of Tobruk is a mesmerising tale of human endurance and heroism. It is an epic story of extraordinary resilience as the Libyan port’s 24,000 defenders met increasingly desperate attempts by Rommel’s Panzer divisions to break through the hurriedly thrown-up defences. It was a battle of bayonets and grenades against tanks, of David versus Goliath.

The eventual allied victory came against overwhelming odds, plus the morale sapping knowledge that the defenders were surrounded on one side by the sea, and on the other by Hitler’s men and machines (who, only the year before, had brought Western Europe to its knees). Tobruk was defended in the main by the Australian 9th Division, followed by the British 70th Infantry Division who then linked up with the advancing 8th Army. The Royal Navy also played an important role in Tobruk’s defence. By December 1941 Rommel had been beaten and forced to withdraw his forces from Cyrenaica. The siege was lifted and the exhausted, gallant defenders able to march out in triumph.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30102 in Books
• Published on: 2009-05-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 336 pages

Review
'A thoroughly interesting and informative read, pitched to the right level with a good balance between the details and story.' --Soldier magazine

Review
'Attractive and readable account of the 242-day siege of Tobruk in 1941.'

Review
'Gripping narrative...provides a soldier's eye view of the bitterly contested siege, using a range of eye witness accounts.'

Customer Reviews

A book to read on the beach...
...as all that sand provides a perfect backdrop for this, an account of the siege of Tobruk.
It may be a cliche but one can really smell the bully beef, the sweat, the tepid water, the stale urine, from reading this book. Short of hopping on a plane and walking through the battlefield, this is the nearest a reader can come to stepping in the feet of those brave English and Australians, who fought for freedom 68 years ago. I loved this book - with its descriptions of constant air attack and camaraderie against the Italians, the Afrika Korps and the constant flys and fleas that attacked all - whatever their nationality. This is a superb work of military history, that blends fact with human interest accounts into a supreme work of literary genius. If you liked books such as Alamein: War without Hate then you will finish this book in double quick time. A top read from an author developing into an authority on WW2 - imagine a younger Sir John Keegan and you won't be far wrong.

a must read
The best military history book I have read in 50 years, takes you to the action and describes characteristic of austrailian digger to perfection
mad paddy

A pounding in the sand
This is an easily readable book but has all the 1941 detail you could want. I was disappointed that it did not follow on with what happened in 1942 when Rommel surged back (no siege then)and subsequently was finally thrown out. The British-Italian battles are very interesting - a part of WW2 often ignored.