May 1942

North Africa

For some time Churchill has been urging Gen Claude Auchinleck, commanding British Middle East forces, to attack the enemy and fight a major battle. Auchinleck finally agrees to prepare an attack for mid-June. Rommel, however, is not going to wait that long. Auchinleck had predicted the attack, and if it came, it would come in the vicinity oo the Trigh Capuzzo. In the early evening the Axis striking force is spotted by air reconnaissance heading due east confirming Auchinleck's predictions as darkness is falling about 2100. Rommel's forces then swing around to the southeast.

The Gazala Line is held by Lt-Gen William Gott's XIII Corps. Maj-Gen Dan Pienaar's 1st South African Div guards the northern section with 3 brigades (the 1st, 2nd & 3rd). On his left are the 151st and 69th Brigades from Maj-Gen William H. Ramsden's 50th (British) Div. Then there is a gap of about 5 miles, filled with minefields. Ramsden's third brigade, the 150th under Brig C. W. Haydon, is located near Sidi Muftah between the Trigh Capuzzo and the Trigh el Abd. The South Africans are supported by the 32nd Army Tank Brigade and the 50th Div by the 1st Army Tank Brigade which together total 110 Matildas and 167 Valentines.

South of Trigh el Abd are another 10 miles of minefields at the end of which is the fortified position of Bir Hacheim. This is held by the Free French Brigade under Brig-Gen Marie-Pierre Koenig. Tobruk is secured by the 2nd South African Div, now under Maj-Gen Hendrik B. Klopper, containing the 4th and 6th South African Brigades, and also the 9th Indian Brigade detached from he 5th Indian Div. Another of the 5th Indian's Brigades, the 10th, is in reserve at Gambut, while the 11th Indian Brigade from the 4th Indian Div is moving up to the front line and in due course will replace the 9th Indian Brigade in Tobruk.

Lt-Gen Willoughby Norrie's XXX Corps is made up of the 1st Armored Div, now under Maj-Gen Herbert Lumsden and the 7th Armored Div under Maj-Gen Frank Messervy. The former contains the 2nd And 22nd Armored Brigades and also the 201st Guards Motor Brigade which is stationed at 'Knightsbridge', a fortified position or 'box' on the Trigh Capuzzo behind the center of the Gazala Line. Messervy's armor is in the 4th Armored Brigade led by Brig George W. Richards. When its tanks are added to those in Lumsden's two brigades, XXX Corps will have a total strength of 257 Crusaders, 149 Stuarts and 167 of the new American Grants. In addition, the 1st Armored Brigade is on its way to join Norrie with 145 more tanks, 75 of them Grants.

Koenig's Free Frenchmen also come under Messervy's command, as do the garrisons of 3 more 'boxes' stretching eastward from Bir Hacheim. These are in order, the 3rd Indian Motor Brigade at Point 171, the 7th (British) Motor Brigade at Retma, and the 29th Indian Infantry Brigade, the backbone of the Oasis Force during CRUSADER, at Bir el Gubi.

Panzer Army Africa has 6 Italian divisions, but 5, 2 each in the X and XXI Corps, are under strength and lack motor vehicles which mean they will play a minor role in the upcoming action. These troops along with the 15th Rifle Regt detached from the 90th Light Div, are to make holding attacks against the northern part of the Gazala Line. The major assault is to take place in the south. The Afrika Korps under Lt-Gen Walther Nehring, along with the Italian XX Corps - the Ariete and Trieste Divs - are to outflank the Free French at Bir Hacheim before turning north to engage the Gazala Line from the rear. Maj-Gen Ulrich Kleemann would lead the rest of his 90th Light Div along with Recon Units 3 & 33, northeast toward Tobruk to menace the Allied supply dumps.

During the night Rommel's advance is monitored by Lt-Col Dennis Newton-King's 4th South African Armored Cars, reports of which are seconded by those of Brig Renton's James 7th Motor Brigade. The warnings, however, are disregarded. The reports to Messervy's Headquarters considered that the armored cars are exaggerating, figuring this southern movement is only a feint.