06/14/42 - North Africa Rommel urges his tanks toward the Via Balbia in order to cut off the divisions in the Gazala Line. The 2nd and 22nd Armored Brigades fight a desperate delaying action.
To break through to the Via Balboa the Germans have to overcome a series of infantry defenses stretching eastward from the Gazala Line to Acroma on the Axis By-Pass southwest of Tobruk. Key Allied positions are Point 187, 5 miles southwest of Acroma, held by the 1st Worcesters, and 'Best Post' farther west, held by a South African detachment under Lt-Col Jack Bester. The Worcesters resist attack from the 15th Panzer Div until 1700 when they fall back towards Tobruk. The South Africans resist pressure from the 21st Panzer Div all day until they retire under cover of darkness.
For fear of the enemy is on the point of cutting the coast road, Lt-Gen Neil Ritchie gives the order that the 2 divisions must prepare to retreat during the night of the 14th.
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