06/27/42 - North Africa The advance of the Germans continues with the 90th Light Div comes into contact with the 50th Div, falling on the isolated 9th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry which it routs taking 300 prisoners. Meanwhile the 21st Panzer engages the 2nd New Zealand Div. This attack is thrown back, but during the afternoon the Germans begin to outflank the New Zealanders. About 1700 the divisional headquarters is shelled heavily. German tanks also manage to scatter the New Zealanders transport. The defenders still hold. The 21st Panzer Div is now threatened by counterattacks from units of the 1st Armored Div and have no possibility of linking up with the 15th Panzer which is also pinned down. Both panzer divisions are short of fuel and ammunition. The 21st resumes its advance during the afternoon and cuts the coast road east of Mersa Matruh soon after dark. The 90th Light Div, however, is now 15 miles away from any support.
Around midday Auchinleck sends word to both XIII Corps Commander Lt-Gen William Gott and X Corps Commander Lt-Gen William Holmes that if they have to withdraw, their corps should fall back to Fuka some 30 miles to the east. Gott who had seen the rout of the New Zealand transport thought that the division had been overrun. He orders his corps to disengage at 1920. The 1st Armored and the remains of the 29th Indian Brigade head toward Fuka. The 29th is overtaken by German tanks and are dispersed the following evening. The New Zealanders are cut off but break out successfully during the night.
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