World War II Halfaya Pass



halfaya pass world war ii


in world war ii, engineered route escarpment had been destroyed , pass had great strategic importance. ways westwards libya assault pass or out-flank south.


after defeat of italian 10th army on 7 february 1941 during operation compass, italians reinforced german units (afrika korps under erwin rommel) , british forces forced out of libya, leaving besieged garrison @ tobruk. on 14 april 1941, rommel s main force reached sollum on egyptian border , occupied halfaya pass. there several allied attempts recapture halfaya pass , relieve tobruk.


the first attempt, on 15 may, operation brevity. rommel counter-attacked; british withdrew , 27 may germans had recaptured halfaya pass, passage of time in major edward thomas earned military cross. supply shortages obliged germans curtail advance, dug in , fortified positions @ halfaya 88 millimetre guns. anchor axis positions, opposed allied forces during next allied attack — operation battleaxe on 15 june. german armour deployed draw british tanks (11th hussars) onto concealed 88mm guns , first wave cut down in few minutes (11 out of 12 tanks destroyed), earning pass nickname hellfire pass . german commander, major wilhelm bach, in conduct of axis defence of halfaya pass earned himself nickname pastor of hellfire pass (an allusion peacetime occupation lutheran minister). commander of larger italian contingent, general fedele de giorgis, general officer commanding 55th infantry division savona, awarded highest german decoration, knight s cross defense conducted. allied commander, major miles, last heard on radio reporting, tearing tanks apart.


the third attempt, operation crusader opened on 18 november, attack on sidi omar west of pass , attempt outflank rommel south , relieve tobruk. achieved on 29 november. rommel, under pressure, on 7 december withdrew el agheila. axis garrisons @ sollum, bardia pass left behind, temporary thorn in allies side. isolated after fall of bardia on 2 january 1942, besieged commonwealth forces, cut off supplies, , bombarded air , sea, bach , de giorgis surrendered halfaya garrison on 17 january 1942.


halfaya pass location of accidental death of major-general jock campbell (vc), commander of british 7th armoured division. on 26 february 1942, month after assuming command, staff car skidded on newly laid clay road surface, killing him outright.








Comments