When someone is called a *rat* these days the connotation is generally negative; Rats are dirty things that skulk around in dark places, feeding on what they can, garbage and waste, and largely out of mind until seen, and then reviled. They scavenge and dig, living the best they can on what they can scavenge. 

However there were a group of men who proudly called themselves *rats* a little while back. Let me tell you about them.


# Part one - An overview

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The year was 1941 and 14,000 Australian soldiers were besieged in the Libyan port of Tobruk by a combined German-Italian force commanded by none other than General Irwin Rommel; The Desert Fox. The Afrika Corps were well known for their tactics, brutality and held the advantage through overwhelming numbers and excellent equipment and training. ***<a href="http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2011/03/18/1226023/872643-rats-of-tobruk.jpg">src</a>*** 

Facing General Rommel was Lieutenant General Leslie Morshead and his Tobruk Garrison comprised of the 9th Division (20th, 24th and 26th Brigades) the 18th brigade of the 7th Division, four regiments of British artillery and a handful of Indian troops.

The port of Tobruk was vital to the defence of the Suez Canal and Egypt as control of the harbour would force the enemy to bring supplies overland from Tripoli, a journey of some 1,500 kilometres of harsh desert, and would also divert troops from their advance on Egypt and Suez. 

Defended by an outgunned and under-supplied force the garrison was bombed and shelled relentlessly, the German Stuka dive-bomber's sending precisely-aimed ordinance into every nook and cranny leaving the defenders no place to hide. 

Ground assaults were also common and Rommel sent his brutally efficient 21st and 15th Panzer divisions rolling in towards Tobruk, supported by thousands of troops, to break the garrison; But break they did not. 

There was no glory in each successful defence against the enemy though, supplies were short and casualties high and life for the defenders was harsh, hot and often short-lived in Tobruk. Attack after attack wore the men down and life became *almost* intolerable. 

#### So they dug in. Like rats.

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The term *rats* was first referred to in respect of the defenders by the Nazi propagandist ***<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Haw-Haw">Lord Haw Haw</a>***, the Irish-American William Joyce, whose pro-Nazi radio broadcasts were supposed to demoralise the allies. 

The  name *rats* was used as a derogatory term of course. It stemmed from the fact that the largely Australian garrison would counter-attack the moment the enemy was routed to gather supplies and scavenge off the battlefield for weapons, ammunition, food water, boots and anything that could aid in the defence of the port and the continuance of their lives. 

They had also dug an extensive tunnel network to support their trench-work defensive line linking them together to make communications more effective and travel between positions safer during ***<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junkers_Ju_87">Stuka raids</a>*** and artillery bombardment. 

Radio Berlin's Lord Haw Haw said the garrison of Tobruk were, **_"caught like rats in a trap"_**. ***<a href="http://gigi-fox-the-wars.weebly.com/the-rats-of-tobruk.html">src</a>***

Of course, the Australian's *being Australian's*, twisted the insult to their own gain and henceforth dubbed themselves, *THE RATS OF TOBRUK* wearing the name with pride and honour - To this very day I might add.

Supplies trickled through to the defenders of Tobruk via the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy however it was a dangerous task due to bombing and those *bloody Stuka's!* A couple of destroyers were sunk along with three sloops and some twenty or so other vessels and a sunken war-ship in the harbour had made access difficult. It was a balancing act to get the supplies in and not get bombed at the same time which is why supplies were so sporadically delivered, and why the j*Rats* had to resort to ingenious means to sustain their lives and mount a defence.

The siege continued between April and the end of November of 1941. 

In August half the Australian garrison was relieved however one Battalion, the 2/13th, could not be relieved and were the only unit to see out the entire siege. 

Casualties as follows:

- Australian casualties (9th Division) from April to October numbered 749 killed, 1,996 wounded and 604 prisoners. 
- Total losses (9th Division) and attached troops from 1st March to 15th December amounted to 832 killed, 2,177 wounded and 941 prisoners.

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The siege was a critical part of the African war during World War Two but was only that, *a part*. 

This chapter of the war is just like the others; Filled with heroism, cowardice, suffering, humour, sacrifice, great humanity and the worst of what humans can do to each other also. ***<a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2589/4045975625_4bf7b55a69_z.jpg?zz=1">src</a>***

The war in Africa was fought in the baking hot days and bitingly cold night time desert temperatures. It saw Allied armour pitted against the might of Rommel's Panzer's (like pitting a corgi dog against a German Shepard really), sweeping tank battles, infantry pitched in hand to hand and muzzle to muzzle combat, booming artillery exchanges with Rommel's artillery and lethal *88's* and stealthy SAS commando missions behind enemy lines. 

I plan to tell some of those stories
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That marks the end of **Part one**, an introduction. Below you will find **Part Two** which revolves around the defeat of the Italians and the initial taking of Tobruk. It also touches on the other player, the Germans and their General, the Desert Fox.
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# Part Two - Defeating the Italians and taking of Tobruk

*"These men from the dockside of Sydney and the sheep stations of the Riverina presented such a picture of downright toughness with their gaunt dirty faces, huge boots, revolvers stuffed in their pockets, gripping their rifles with huge shapeless hands, shouting and grinning - always grinning; That the mere sight of them must have disheartened the enemy troops"*. - Australian journalist Alan Moorhead observing the first Australian troops landing in the Middle East, 1940.

And so it was that Australia entered the Desert War, her men - tough, weathered men, eager to have *a go* at the Germans and Italians; Eager to prove their value on the field of battle and carry on the ANZAC legend founded in the Great War not so long before. 

The *Diggers* cursed and complained from the start; They wanted action, not drills and route marches in the sand! The men were ready for action after their long journey across the Indian Ocean from Australia. They would soon be in the thick of it.

The Australians had been sent to that particular part of the world for one reason; The Suez Canal. 

Churchill's War Cabinet was concerned about the Axis Powers, (Germany, Italy and Japan), gaining control of the Canal which would provide them control of the *world's crossroads* and a decent chunk of the oil the Allies were drawing on for their own war machine. 

The loss of Suez would add some 6,000 miles to an Allied ships' journey as they would need to sail around the Horn of Good Hope instead, risking the U-Boat *Wolf Packs* all the way. No, holding the Suez Canal was critical to the war-effort through shortening the supply-line.

The Aussies en-trained and made their way to Palestine as did their fellows in the First World War. They received a sobering reminder of their mates from twenty five years earlier when they passed by the Australian War Cemetery outside Gaza where many of them still lay. Once young and boisterous as the men of the 6th Division. Now long dead. 

These new blokes passed by on their own adventure and where it would lead they did not know. They silently tipped their hats to their long-dead brethren, muttered a, *rest in peace dig* and stared into the desert trying not to think about death.

Back in England Churchill had come to the decision that the port town of Tobruk, 50 miles west of Bardia and currently held by the Italian's, was a vital town to control considering it was the only major harbour along some 800 miles of North African coastline. 

The task of taking the town rested with the Australian 6th Division after most recently successfully laying siege to the town of Bardia. It went something like this...

On the 21st of January 1941, 0130 hours, thirty or so men of the 2/1st Field Company crawled their way across no-mans-land holding thin sticks probing ahead of themselves looking for mines. Their job was to locate and disable the mines along the 2000 yard stretch designated as the assault point for the main body of troops and vehicles that would soon follow. A wrong move meant death and worse, it would alert the Italian defenders that an assault was imminent. 

The RAF bombers soon disgorged their [hopefully] lethal loads of bombs on the town to soften up the Italians and the British Royal Navy poured salvo after salvo on the town and its perimeter defences from 20 warships. 

At 0540 hours the artillery began their symphony of percussion, focusing on a section only 2500 yards by 800 yards deep on the southern perimeter, with the plan being the defenders would be either blown to bits or would at least keep their heads down while the Australian's advanced just behind their artillery barrage. It was called a *creeping barrage* and was risky as the troops would advance only metres behind the exploding shells. 

The Aussie sappers and engineers crept forward closer and closer to the anti-tank ditch and rows of wire and mines awaiting their moment once the barrage ceased. 

At 0605 hours the artillery fell silent and immediately the sappers and engineers swung into action pushing up their *bangalore-torpedo's* under the rows of defensive wire. These 12-foot lengths of 3 inch pipe were packed with explosives and when detonated would obliterate the wire and mines creating a path through for the troops. 

Sure enough, boom! Huge gaping holes appeared in the rows and rows of concertina-wire and for a moment all were stunned to inaction until an officer yelled, *go on you bastards!* and they did as the NCO's took up the cry. It was on.

Australian soldiers swarmed the breach into withering fire from the Italian's who had recovered quickly. The Aussies were quick, always decisive on the field of battle, and within a short space of time had taken one of the Italian posts and were quickly followed up by 6 Matilda's (tanks) which began to systematically knock out post after post aided by the troops.

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The rampaging Australian's, big hulking brutes with grim faces and sharp bayonet's, took some posts with ease and yet other's put on a good show in defence however it was only a matter of time before these *southern sons* cleared out the Italian's with grenade, bayonet and rifle. 

Before too long the Italian's were surrendering in droves clogging up the perimeter breach in a bid to be away from the insane Australians and their guns. At times groups of over 500 Italian's would present themselves at the Australian stockade, white flags waving, hands up calling, *"Ci rendiamo, Ci rendiamo,"*; We surrender, we surrender. ***<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/474x/c9/db/70/c9db701335841520d733b460f6928603--ww-photos-north-africa.jpg">src</a>***

The fighting continued into the afternoon with pockets of resistance from the more stalwart of the Italian defenders giving the Australians some trouble. Eventually Generale Petassi Manella surrendered to Major John Copeland though. Whilst some sporadic resistance continued the town was essentially taken; The Aussies were in residence.

#### A days work, and fine rewards

The taking of Tobruk was a great success for the 6th Division however came at a cost. The Australians lost 49 men killed and 306 wounded. In comparison they had captured 27,000 Italian prisoners, 208 artillery pieces and 23 tanks. Not bad for a days work they reckoned.

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Having said that, most of the blokes couldn't give *two shits* about the guns and tanks...

After a little exploration of the town the ever-resourceful Aussies found warehouses full of tinned food, lots of it; Enough for 25,000 men for a couple of months. Probably equally important for the *Diggers*, booze! Wine! It wasn't beer, but it'll do they reckoned - This war wasn't turning out to be so bad they thought and they attacked the stores with the same gusto in which they had attacked the town. Typical Aussies. *(Image - Aussie's in a captured Italian tanks - Note 6th Division kangaroos painted on the side)* ***<a href="http://talismancoins.com/content/catalog/Australian_Desert_Rats_of_Tobruk_in_Captured_Italian_Tanks_1941.jpg">src</a>***

The Italian's sure knew how to *do war* the Aussies thought. They found fancy cheese, olives, cured meats, breads and other delicacies they couldn't name...But tasted good! 

By the end of the day just about every Australian soldier had his own coffee percolator, silk shirt and other various finery left by the seemingly, and oddly, fashion-conscious Italian's. 

The Australian's had performed well, they brutally efficient, aggressive and decisive and their commander was pleased with the result; Tobruk. 

He knew the Axis forces would want it back though and whilst not too concerned with the Italian's he knew Germany would mount a strong effort to reclaim it. 

Brigadier Leslie Morshead (Later Lieutenant General) walked every part of the small town taking notes and studying defences built up over the twenty-five-year Italian occupation. They hadn't held the Australian's up for even a day but when the Germans came he would need to hold out against overwhelming numbers, expertly traind and led troops, for an indeterminate period. Taking the town had been a relatively easy task; Holding it may not be so easy.

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#### The stage is almost set for the great *Siege of Tobruk*. 

However there was one player missing; The German's. They would come though, and with them an adversary the likes of which Morshead had never faced before. 

The Germans would come in force, in great numbers of men, artillery and tanks, the hulking Panzer's. They would come with bombers and the dreaded Stuka dive-bombers. ***<a href="https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/images/erwin-rommel-1.jpg">src</a>***

The Germans would come, and would be lead by a man with singular focus; An expert tactician, an uncanny ability to *read* the battlefield and the ability to wring the best from his troops and equipment. At the head of the German army would come their General, Erwin Rommel, The Desert Fox...
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So ends **Part Two** of my series. I will roll out the rest over time.
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Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - *Tomorrow isn't promised.*

Be well

<sub>This is a #showcase-sunday post, as initiated by @nonameslefttouse - Reworked from the original two posts from a couple years ago.</sub>