Operation Crusader - The North African Campaign

Operation Crusader

New Zealanders were only marginally involved in the initial British operations that threw the Italians out of Egypt late in 1940 and went on to inflict a humiliating defeat on them at Beda Fomm, near the El Agheila gateway. In early 1941 New Zealanders served in British air and naval units and on the cruiser Leander as the Allies removed the Italian threat in Abyssinia. At the same time, two developments further north ensured that the North African campaign would be prolonged. German units began landing in Tripoli, and the New Zealand Division formed part of the expeditionary force sent to Greece in March.

While Allied attention was focused on Greece, Rommel had transformed the situation in Africa. Driving east from El Agheila, he forced the Allies back. Their retreat did not stop until they reached Egypt, leaving only Tobruk in Allied hands. Several unsuccessful Allied attempts to relieve it were made in the middle of 1941. A further attempt by 8 Army in November provided the setting for the New Zealanders' first foray into the desert in force.

Operation Crusader was a victory of sorts, although tactically Rommel prevailed. He smashed the British armour and inflicted heavy losses on the infantry in front of Tobruk, but in the end, conscious of his weakened state and supply problems, he pulled back to El Agheila, leaving the battlefield to the battered Allies. The British relieved Tobruk and headed westwards in pursuit. By 24 December Benghazi was back in Allied hands.

Freyberg's men had fought well in their first desert battle. During the tank clash further south, the New Zealanders had advanced to relieve Tobruk, making progress despite strong opposition. At Point 175, 25 Battalion incurred the worst casualties suffered by a New Zealand battalion in a single day during the whole war. Rommel, after an injudicious dash towards the Libyan-Egyptian border to relieve Axis posts still holding out there, came racing from the south-west to the scene of action, overrunning a New Zealand brigade headquarters in the process. Several New Zealand battalions fell victim to his tanks, suffering heavy casualties on escarpments at Sidi Rezegh and Belhamed. For the third time that year New Zealanders went into captivity in their thousands - but unlike those captured in Greece, who were taken to Germany, these men were destined for camps in Italy after a dangerous trip across the Mediterranean.

In the aftermath of Crusader, the New Zealanders licked their wounds back in Egypt. With 879 dead and 1700 wounded, the division had fought its most costly battle of the war. In February 1942, at the New Zealand government's insistence, the Div moved to Syria to recover.

Minqar Qa'im

New Zealanders enjoyed the change of scene, but Rommel was busy. He had wasted no time in returning to the offensive, and again put the Allies on the back foot. In May Italian and German forces broke through at Gazala and, in contrast to the previous year, rapidly captured Tobruk. As this situation developed, the New Zealand Division was recalled from Syria and travelled quickly back to the Western Desert.

The New Zealanders took up defensive positions at Mersa Matruh, but soon sought a more mobile role further south. Within days oncoming German forces virtually encircled them at Minqar Qa'im. The only chance of salvation lay in a breakout through the ring of German forces blocking the way eastwards. Led by 4 Brigade, the troops burst into the enemy positions in a brutally efficient silent attack in the early hours of 28 June 1942. The New Zealanders used their bayonets to telling effect in the hand-to-hand fighting that ensued. As the attack proceeded, much of the rest of the division slipped through a gap further south.