Operation Crusader 1941 Rommel in Retreat

by Ford, Ken; White, John

• ISBN13: 9781846035005
• ISBN10: 1846035007
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-06-22
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing

Summary

Following a lull in the desert war which saw the Germans and British reinforce their armies, Rommel suddenly attacked British fortifications with an assault on the northern sector of the British line near Gazala. Pinning down the British in the north and outflanking the 1st Free French Brigade, Rommel succeeded in encircling the main British positions, trapping them in what became known as 'The Cauldron'. With thousands of British soldiers killed or taken prisoner, this was a devastating defeat for the Allies. Accompanied by contemporary photographs and maps depicting the movement of both armies, Ken Ford provides a masterful study of Rommel, the 'Desert Fox', at the height of his powers as he swept the British army back to the site of their final stand at El Alamein.

Author Biography

Ken Ford trained as an engineer and spent almost 30 years in the telecommunications industry before a change in career led him to become a full-time military historian. He is the author of over 20 books on various aspects of World War II, including Campaign 158: El Alamein 1942. Ken now lives in Southampton, UK. The author lives in Southampton, UK.

Table of Contents

Origins of the Battle	p. 5
Chronology	p. 9
Opposing Commanders	p. 12
British commanders
Axis commanders
Opposing Armies	p. 18
British forces
Axis forces
Order of battle
Opposing Plans	p. 25
British plans
Axis plans
Operation Crusader	p. 33
The British attack
The clash of armour
Rommel drives east
The infantry battle
Rommel in retreat
Aftermath	p. 90
The Battlefield Today	p. 93
Further Reading and Bibliography	p. 94
Index	p. 95
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