The Desert Rats

A British officer takes command of a demoralized Australian unit defending the besieged port of Tobruk against Rommel's advancing Afrika Korps. The film follows the unit's transformation into an effective fighting force through the grueling 1941 siege.

The Siege of Tobruk saw Australian, British, and other Allied troops hold the strategic Libyan port against Rommel's forces for over 240 days in 1941, disrupting Axis supply lines and becoming a symbol of Allied resistance in North Africa.

James Mason reprises his Rommel portrayal from 'The Desert Fox'; the siege's broad strokes are accurate though the central characters are fictional composites.

Montgomery's Eighth Army broke the Axis line west of Alexandria and began the pursuit that ended in Tunisia.

A massive artillery barrage opened Operation Lightfoot, followed by a grinding infantry and armoured battle through minefields. Operation Supercharge broke through in early November and Rommel withdrew.

Directed by Robert Wise

Cast: Richard Burton, James Mason, Robert Newton, Torin Thatcher

Positioned at April–December 1941 within the Siege of Tobruk phase of the war, as part of the North African campaign. This is entry 36 of 150 in the chronological archive.

• Tobruk
• siege
• Afrika Korps
• Rommel
• Australian troops

• 

  The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel

  1942–October 1944

• 

  Casablanca

  December 1941

• 

  Five Graves to Cairo

  Summer 1942

• 

  Tobruk

  September 1942

• 

  Brest Fortress

  22 June – 23 July 1941

• 

  Attack on Leningrad

  September 1941 – early 1942