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Claude Auchinleck
Person page: Claude Auchinleck →
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1941
June
22
Auchinleck replaces Wavell
After the failure of Operation Battleaxe Churchill swapped commanders. Wavell was to take command in India, General Claude Auchinleck in the Middle East.
July
05
Swordfishes over Tobruk
On 5 July 1941 Auchinleck took command in Cairo. Swordfishes had sunk Italian destroyers at Tobruk a year earlier, on 5 and 20 July 1940.
October
21
Before Operation Crusader
In autumn 1941 the British readied the Eighth Army in Egypt to relieve Tobruk. New Zealanders trained in the desert; Fort Capuzzo was still held by the Axis.
November
18
Key event
Operation Crusader begins
On 18 November 1941 the British Eighth Army crossed into Libya to destroy Rommel’s armour and lift the siege of Tobruk. A downpour helped it achieve surprise.
24
Rommel’s dash to the wire
On 24 November 1941 Rommel drove his tanks to the Egyptian frontier, spreading panic behind the Eighth Army. Meanwhile the New Zealanders reached Tobruk.
December
16
Rommel withdraws from Gazala
On 16 December 1941 Rommel, facing encirclement at Gazala, began retreating across Cyrenaica against Italian wishes. On 24 December the British took Benghazi.
1942
January
21
Rommel's second offensive
On 21 January 1942, without informing Rome or Berlin, Rommel struck from Mersa Brega, took Agedabia, routed the British 1st Armoured Division and reached Msus.
29
Rommel retakes Benghazi
On 29 January 1942 Rommel, feinting towards Mechili, took Benghazi. By 6 February Eighth Army was back at Gazala, where the front stood for four months.
February
01
The front at Gazala
In early February 1942 Eighth Army stood on the Gazala–Bir Hakeim line, 60 km west of Tobruk. Rommel, out of fuel, halted near Timimi and Mechili.
April
14
Churchill presses Auchinleck
On 14 April 1942 Churchill cabled Cripps in Cairo that Eighth Army had stood too long at Gazala and that Rommel was growing stronger as Malta was neutralised.
May
10
Churchill's ultimatum to Auchinleck
On 10 May 1942 Churchill, for the War Cabinet, ordered Auchinleck to fight in Libya no later than the time of the June convoy to Malta.
26
The Battle of Gazala begins
On 26 May 1942 Rommel struck the Gazala Line. At night his panzer divisions swung round Bir Hakeim and on 27 May smashed 3rd Indian Brigade and 7th Armoured HQ.
June
05
Operation Aberdeen
On 5–6 June 1942 the Eighth Army attacked the Cauldron at Gazala. The attack broke down under gunfire; Rommel's riposte shattered HQs and Indian brigades.
14
The retreat from the Gazala Line
On 14 June 1942 the Eighth Army began to abandon the Gazala Line. Churchill presumed Tobruk would not be given up; Auchinleck said he had no such intention.
21
Key event
The fall of Tobruk
On 21 June 1942 General Klopper surrendered Tobruk to Rommel after a day’s assault. Some 33,000 soldiers were captured and Rommel was made a field marshal.
28
The Battle of Mersa Matruh
On 26–29 June 1942 Rommel routed the badly co-ordinated Eighth Army at Mersa Matruh. The New Zealanders broke out, and the port fell on the morning of 29 June.
July
01
The First Battle of El Alamein begins
On 1 July 1942 Rommel attacked the El Alamein position. An Indian brigade at Deir el Shein fell but bought time, and by 4 July the Axis attack had stalled.
11
The fighting for Tel el Eisa and Ruweisat Ridge
10–16 July 1942: Auchinleck seized the initiative at El Alamein. Australians routed the Italians at Tel el Eisa; New Zealanders bled on Ruweisat Ridge.
26
The end of the First Battle of El Alamein
On 26–27 July 1942 Auchinleck's last attack at Miteiriya collapsed. On 31 July the Eighth Army went over to the defensive – Rommel was stopped, but not beaten.
August
13
Montgomery takes command of the Eighth Army
On 13 August 1942 Lt Gen. Bernard Montgomery took command of the Eighth Army at El Alamein after Auchinleck’s removal and the death of Gott, the first choice.