Operation Brevity order of battle explained

This is the order of battle for Operation Brevity, a World War II battle between the British Commonwealth and the European Axis Powers of Germany and Italy in North Africa between May 15–16, 1941.

British Commonwealth forces

General Officer, Commanding in chief, Middle East Command - General Archibald Wavell

HQ Western Desert Force - Lieutenant-General Noel Beresford-Peirse

Operational command - Brigadier William Gott

The British and Commonwealth force were drawn mainly from the 7th Armoured Division's, 7th Armoured Brigade and 7th Support Group and from the independent 22nd Guards Brigade. They were organised into three groups:

German and Italian forces

Commandante Superiore Generale d'Armata - General Italo Gariboldi[5]

Following the British attacks General Rommel ordered the following force, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Hans Crammer, to the frontier to defeat the British.

During the morning of May 16, Rommel ordered further forces to the frontier.

See also

Bibliography

. Ian Stanley Ord Playfair. others. History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series, Official Campaign History. The Mediterranean and Middle East, Volume II The Germans come to the help of their Ally (1941). Naval & Military Press. 2006. 1954. 1-84734-427-5.

. Erwin Rommel. Liddell Hart, Basil (editor) . Basil Liddell Hart . The Rommel Papers. Da Capo Press. 1982. 1953 . 0-306-80157-4.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Howard, p. 75
  2. The battalion were a follow-up force to take possession of Halfaya Pass once it had been captured and did not take an active part in Operation Brevity other than providing mortar support to the Rifle Brigade
  3. 6x Cruiser Mk I, 17x Mk. IIA and 7x Mk. IVA (one of these thirty tanks was in repair in a field depot and didn't see action)
  4. The Hussars were on the extreme flank of the advance, according to there regimental history they manoeuvred themselves to the rear of the German-Italian positions from where they conducted reconnaissance but did not engage any targets, they then covered the withdrawal of the forces on the desert flank on the 16th
  5. The Commandante Superiore was Rommel's superior during the campaign.

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