Hello, and thank you for listening to the history of World War II podcast, Episode

170, Crusader Part 4.

Rommel rises to the occasion.

Last time Operation Crusader was launched on November 18, 1941, with its first goal

being the destruction of Rommel's armor and second to bring relief to Tobruk.

Yet the first few days did not unfold as General Cunningham of 8th British Army had desired.

Still by the end of November 20, three days into the battle, God's 7th armor brigade

was just to the southeast of Tobruk, readying to shake the hand of General Scoby, commander

of the trapped Commonwealth forces.

While the 22nd and 4th armor brigades were supposedly destroying whatever panzers there

were further to the southeast at Gapsalee.

Yet that last part was not the case.

Gatehouses' 4th armor had been pushed out of Gapsalee by the 15th Panzer Division.

What's more, the 21st Panzer Division would be enraped that night of November 20th,

to help finish off gatehouses' tanks the next day.

But now, even that was no longer the plan.

Rommel had finally let himself see the situation, as it really was, by acknowledging that the

larger enemy tank force was just outside Tobruk at city-rezag airstrip.

So that was where the 15th and 21st Panzer divisions would be sent the next day.

As for the 4th and 22nd Garzburgades, they could wait.

While during the night of November 20th, Scoby was writing the path his men would take

when they broke out at dawn.

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