Hello, and thank you for listening to the history of World War II podcast, Episode 172,

Rommel ready for success.

Last time late on November 22, 1941, Rommel and his subordinate General Kruvau had made

their dispositions to, hopefully, finish off the British forces to the south of the city

Rzeag Airstrip.

Much British armor had been destroyed that day.

Now it was just a matter of crushing what was left.

In between the hammer of Rommel's armor pushing up from the south and the anvil of his waiting

infantry and their mast artillery along the ridge just north of the airstrip.

In between these forces were the remaining trapped units of the 22nd armor brigade, the

5th South African Brigade and the 7th Armored Division, and they didn't know they were

trapped.

Besides which, Cunningham back at HQ thought his side was winning, so expected the next

day to see the last of the Germans and the escape of General Scoby and his men hold up

it to brook.

One day November 23rd was the Lutheran All Saints Day or Sunday of the Dead, Totten

Sonntag, and the events of that day would live up to this designation.

As dawn came, General William God's 7th Armored Division formed itself up, facing to the

north.

As they were to the right or east of the British line, the plan was once they were joined

by the New Zealanders coming from further east, they would all move out to clear the

way for their comrades at to brook to make their escape.

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