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

399, the first battle of Rui-Sat Ridge.

Last time, through a combination of bad reconnaissance reporting, getting misdirected in the

sands of North Africa and Al-Kinleck's determination to stand his ground, Rommel's forces ran

into a wall.

Truth be told, that wall was partially of his own making, and so the desert fox acknowledged

that he had to go on the defensive.

Thus the Italian divisions were ordered to form a line just west of the L-Alamane station.

There they would wait for reinforcements before another big push.

But this is Rommel, so the attacks would go on, hopefully creating some bigger opportunity.

Just before this stoppage of his, on July 2, the Axis found that their push in the North

was held up by the artillery of the Indians.

Their push on Rui-Sat Ridge was checked by the first Armored Division and the New Zealanders,

with the Seventh Motor Brigade not only stopping the Italians from coming any further south,

but the New Zealanders had reached the El-Mir depression, about four miles north of their

Copanga position, while the Seventh Motor Brigade actually managed to reach Fuka, about

halfway between El-Alamane and Tobruk.

The tankers knew they could not stay, but had kept going because no one stopped them.

And when they reached Fuka, the German pilots there panicked, not expecting to see enemy

ground forces this close.

Either way, Rommel had just been sent a message, we can get to you as well.

Alas, for Alkenleck, General Gott did not have any reserves, so near the end of July

...