The British 8th Army crossed over the border
into Egypt a beaten force; their tank formations
destroyed and doubt replaced confidence in their
view of leadership.
General Auchinleck stuck his neck way out when
he picked Lieutenant-General Ritchie to lead the
8th Army in a winner-take-all confrontation with
Rommel's Afrika Korps. A good number of
battlefield experienced generals were ignored
in favor of this untested staff officer.
Tobruk was captured and the 8th was
nearly destroyed. Firing Ritchie wasn't
enough. Churchill would also fire Auchinleck
a couple months further down the road.
Rommel remained steadfast in adversity because
he believed he could always out-general the British.
Tobruk brought him the top rank of Field Marshall
and plenty of professional jealousy. War of epic
scale raged with the Russians in the east while
Rommel soaked up the glory with a two division
sideshow in North Africa.
The plan was to invade Malta once Rommel
cleared Libya of the British. Holding North African
ports such as Tripoli and Tobruk wasn't enough
so long as Britain continued to sink Rommel's
supplies coming from Italy. Taking Egypt and the
Suez depended on Germany clearing the
Mediterranean of the RAF and the subs
that patrolled from this strategic base.
Rommel wants to pursue the British into Egypt now.
The opportunity to destroy the 8th Army is at hand.
Hitler agrees. He's not keen on invading Malta.
It would be a big commitment of resources just when
everything possible is being done to supply the war
in Russia. Besides Hitler doesn't trust Mussolini.
The Italians are incompetent and he is sure he would
be left to take Malta alone.
Bernard Montgomery.
The guy talks truth to power.
Most everyone finds him to be a royal pain.
Churchill picked him to straighten out the
Eighth Army, but first they must survive
Rommel's push to destroy the British
at Mersa Matruh.
* * * * *
OVER EASY
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