Sidi Rezegh

Operation Crusader
Part of the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War
A Crusader Mk.I passes a burning German Panzer IV, 27 November 1941.
Date 18 November – 30 December 1941 Location Egypt and Libya 30°N 24°E / 30°N 24°E / 30; 24Coordinates: 30°N 24°E / 30°N 24°E / 30; 24 Result Allied victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom  India  Australia  New Zealand South Africa Poland Czechoslovakia	Germany  Italy
Commanders and leaders
Claude Auchinleck Neil Ritchie Willoughby Norrie Reade Godwin-Austen	Ettore Bastico Erwin Rommel Ludwig Crüwell Gastone Gambara Enea Navarini
Strength
118,000 men 738 tanks 724 aircraft (616 serviceable)	119,000 men 390–414 tanks 536 aircraft (342 serviceable)
Casualties and losses
17,700 casualties ~800 tanks destroyed, damaged, or broken down ~300 aircraft	38,300 casualties 340 tanks destroyed or damaged at least 332 aircraft lost

 United Kingdom

Operation Crusader was a military operation by the British Eighth Army between 18 November–30 December 1941 in North Africa during the Second World War. The operation relieved the 1941 Siege of Tobruk. The Eighth Army's initial plan to destroy the Axis armoured force before advancing its infantry came apart when, after a number of inconclusive engagements, the British 7th Armoured Division were heavily defeated by the Afrika Korps at Sidi Rezegh.

Lieutenant General Erwin Rommel's subsequent advance of his armoured divisions to the Axis fortress positions on the Egyptian border failed to find the main body of the Allied infantry, which had bypassed the fortresses and headed for Tobruk. Rommel had to withdraw his armoured units to support the fighting at Tobruk. Despite achieving some tactical successes at Tobruk, the need to preserve his remaining forces prompted Rommel to withdraw his army to the defensive line at Gazala, west of Tobruk and then all the way back to El Agheila. It was the first victory over the German ground forces by British-led forces in the Second World War.

Following the costly failure of Operation Battleaxe, General Archibald Wavell was relieved as Commander-in-Chief Middle East Command and replaced by General Claude Auchinleck. The Western Desert Force was reorganised and renamed the Eighth Army under the command of Lieutenant-General Alan Cunningham replaced by Lieutenant-General Neil Ritchie. The Eighth Army comprised two Corps: XXX Corps under Lieutenant-General Willoughby Norrie and XIII Corps under Lieutenant-General Reade Godwin-Austen.

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