Tobruk, Battles of

Series of engagements in World War II between British and Axis forces in the struggle for control over the Libyan port of Tobruk.

Occupied by Italy 1911, Tobruk was taken by Britain in Operation Battleaxe 1941, and unsuccessfully besieged by Axis forces April-Dec 1941. It was captured by Germany June 1942 after the retreat of the main British force to Egypt, and this precipitated General Sir Claude Auchinleck's replacement by General Bernard Montgomery as British commander. Montogomery recovered it after the second Battle of El Alamein and it remained in British hands for the rest of the war.