Setback at El Adem DTO (id:#61043)

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The El Adem box, Gazala Line, Libya 1942-05-27 (12 others)

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Overview:

In the early hours of 27 May, Rommel personally led the elements of Panzerarmee Afrika in the brillant but risky flank attack around the southern end of the Commonwealth lines. By mid afternoon elements of the German 90th Light reached the outer ring of the defenses at the El Adem box, manned by tough soldiers of the 29th Indian Infantry Brigade and 2nd South African Division. The box was heavily fortified with trenches, wire and minefields and 90th Light would be hard-pressed to breach it without heavy engineer equipment. Nevertheless, Rommel urged his men forward. The landsers, supported by the 605th Panzerjager-Abteilung, began to penetrate into enemy lines. The Germans seemed poised to overrun the box but the 4th Armoured Brigade arrived. The British tankers took heavy losses, one after another they were holed by a new weapon called "Diana", a German field expedient that mounted a Russian 76mm gun.

Defender: British / Indian (29th Indian Infantry Brigade, 2nd South African Division, and 4th Armoured Brigade)  

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