The Via Balbia, along
which this German column is moving, was the only metalled road in the entire
region. Along this solitary road would have to flow all the food, fuel,
ammunition, water and other supplies necessary to sustain operations. The
British Long Range Desert Group's main task was to watch and report this
transport, deep behind enemy lines. (TM 1051/A5)
From the outset of the war in the Mediterranean, the
Italians requested material help from Germany. But the Germans refrained,
believing that any assistance could best be provided in the form of German
units. They offered long-range bombers to operate from Rhodes against the Suez
Canal as early as July 1940 and other early plans included the seizure of
Gibraltar. Yet surprisingly, no plan was drawn up for dealing with Malta,
perhaps because it was expected to fall easily once the British had been dealt
with in Egypt. As the summer wore on and the prospects of an invasion of
Britain receded, other ways of striking at the British were considered,
including use of the Luftwaffe in the eastern Mediterranean, and a proposal
that a mechanised corps be sent to strengthen the Italian invasion of Egypt.
This was supported by the Kriegsmarine (German Navy), who regarded the Suez
Canal as an objective of vital importance. Adolf Hitler despatched Generalmajor
Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma, Director of Mobile Forces, to study the situation. In
the meantime, 3rd Panzer Division was put on standby to move to Africa.
At the meeting between Hitler and Benito Mussolini at the
Brenner Pass on 4 October 1940, Il Duce was not very enthusiastic about these
proposals. Combined with a negative report from von Thoma on 24 October, in
which he stressed at length (as would all that came after him) the difficulties
of supply in Libya, Hitler put the scheme on hold and 3.Pz.Div. was stood down.
Hitler wrote on 12 November that 'German forces will be used, if at all, only
when the Italians have reached Mersa Matruh'. He further wrote to Mussolini on
20 November, proposing that the Luftwaffe operate long-range bombers from
Italian bases against British shipping. Although he wished to have these
aircraft available for other operations by February, it was hoped that they
could inflict substantial damage and orders were issued for Operation
'Mittelmeer' on 10 December. The force chosen was Fliegerkorps X from Norway commanded
by General der Flieger Hans-Ferdinand Geissler - an independent force of all
types of aircraft which specialised in antishipping operations. It moved
through Italy around Christmas and by 8 January, 96 bombers were available,
joined two days later by 25 twin-engined fighters. They commenced operations on
10 January and had an immediate and profound effect on British freedom of
movement at sea.
This unwelcome arrival was not unexpected by the British but
their Convoy 'Excess' was nevertheless put under enormous pressure on 11
January, and the precious aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious was badly damaged
and forced into Malta. Malta herself was the next target for sustained attack,
which also limited the extent to which the British could interfere with Axis
shipping en route to Tripoli. Illustrious managed to escape to Alexandria on 25
January, but would still require months of repair before being fit for action.
The Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, declared that the arrival of the
Fliegerkorps 'marked the beginning of evil developments in the Mediterranean'.
By refuelling in Rhodes, German aircraft could now mine the Suez Canal, which
greatly burdened the defences and increased the turnaround time of the shipping
bringing reinforcements and supplies. Air defence throughout the area would
need strengthening and the strategic importance of Malta was increased yet
further.
At about the same time, Hitler's naval staff convinced him
that the Italian defeat in Cyrenaica was a serious strategic setback, and that
with the threat to Egypt removed, the British could not now be driven from the
Mediterranean - something they regarded as essential to the successful outcome
of the war. Also, the British would be able to send strong forces from Egypt to
Greece, a process that had already begun. While his aircraft were attacking
Convoy 'Excess', Hitler issued his Directive No. 22 on the assistance to be
given in the Mediterranean theatre; necessary he said, 'for strategic,
political and psychological reasons'. Tripolitania must be held and a
sperrverband (special blocking detachment) was to be despatched under the
codename 'Sonnenblume' (Sunflower).
After much discussion between the various branches of the
German High Command, certain units from 3.Pz.Div. were detached to form the
nucleus of a new formation to be called 5th Light Motorised Division, commanded
by Generalmajor Johannes Streich. There were long arguments with the
quartermaster's department over scales of transport and special requirements.
On 5 February 1941, as the new division was forming, Hitler told Mussolini that
he would reinforce it with a complete panzer division as long as the Italians
held the Sirte area and did not merely withdraw on Tripoli. Mussolini agreed to
this on 9 February, announcing at the same time the replacement of his
commander in Libya and the despatch of two divisions, one armoured and one
motorised. On 6 February Generalleutnant Erwin Rommel was peremptorily summoned
from leave to Hitler's headquarters and told to assume command of the new
force. It was to operate as a block on any further British advance and to clear
Cyrenaica only when ready to do so. Rommel arrived 8 in Tripoli on 12 February.
On the 19th, the name Hitler had personally given to the formation was formally
listed as Deutches Afrikakorps (DAK).
No comments:
Post a Comment