VIA HISTORY BY CALENDAR

Transcription

1 1942 Rommel

2 January 1942

3 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 I'll soon be the only 2 I'm going to build a 3 Rommel retires his 4 Kesselring's coming German officer to have kind of East Wall to forces into the Mersa to see me again today. fought here form start to finish. protect Tripolitania. Brega line. We're both now working hand and glove. 5 Kesselring was here yesterday. We're gradually getting more stuff across. He's doing very good work over Malta. 12 Rommel prepares a surprise counteroffensive. Neither German or Italian High Command are informed of his plans. 19 The Fuehrer apparently approved of all I'd done and was full of praise and admiration. 26 Now the tables are turned with a vengeance. We've got the British by the short hairs, and I'm going to tear it out by the roots. 6 For the next several days Rommel tours his units digging in along the Mersa Brega line Our mines and Luftwaffe are making things difficult for the enemy pursuit. The nights are bitterly cold and damp All going as planned My head is full of The clash must come very soon. Kesselring is coming today. plans that I daren't say anything about. They'd think of me crazy. But I'm not; I simply see a bit farther than they do hours. The British may attack today, but I'm ready for them. So you'll understand why I'm cheerful. 27 It's chilly again and rainy, though the rain has its advantages, as it prevents the British getting their planes off the ground from their airfields in Cyrenaica. 21 I had maintained secrecy over Panzer Groups forthcoming attack eastwards from Mersa Brega. Italian HQ cannot keep things to themselves. 28 Rommel launches surprise attack on Benghazi. 22 Dearest Lu, I 23 Cavallero brought wonder what you have directives from Duce; to say about the counterattack we started at sortie and then come "Make it no more than a hours yesterday? straight back to Mersa Our opponents are Brega." Nobody but getting out as if they'd the Fuehrer could been stung. change my decision. He went off growling. 29 Rommel takes Benghazi To do my bit for the Fuehrer, the nation and the New Idea The Panzer Group will tackle the enemy buildup southwest of Agedabia. We will surprise them-and annihilate them Four days of complete success lie behind us. Our blows struck home. And there's still one to come.

4 February Panzer III

5 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 Gause back. But he'll never be quite the same. It was all rather much at once. I'm more used to such things. 2 Dearest Lu, On the move. 3 British evacuate Derna Trouble with Rome, who do not agree with the way I am running things and would be pleased to see us abandon Cyrenaica again. 4 We have got Cyrenaica back. It went like grease lightning. I hope to be home in ten days Quiet again on our front, which now extends for 300 miles. Pleasing to have Cyrenaica back again. 11 Rommel moves his HQ to Cyrenaica Rommel visits Hitler's secret HQ in East Prussia. 23 Italians have taken an Army Corps off me because I'm not sitting as far back as they would like me to. They'll be sorry for it Rommel on furlough in Austria End of the winter fighting in Africa. Both sides now prepare for the approaching battle of the summer Rommel leaves Africa on furlough for a month Manfred is now as 22 tall as his mother, soon he will overtake me too I just could not settle down at home. 8

6 March 1942

7 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 Serious difficulties over supplies Scant attention given to the African theatre of war by the German High Command Ahead of us lay territories containing an enormous wealth of raw materials; Africa and the Middle East. 16 Our Government's weak policy towards Italy seriously prejudiced the German- Italian cause in North Africa Rommel departs for Africa. 23 I'm glad not to have We are going to my hands tied. This war attack in about two theatre is so remote. months' time, destroy the British field army, prevent its escape into Tobruk, and then to capture Tobruk itself. 30 We are "moving." It's very lovely up here, as the flowers are still all in full bloom. 31 Before they left my new "house" the British wrote on the door: 'Keep tidy, be back soon!' The German High Command still fails to see the importance of the African theatre Our demands for additional formations were refused on the grounds of the huge demand for transport which the eastern front was making. 19 The big question is, who will make the first move? Sadly short-sighted and misguided views! Everything is green in Cyrenaica now. It's pleasantly warm at sea level, but there is a lot of wind and it's downright cold where we are, 2,500 feet up Supply difficulties, particularly getting the stuff up overland, are still a great headache. Gambarra has been given command back in Italy, in other words he's in disgrace I got thoroughly sunburnt, but we have the right ointment I'm getting about a lot and putting the pressure everywhere to get the most urgent jobs done. historybycalendar.com

8 April 1942

9 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 Lovelorn letters from 2 During March only 3 4 The newsreels have 5 all shapes and sizes of females are on the increase. 18,000 tons reached the Panzer Army in Africa out of a total supply requirement of 60,000 tons. brought the younger females particularly out of their composure. 6 Initiative of Field- 7 8 The heavy Axis air 9 Kesselring came 10 Shell splinter came Increased flow of Marshal Kesselring, raids against Malta are yesterday. His news, so through the window, material to Tripoli, whose air force is neutralizing for a time far as it concerns our landed in my stomach Benghazi, and Derna. attaining air superiority over the Mediterranean. the threat to our sea routes. allies, wasn't so cheerful. after going through my overcoat and jacket. All it left was a bruise the size of a plate. Luck of the devil! 13 Obvious that the British Eighth Army could still be reinforced more rapidly than our own We are going to use decoy tactics to cause the enemy to switch the bulk of his forces up to Gazala. The killer blow to be dealt to them in the south British would try to destroy our army with all the means at their disposal as soon as they felt themselves strong enough to do so Our southern flank lay wide open and the British have a large choice of possible options to choose from. 27 Kesselring will be here this afternoon. I'm anxious to hear his news. Tomorrow Bastico is coming to present me another Italian decoration. More troops would suit me better. 28 Bastico presented me with a new Colonial Order. A large silver star, even bigger than the previous one, plus a red sash with small order. This is really enough I'm told Gambarra was sent packing because he declared in the presence of officers that all he wanted was to lead an Italian army against us Germans. The idiot! We move off to the 26 south through a real moon landscape. Dawn has a fantastic beauty in this country of flattopped mountains. Temp is around zero. But it will soon warm up. historybycalendar.com

10 May

11 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday How beautiful is home, compared with this barren land Heat and lots of dust. The main road is a sea of pot-holes with the amount of traffic on it. There's a certain nervousness on our front. The British are expecting us and we them. 18 We're squaring up for the coming march Our job is lure this British field army as far west as possible. That will begin on X day. The main force will begin moving after dark on X day. You are to reach your start lines for the attack of Tobruk by X plus Manfred, As you can see your teachers have cause to complain about you. You must do your duty in all your subjects and behave properly. That is your main task in this war Tanks and lorries to be driven in circles day and night behind the front to simulate tank assembly areas. 27 Before day break 28 British tanks opened 29 We set off for the 30 At first light the south-east of Bir fire on my command Afrika Korps at daybreak. respective divisions Hacheim; a swirling post. We form a We found the moved into their cloud of dust and sand defensive front, for the Afrika Korps attacked appointed positions. A hours I ordered thrust into the British protection of our by British armor. direct supply route was "Operation Venezia," rear. At midday the columns. Things were Shortage of supplies had opened to the west. We and 10,000 vehicles of British reacted and a very serious with the severely limited their expected the British to striking force began to furious battle Afrika Korps. We push freedom of action. I set launch their major blow move. What would the developed. Fire and forward to a hill about up my command post in at any moment. enemy do? What had black smoke welled up 10 miles north of Bir the area. Now contact Nothing happened he already done? These from lorries and tanks, Harmat, from where we fully restored with all during the morning. 57 questions pounded my and out attack came to a could see the Afrika parts of the Army. British tanks were shot brain. standstill. The advent Korps. Black smoke Main thing now was to up that day. By of the new American clouds rolled up the sky, open up a secure supply afternoon I personally tank had torn great giving the landscape a route for our striking surveyed possibilities holes in our ranks. curious sinister beauty. force. for an attack on Got Ualeb At hours a frontal attack against the Gazala line to deceive the British. At A Panzer battalion will attack, but as soon as dusk falls the battalion will withdraw and join our main armored push. It is of vital importance to simulate a heavy tank attack here. 31 German-Italian units fought their way forward yard by yard against the toughest British resistance imaginable. The defense was conducted with considerable skill and, as usual, the British fought to the last round. They also brought a new 57-mm anti-tank gun into use. By evening we penetrate a substantial distance into the British positions.

12 June

13 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 2 After our summons 3 Slit trenches, small 4 We could feel there hours, after an hours, the mass for surrender had been pill-boxes, machine gun was something brewing. hour's of heavy artillery, of 21st Panzer Division rejected, the attack and anti-tank gun nests - We moved the 15th the British attack the launched an attack to opened at about all surrounded by dense Panzer Division into Ariete. Soon the guns the east. And now at midday. With our minefields. position south of Bir of our tanks were firing last the British slowly preliminary barrage Superhuman feats were Harmat. from three sides into the began to give ground in there began a battle of preformed by our British. the fierce tank fighting. extraordinary severity. sappers, who suffered heavy casualties. 9 I drew a further 10 Afrika Korps' 11 Occupy Bir 12 Violent battle with 13 21st Panzer Div combat group from combat group succeed Hacheim. I inspected concentrated British thrust east in a raging Afrika Korps to attack. breaking into the main the fortress for which armor succeeded taking sandstorm. Slaughter of Kesselring upset that he enemy positions north such a bitter struggle area around El Adem. British tanks went on. had to keep Luftwaffe of Bir Hacheim. After had been waged. I put 21st Panzer Division A murderous fire struck formations continuously this penetration, Bir the Bir Hacheim force also drove east, steadily from several sides into deployed over Bir Hacheim could no on the move to the pressing together the the tightly packed Brt Hacheim. longer be held. north. British armor. formations. 1 After heavy Stuka attacks, the infantry again surged forward. Piece by piece the elaborate British defenses were won. Got Ualeb having fallen, it was now the turn of Bir Hacheim. 8 My storming parties went in. With undiminished violence the enemy troops hung on grimly in their trenches and remained completely invisible th Panzer thrust across Via Balbia to the sea. 21st Panzer sent east. Despite heavy bomber attacks 21st reached Sidi Rezegh. Once again speed was vital. 22 The troops were in high spirits and the superb morale of the Panzer Army was once again evident. My forces began to move east. 29 Firing gradually died away. Move east as soon as the fortress falls. Friend and foe were no longer clear, for both sides were using British vehicles. 7 Assault groups approached Bir Hacheim under the cover of darkness. The infantry stormed straight for the French positions. This attack too was broken up by the fire of all arms. 14 Panzers roll north. We ran into a wide belt of mines. Our vehicles were showered with British armor-piercing shells. I ordered our 170mm guns to open fire on the Via Balbia. 16 Fighting in Gazala 17 My army was 18 Mopping up the area 19 90th Light Division hours aircraft hours I drove had finally ceased. moving east again. between Tobruk and thrust east between bomb break-in point. into Tobruk. Wherever Evidence of the British hours I switched Gambut was completed Bardia and Tobruk, to Storming parties drive on looked there was defeat could be seen all the 21st Panzer Division and the necessary increase British wedge into defenses. destruction. Soldiers! along the road. Burntout to the north. We moves carried out to uncertainty about our Anti-tank ditch bridge The great battle of vehicles stood black arrived at Gambut at close in Tobruk. intentions. My assault by hrs. Reach Sidi Marmarica has been and empty in the sand hours. force moved into its assembly areas. Mahmud at mid-day, the key to Tobruk. crowned by your quick conquest of Tobruk. 23 Eighth Army, we 24 Afrika Korps ran miles west of 26 Our intention was to 27 One can scarcely 28 The bitter struggle learnt from captured badly short of petrol. Mersa Matruh. British bring the British to conceive the confusion lasted all night, British documents, ordered to Repeatedly assailed by air attacks on our east battle. To this end we reigning that night. It vehicles trying the take up positions at heavy RAF bomber moving columns planned to envelope the was pitch-dark. RAF whole time to break Mersa Matruh. The attacks. Luftwaffe was continued into the fortress of Mersa bombed their own away. Enormous fires supreme requirement regrouping and could night. Matruh. A quick dash troops, German units raged in the fortress now is speed. not put up fighters. reached the coast road. fired on each other. zone of Mersa Matruh. 30 Elements of 15th Panzer had reached far beyond El Daba. Great booty had fallen to the Afrika Korps. I talk over the attack on El Alamein line. historybycalendar.com

14 July

15 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 Halt at at the Alamein fortress front. 2 Attack with a thrust NE. British attack on 3 After hours of British 4 Our intention to artillery bombardment, I withdraw motorized 5 Refit of formations made slow progress. I put everything into the our open southern sent Afrika Korps units from the front for The few ships on the southern flank. British flank. Akrika Korps forward. Attack refit. I order the Africa run were still not shells scream from three locked in violent became pinned down in extensive use of decoys, arriving at Tobruk but directions I ordered attack to the coast road. defensive fighting. British tanks and guns arriving at the front. concentric defensive fire. dummy tanks to take away Brit taste for further attacks. at Benghazi. All supplies had to be carried by transport. 6 British activity 7 All-day tank thrusts 8 My formations no 9 Panzer Army broke 10 At the dull fire 11 Brit continue attack 12 Front had now confined to small-scale sector attacks. against my exhausted troops in their trenches longer merited the title of divisions. Meanwhile, through, thrust to the previous point of from artillery from the north. Alarming news south of coast road. I order every last soldier grown static, British was in it's element, for Astonishing amount of and foxholes. British I gained a penetration in the center of a serious break- to the front in face of infantry battle and static ammunition expended in their preliminary guns fired 10,000 rounds into the 3 mile detailed knowledge of the strength of the front. Our intention was to strike east, thus through. Forces drawn from the south move the default of Italian fighting power, the warfare was it's strongest point, victory barrages. sector of the 15th Alamein line. bring the fall of Alamein against the flank of the situation taking on crisis going to the side with Panzer Division. line. British salient. proportions. more ammunition. 13 Launch 21st Panzer Div against Alamein fortress. The attack miscarried, not even 14 I again order 21st Panzer forward. The objective was position west of Alamein. Our 15 Our line south-east of Dein Shein collapse. I broke off 21st Panzer attack in north to bring 16 British attack only locally. Under concentric fire of artillery and our mobile 17 Australians attack south-west, penetrate Italian sectors. Every last reserve had to be 18 It can't go on like it for long, otherwise the front will crack. Militarily, this is the 19 Front more or less quiet, British undertaking no major attacks. It was the calm before reaching the line of the units fought as far as the them south-west of AA the enemy soon thrown in. Our forces most difficult period the storm. fortress area. I was in area between the road Dein Shein. Penetration relinquished territory he were now so small by I've ever been through. extremely bad humor. and railway. sealed off. had gained. comparison to British. 20 We detected British assembly areas in the 21 Waves of British infantry surged against 22 British attack central th Infantry sector, surge against our Division flown from 24 Several units of an Italian parachute 25 Army working at a feverish speed to 26 Australians attack line west of Alameim. central sector of the front, concentrating 15th Panzer Division. We had virtually no line at Dein Shein. Sizeable number of Crete, but had brought neither heavy weapons division- excellent by appearance- arrived at strengthen it's line. A dashing counterattack smashed the masses of tanks and reserves. An attack also British tanks shot up. nor vehicles. the front. wedge. Central sector artillery. launched on the north front. Then the 21st Panzer's armor rolled forward. Our defenses scored an undoubted success. also attacked, a counterattack succeeded there too. It was now certain we could hold our front. 27 The great summer campaign had ended in a dangerous lull. 28 While we had to fight with the same formations, the British had fresh formations fully equipped and up to battle strength. 29 Italian military was 30 I had wanted above not equal to the task, all else to avoid another training of infantry fell mutual build-up of far short of standard, his material taking place on equipment was so any line west of utterly bad Alexandria. 31 The immense strength of the British Empire had begun to tell again. historybycalendar.com

16 August 1942

17 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 A calm set in over the 2 All quiet except for front. Both sides sought to use the breathing space to refit and bring up fresh intense air activity against my supply lines. We've all got heat diarrhea now. troops. 3 Anglo-Americans will 4 5 Trouble with 6 Everyday that went 7 8 Tobruk was heavily 9 spare no effort to prevent a further advance by the Panzer Army to Alexandria. supplies. by the British laid more and more mines on the front. attacked by British bombers, destruction of its principle wharf. This hit us very hard. 10 Kesselring was here yesterday. We reached agreement over what is to happen. Now it's a question of making full use of the few weeks to get ready Supplies we received 13 35% of our vehicles barely covered our daily in for repair. 85% of 14 Shipping lay in the hands of Commando requirements. our transport consists of Supremo. We had no vehicles of British or American manufacture, for which we had no great stocks of spares. influence over ship lists, ports of arrival or proportion of German to Italian cargoes I proposed to the High Command that Mediterranean shipping should be vested in Field Marshal Kesselring British able to exercise full weight of material superiority and hammer away with artillery for hours on end at our troops. 24 I'm now well All quiet here so far. enough to get up British artillery occasionally. One of sometimes do some the Fuehrer's doctors is excited shooting and supposed to be on his send a few thousand way. rounds into our territory. 31 My plan had not worked. Element of surprise lost. At nightfall continuous flares, movement pinned down. Promised petrol had still not arrived in Africa. 21 Date of attack had 22 Panzer Army put to be postponed again, every form of pressure for it depended on the on supply authorities to arrival of large provide it with the quantities of petrol and necessary build-up in ammunition. time. 28 Panzer Army plan: 29 Tension growing. take mined defenses in My health is now very the south, thrust east 30 good again and I hope mi, thrust north to the to stand up well to the coast, then east through lively days ahead. British supply area for an open battle Worst difficulties in bulk supply. Muddle characterized the Italian supply staffs. Petrol and ammunition situation serious as ever Night attack against southern bastions of British Alamein front, came up against strong mine belt. RAF parachute flares turn night into day, large formations of aircraft unloosed sticks of HE bombs among my troops.

18 September

19 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 Attack with the 15th 2 I call off attack. Brits 3 Withdrawal 4 British showed little 5 A number of 6 My troops over to the Panzers. Shooting up many British tanks, the division reaches just remain stationary. I confer with Kesselring. He promised to do all proceeded as planned. British made only isolated attacks and let desire to make a real fight of it; no need since time- as far as captured British during this battle saying that British HQ had been defensive. With the failure of this offensive our last chance of south of Hill 132. Nonstop he could. At night nonstop their air force and material- was working in informed by a senior gaining the Suez Canal British bombers, artillery fires 10 shells pounding by British bomber artillery take their toll. At night our air force their favor. Italian officer of our plan to attack on the had gone. This battle was known to our for every 1 of ours. Still formations. Flares kept attacks British forces southern part of the troops for ever after as no drop of promised the desert bathed in a north of our breakthrough. front. the "Six-day Race." petrol. brilliant light. 7 The forthcoming 8 Supply ships which 9 The doctor is 10 What we really 11 British have I again point out increase in British Cavallero had promised pressing me hard to needed was parity in the infantry divisions and seriousness of situation strength- the 100,000 ton convoy had arrived would reach us in time for our offensive at the have a break in Germany and doesn't air. This required vast reinforcements of one armored division in the front, 2 infantry and to the Fuehrer's Hq and stated our supply in Suez- would apply end of August arrived in want me to postpone it Kesselring's air force. 2 armored as reserve, problems must be equally to their air force. North Africa. any longer. and 2 infantry divs in the Nile Delta. solved at all costs. 14 Attack on Tobruk, 15 I flew to Tobruk, 16 Kesselring came this 17 German Luftwaffe 18 We had to put our 19 General Stumme 20 A balance of power British attempt to land expressed appreciation morning. He'd come severely stretched in defense into such a arrived at my HQ. He in the air would have forces. AA batteries of the well-conducted from the Fuehrer's HQ. other theatres, we have form that British air was to deputize for me made the old rules of opened a furious fire on defensive action. Our Stalingrad is tying up a to face likelihood of superiority would have as Army Commander warfare valid again. the British. Assault groups succeeded in enveloping the landed enemy troops. air force reported sinking of 1 cruiser, 4 destroyers, and many escort vessels. lot of forces. RAF shortly gaining absolute air supremacy. the least effect. during my absence. 21 I flew with Gause 22 I hand over Panzer 23 It was with heavy 24 I discuss the By using his airpower, and Bayerlein to inspect Army command to heart that I set off for situation with the Duce. the enemy the German-Italian garrison at Siwa oasis, General Stumme. He was put out when he Derna to fly to Italy. For all I said, he still did not realize the full would be able to delay our operations at will. where we were given an heard I proposed to cut enthusiastic welcome by short my cure if the gravity of the situation. The 'Six-day Race' had shown us that a timeschedule the Arab population. British opened a major offensive. was waste paper. This meant our I was pleased to hear that supply authorities were proposing to put French shipping into service. positions had to be strong enough to be held independently over a long period until reinforcements could arrive.

20 October

21 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 I reported to the 2 Fuehrer promised 3 I reluctantly faced the 4 Off to Semmering a Fuehrer. I outline our that our supplies would press to dispel rumors. mountain resort near attack on Alamein and be increased. I could not give the true Vienna to clear up my the cause of failure. Atmosphere at HQ picture. By giving an optimistic account I liver and bloodpressure. extremely optimistic. Goering in particular minimized our difficulties. hoped to bring some post-ponment of the British offensive At Semmering I was 8 9 With my army in such I obtained some cut off from outside world; except for radio, papers, and letters. plight, incapable of attaining real peace of mind. figures on American productive capacity I followed the operations of our submarines in the Atlantic with particular anxiety German and about 300 Italian tanks faced qualitatively superior British armor to the strength of over 1,000 tanks. 26 Attack on Hill 28. Bombs cascade down among my troops. Divebombers, tracer shells, air becomes an inferno of fire. British try again and again to break west. Report to Fuehrer's HQ we will lose without supplies News from Africa not cheering. RAF increasingly active and Eighth Army growing stronger. Constant expectation of attack Britsh had now 22 Our stocks of gained complete air supplies were so low supremacy over the that shortages of every Mediterranean and were kind were evident. in a position to virtually paralyze our sea traffic , furious Brit barrage in north sector. British attack SW from Hill 28. Our guns concentrate violent fire on Hill 28 point of attack. Murderous fire struck our ranks, attack brought to halt. Send SOSs to Fuehrer's HQ. 28 Numerical superiority of enemy. Supply situation disastrous. Whole of Afrika Korps put into the line British drum-fire pound area west of Hill 28. British launch assault at The battle raged. 16 We had to base our defense on a fortified and infantry-held line. We had to prevent the British break through at all costs , barrage of immense weight opened over the whole line. Communication network was soon smashed and reports from the front ceased , turning in my 30 Front quiet except mind likely course of for artillery and air battle. What riled me attacks in north sector. most was that Italian 21st Panzer Division cargo for the front was withdraw in darkness, still being sent to suddenly a violent Benghazi. Major attack barrage drops and Brit expected did not come, armor rolled north from British were regrouping. Hill 28. Our army and AA engage My deputy, General Stumme, trying to bring our defense up to my standards. He now realized extent of supply deficiencies , British to our arrive at main defense line. I was Rome. Reach HQ at called on the dusk. Our line under an Semmering by Keitel. I artillery barrage that was received a call from one long roll of fire. 3 Hitler himself, he said issues of petrol left, Stumme was missing minimum of 30 issues and asked if I could required. Brits take Hill start for Africa 28, important point in immediately. north sector British tanks reached coast road. Counter-attack by 21st Panzer, 90th Light Division, dive-bombers, and artillery. Attack at 12.00, enemy broke up our tanks and infantry with artillery fire, air attacks.

22 November 1942

23 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday British had 800 tanks in 1 RAF attack north of the north sector, we had Hill times. At only 90 German and 140 Italian tanks to put into battle. Supply night shells burst, bombers, British advance with a moving situation as wretched as curtain of fire. Breakthrough ever. SW of Hill British penetration 3 We disengage British break 5 Afrika Korps reach 6 Disorder choked the 7 RAF attack coast Anglosealed off by desperate fire. Complete chaos. Fuehrer; "stand fast, yield not a yard, strong through XXI Corps Korps Kampstaffel Fuka, violent fighting against superior British road. Form a fairly firm road. British attack front to beat off attacks. rearguard; 90th Light American convoy lands in NW Africa. Violent tank fighting. wiped out armor. Outflanking will has triumphed over Our columns streaming Division. Vehicles 30 mi Numerous British RAF, artillery hammer bigger battalions, no Afrika Korps line column advances on our west. 21st Panzer long in deep mud. vehicles sighted on our away. Situation north other road than victory penetrated, enemy open south flank. Wild Division SW of Three flanking attacks south flank. Vital to get forced us to denude the or death." We were streaming into our rear. confusion. I order Quasaba forced to form beaten off. Brits S of every soldier and as south front. stunned, moves west stopped. I order retreat. withdrawal to Mersa Matruh. a hedgehog, fought it's way west. Mersa Matruh. I order retreat to Sidi Barrani. much material to the west. 9 Improved situation 10 Axis powers land 11 90th Light through 12 Large vehicle jam at 13 British flanking 14 Grave petrol crisis, 15 Afrika Korps halted on Sollum Pass, I order troops in Tunisia. My Sollum. Scattered men Gazala. Petrol supplies thrust on Segnalia. Luftwaffe flew across without a drop in its area west of Sidi Barrani army to hold hills pouring into Cyrenaica, gloomy, Luftwaffe Panzer Army reaches only 60 tons of our tanks. Road still evacuated. For around Cirene. At night strength for a delaying transport tied up in Mersa Brega line. Brits day's demand of 250. blocked with traffic. manning the Sollum hundreds of RAF defense. British south Tunisia. British flank overcome Gazala line. Heavy rains soften RAF shooting up front we had 4,000 bombers ranged area of of Sidi Omar, we pull toward Tobruk, we We evacuate Cyrenaica tracks used to ease the vehicles in the bottlenecks. troops, 21 tanks. Capuzzo. back Tobruk. evacuate at night. at full speed. load on the roads. Rain falls. 16 Akrika Korps still no 17 Forces on the heels 18 British probing 19 90th Light Division 20 Still no strategic 21 I decided to use the 22 Meet with Bastico. fuel. Italian Supply HQ of 90th Light Div and forward from Msus are leaves Benghazi, decisions from supreme pause we expected for "We either lose the overcome by destruction on our Msus flank. We beaten back. British established itself in authorities. What the British build-up to position 4 days earlier frenzy. Stop had to get out of convoy en route to Agedabia, evacuation of astonished us was the drive the facts home to and save the army, or them from demolish-ing Cyrenaica fast. Brits Benghazi, all material in Cyrenaica complete. material they shipped to Commando Supremo lose both position and works at Benghazi. held up by floods. Benghazi destroyed. Tunisia. and the Fuehrer's HQ. army 4 days later." Kesselring and 25 Instead of the Reaction to the 27 I decided to fly to ordered to the 29 My bitterest enemy Cavallero at last meet tons of petrol a day we meeting on the 24th; the Fuehrer. I wanted Fuehrer, a chill. was Goering. We me. I stress the appalling supplies, impossible to hold Mersa Brega line. They regard me a pessimist of first order. needed, 50 tons was all we could bring overland up to the front. Kesselring required us to detach troops to protect Tripoli, the Duce demands the Mersa Brega line to be held. to ask personally for a strategic decision and request the evacuation of North Africa. Fuehrer flew into a fury, arrived in Rome. no attempt at discussion. He said it a political necessity to hold in Africa. Goering to join me to Italy. 30 Conference with the Duce, Goering declared that I left the Italians in the lurch at Alamein. Before I could make a worthy reply to this monstrous statement, Mussolini said: "That's news to me; your retreat was a masterpiece, Marshal Rommel."

24 December 1942

25 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 I issue orders to hold 2 Conference with 3 I talk over the 4 Flying back to Africa 5 Increasingly evident 6 We begin to shift Mersa Brega line. Got permission from Duce Commando Supremo on supplies. Goering situation with Basticofelt that if Tripoli were I realized that to keep the army from being that the British attack would not be long Italian infantry back west. to take steps for a stated I should attack lost, Mussolini would be destroyed by some crazy delayed. Buerat line. from Mersa Brega. threatened by political crisis in Italy. order would need all our skill. 7 Enemy concentrates reconnaissance in the 8 My Dear Manfred, My congratulations on th Panzer Army formed in Tunis. 11 After laying down heavy artillery, British 12 Once again my troops were moving 13 RAF attack bottleneck at El Mugtaa all south, obvious he was your 14th birthday. The Unfortunately, very little attack along coast road. through the arid and day. Bitter fighting preparing for a wild hook to outflank our line. SOS after SOS was dispatched to Europe. war is very hard and it looks doubtful whether I shall be permitted to return to you. coordination existed between this new command and ourselves. We sound the retreat. An unbroken stream moved off to the west. Petrol only enough to get to El Mugtaa. monotonous wastes of the Great Sirte, westwards. against 80 British tanks at El Agheila. Infuriating to me to idly watch the opportunities the enemy offered st Panzer Div held 15 90th Light Division 16 15th Panzer at Via 17 Brit attacked 6 mi 18 I inspected the 19 Duce order; "Resist 20 I repeatedly point Mugtaa defile as remains as rearguard at Balbia, enemy hard on SW of Nofilia. Petrol Buerat position. British the Buerat line." How out that the British rearguard. Brits 20 mi Wadi Matratin. 21st its heels and the 90th arrived, a counter-attack closed ring round did Mussolini imagine might go round Buerat's SE of Merduma, 15th Panzer on the march to Light's southern flank, and 20 Brit tanks were Nofilia, only one such action be fought? south flank. I asked for Panzer move in front of Nofilia. 15th Panzer's thus 90th moved back shot up. This held the platoon had been left Kesselring said we misused instructions for such an Merduma to hold Via petrol late getting up, to Nofilia. With no road open and units petrol, we were inside and succeeded in event. On each Balbia open for 21st. division was still supplies, I had to hold threatened with breaking out. intensely angry. Endless occasion I received an Brits break west toward standing fast at Nofilia in spite of encirclement streamed Brt columns move answered referring me Nofilia. Merduma. encirclement threat. west. west down Via Balbia. to Duce's order. 21 Everybody in Rome 22 I had no wish to be Inspect south front 25 British halted scared to death of making an independent the scapegoat for the armchair strategists in through the fissured Wadi Zem-Zem. Our advance, waiting for reinforcements. I decision. Rome. Xmas dinner trotted up inspect Buerat position to us as a herd of gazelles. HQ Xmas party, I received a mini petrol drum of coffee. to find how effective our decoys were in dispersing British artillery. 28 Need a miracle to 29 All troops had 30 I haven't the 31 Badly worried about heavy fighting in Stalingrad. hold on much longer. withdrawn behind the Buerat line. slightest doubt about its Meeting with Bastico, the Commando Supremo. Marshal Bastico was a outcome, the forces are fundamentally decent man with a sober military understanding and a unequal. Supplies have considerable moral stamina. So on this New Year's Eve we sat together in almost entirely dried up. the operations truck in a mood of grim humor. As far as possible we kept off the military situation and so managed to stay in reasonably good spirits.