Australian Genius Diversion That Completely Wrecked Rommel

[@johnutting9615]

Thanks for showing Kiwi soldier Charles Upham being awarded the Victoria Cross in this action. Kiwis were also upfront as well as the Aussies.

[@mareky1234]

Absolutely, our pathetic Aussie media, constantly forgets about you blokes, especially when that time of year comes around.. But us Aussies sure don't. There would be no Anzac Legend without you blokes, Charles Upham actions clearly demonstrates that to a tee. And this video also did distinguish the differences with what we each did. They showed Charles Upham, but they made no mention of the fact that he won the VC TWICE. And I reckon that that definitely deserved a mention. Kiwis, you couldn't ask for better Mates.

[@mylesdobinson1534]

True Brothers in Arms. 🇦🇺🇳🇿

[@Robert-n4g6u]

​@@mareky1234 ANZAC mate

[@Foozy-jr4yb]

Never met an Ausi I didn’t like. Never met one who couldn’t out drink me either. Brave men all.

[@rexkingston4881]

Thanks mate. We’re glad to know you too! 🇦🇺

[@roderickdunn3464]

My father was part of the 9th div. He was a forward observer for the artillery. He carried shrapnel from this battle in his lower back for the rest of his life. The 9th later served in Borneo.

[@warrenmilford6848]

I saw a BBC doco about the 2nd Battle of El Alamein hosted by the military history presenter Dan Snow. He discussed the Aussie's role in the northern part of the battle and said that, 'the Australians fought like wild dogs.' This gives such a vivid description of these troops fighting ability and what they went through.

[@ianlowery6014]

In his book, "El Alamein to the River Sango", Montgomery wrote: "El Alamein would not have been won in 12 days if it were not for Australia's magnificent 9th Division".

[@geoffcrumblin9850]

Did you know that Monty grew up in Hobart, Tasmania, where his father was a bishop.

[@petercastles5978]

The Australian contribution to El Alamein was 5% of the combined Allied troop total. Their casualty rate was 10 percent of the combined total.. The NZ'ds suffered badly here as well, over the many months of the various battles. A lot of troops were lost early on because the Allied tanks were not able to support the Infantry properly. A factor too in the Australian success was their ability with the bayonet. They had the wind up the enemy in this regard, and it would have been terrifying for any of the Axis troops to have the Diggers in front of them. There is an account by a German soldier talking about this. The new 6 pound Anti Tank was a great help too, after the pop gun 2 pounder. Monty was to say on a few occasions how the 2nd battle of El Alamein could not have been won without the 9th Australian Division. The mighty " Rats of Tobruk".

[@peterfromgw4615]

Mate, it wasn’t just the 9th Division in Tobruk. There were other elements including 7th Division AASC (an uncle of mine was in that unit) and he was always a proud “Rat”.

[@petercastles5978]

Yes , the one Brigade of the 7th Div were in Tobruk for 5 months before being relieved by the Poles. They were as good as they come, too. But mate the original reply of mine was about the 9th Div in El Alamein.

[@peterfromgw4615]

@@petercastles5978 You mentioned the “Rats of Tobruk” in relation to the 9th Division and I suspect some may have thought only the 9th Division were the famous “Rats”. I pointed out there were other units deployed there that were not part of the 9th. It may appear to be a minor issue but not for the solders like my uncle and Ron Barassi’s father who were part of the 7th Division AASC. As a child I recall seeing a framed copy of the Tobruk defences on a wall at my uncle’s house together with a “Rats of Tobruk Association” certificate. I even recall noticing my uncle always wore the “Rats of Tobruk” badge on his suit lapel rather than a RSL badge. Apologies if this sounds churlish or petty but he suffered the physical and psychological injuries from that time and for the rest of his service in World War 2. There were so many like him, carry all sorts of injuries from that time. They all need to be remembered. I hope you understand now the reason for my feedback. Thanks.

[@gregmacdonald7710]

Hey legend, my 2 great uncles died there!🤬

[@MrBenwaan]

My Grandfather told of how, in this battle, he found you could still fire shells through a Bofers 40mm pom-pom gun even though the barrel was white hot. Their replacement barrel was still glowing red so they just kept firing instead of swapping it out. At night, when the fireing stopped, you could see all the glowing white barrels of the anti-air guns all across the line. They'd shortened the recoil springs on their gun to increase the fire rate and dropped it down to use it as an automatic 40mm field gun. They could mess up the smaller panzers pretty good apparently and were deadly against the Italian tanks.

[@stuwhiteman3810]

Thanks for giving these Aussies some credit they very rarely get it in most English and American doco's or movies. Then you also have WW1 battles which Australia were involved in, then Korea and Vietnam then the later wars in the Middle East when Aussie soldiers also won the VC.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

WW1 would have still been won without Australia but NOT without Great Britain, think about it.

[@stuwhiteman3810]

@@anthonyeaton5153 WW1 or WW2 would not have been won without the Commonwealth country's, think about it.

[@brothermaynard3200]

​@anthonyeaton5153 How do you think the battle of Amiens would have gone without John Monash and the 5 divisions of AIF? Not very well... That was a turning point battle. Australian troops tended to be fitter, stronger and more resourceful just like New Zealand and Canadian troops were. But we are not talking about the Western front we are discussing a key battle in the North African campaign in the second world war. But the point about Australia getting insufficient recognition is a valid one so kindly keep your bigotry and ignorance to yourself.

[@goyindi]

@@anthonyeaton5153 bahahaha... go be miserable you old sod

[@SamO-ik2cm]

​@anthonyeaton5153 Australia quite literally saved France and ended the war at villers bretonneux. I'd tell you to pick up a book but i know you can't read

[@kiwigaming1605]

Great work! I have a video suggestion - the Battle of Bardia. Bardia was the first battle with Australian involvement in WWII and apart of the North African Campaign. In January 1941, the 6th Australian Division, supported by British tanks and artillery, swiftly seized the town of Bardia and captured up to 40,000 Italian prisoners while suffering only 130 of their own killed and 326 wounded. Such a victory boosted the confidence of the Australians and lowered the morale of the Italians even more. Sadly, it was overshadowed by the ill-fated Greek Campaign later that year. Thank you!

[@seanlander9321]

The British tanks at Bardia were particularly ineffective, in one famous encounter they refused Australian orders to attack retreating Italian armour, because they were on a tea break.

[@SusanPearce_H]

The motto of Aussie diggers: Never give up. NEVER! Battle on until you drop, then attack!

[@charlesmullen9729]

what about"she'll be roight cobbla?"

[@errolmorris6135]

Another great Video. Keep them coming.

[@LindaStevensBZ]

Hats off to the UK and the entire Commonwealth for saving the world in 1940. Helping to save it again in Ukraine in 2024.

[@peterhoulis1184]

Youve got it wrong , ukraine war was started by the U.S. NOT RUSSIA , please do your research before you comment

[@LindaStevensBZ]

@peterhoulis1184 Sure...moon landing was faked too.

[@ean9081]

My uncle told me about this battle an amazing story. His description of the tank battles was something I'll never forget he 2:29 2:29 was a forward observer with ghq signals a rat of tobruk and finished the war in new Guinea

[@bigpapadrew]

"God's greatest gift is the Australian soldier" - Sir William Slim

[@SusanPearce_H]

It had zero to with any "god".

[@anthonyeaton5153]

Show us the source of the quote.

[@bigpapadrew]

@@anthonyeaton5153 i'm trying to find it

[@vacri54]

Australians: shorts and short-sleeved shirts. Germans: coats.

[@SusanPearce_H]

Made by Hugo Boss.

[@infeedel7706]

That quarter century quote from Montgomery really hit the point.

[@markrowland1366]

Then, at the battle of Miln Bay, the Eastern end of the island of New Guinea, the Australian army, did the same. Their defeat of Japan's unbeaten forces, its first defeat in WW2 showed how to do it. The Australians gave the USN the confidence that led them to destroy Japanese confidence and to their greatest and most important defeat.

[@veridian79]

The 2/48 went in with a battalion and after 3 days fighting only 41 men left standing. They held the right flank which was critical, if that was lost the battle could have swung the other way.

[@BC-op7rj]

The story of two divisions and what came next for the 9th Division 9th Division was formed at about the same time (September 1940) as the US 32nd Division, but was combat ready in March 1941, 14 months before the 32nd was sent forward to the enemy. This US division came to be in Australia because of the 9th Division being so desperately wanted in North Africa. Churchill had already failed to redirect the 7th Division to Burma and mismanaged the 8th Division to be in indefensible positions in Malaya. Churchills next scheme was to ask FDR to supply a replacement division to Australia so that the 9th could stay in North Africa. This was done without consultation with Curtin, who wanted the 9th home to face the Japanese. Had Curtin not accepted this solution America would then decline sending a division to Australia. This political blackmail would prove no fair exchange, as the 32nd proved far less than equal in training, despite plenty of peacetime months to make ready. Their battle incentive was to get home and face the Japanese, who were so much feared as a race, that they had been excluded from living in Australia by policy. Their brutality to civilians was a very heavy concern. The US 32nd arrived in Adelaide in May 1942. At this point they lacked training and the correct equipment (particularly rifles and artillery), so they spent five months in Australia mostly relaxing and chasing women, while admin got men and equipment transported to Queensland. They got to Brisbane that winter so their limited jungle training was in s far less humid part of the year.. This Division lacked urgency to relieve the front line on the Kokoda track and was more about retaining a base of Americans to take over from the Australians at a later date. It was not until the Japanese got very close to Port Moresby that the Americans stopped chasing women in Brisbane and readied for the job of replacing the 9th Division. News of this too was eventually getting back to North Africa, so the 9th just wanted to beat the Germans and get home to rescue the situation. Once the rush was put on, the Americans they did a new first for the US Army by getting part of the division was air lifted to Port Moresby. This was to speed up relief, but they did not move up. The consequences of this airlift was that it took away the possibility of further biscuit bombers to provide desperately needed airdrops of frontline supplies. Once this unit was on the ground their presence would continue to consume air resupply for their own needs. By the time the rest of the Division arrived in September the Japanese had been put in reverse by the AMF, (the Japanese having overextended their supply lines). American wisdom then decided the 32nd Division should avoid immediate battle and take the Kapa Kapa trail (parallel to the Kokoda track) rather than relieving the existing battle on the Kokoda trail. Despite ANGAU advice the American plan went from relieving tired Australians for some R&R to instead engage a grand plan to encircle the Japanese from exiting the Kokoda trail. The Americans failed to complete their unopposed crossing in time enough to trap the Japanese. It was coming into summer and this trail was so rugged that it would not be used again. Doug's failure to listen warnings against his plan put far too many into hospital with various jungle diseases. Dougs next mistake was the coastal village of Buna and its swampy surrounds. It had been home to Japanese engineers who had stayed behind for months to build in depth defences to take advantage of its limited access. From a map Doug had decided this would be his first US victory in the Pacific. His yes-men-intelligence said Buna was garrisoned by only 1000 sick and wounded. He deliberate choice was to exclude tank and artillery support being supplied. His air force would bomb it. Unsurprisingly the first attack failed. Doug sacked the Division commander who had followed his orders. His replacement was told do or die. Wanting to live he called on Australian reinforcements to help. Buna was eventually taken at the cost of too many Australian and American lives, but Doug got his victory. I'd argue he could have instead parked artillery outside this area and bombed Buna into starvation and disease. These losses in the 32nd division put it out of action until January 1944. More of the same bad jungle tactics would follow for replacement US Divisions. In short the 32nd were never trained enough to equal those they replaced, only because of leadership. Had the 9th not been kept in the dessert for British use then it would have been part of these battles up the NE coast of Papua. Morshead would have done what Clowes did at Milne Bay and ignored Dougs rantings that more Australians should die to ensure an American victory. When the 9th did get back home and up to New Guinea in August 1943 they did what the 32nd could have been tasked to had they been led correctly. They took Lae and the Huon Peninsula despite Dougs yes-men still getting the intelligence wrong and underestimating enemy strengths at Finschhaven. From there Doug could claim yet another US victory. By this date he had the momentum of constant US troops to waste. Doug would go on to be the hero of the Pacific. Once rested and ready to fight again the 9th would be refused to assist in the recapture of the Philippines. Instead the 9th Division would be returned to to the task of defending British interests by retaking British Borneo. There the 9th Division stayed until February 1946 when relieved by Indian troops. By then many members returned home to be demobbed or went on to join BCOF in Japan. So ending the 9th Division. In it's time as an active unit the awards to members amounted to 7 VC's 41 DSO's; 9 OBE's 29 MBE's 119 MCs 57 DCM's 212 MMs 9 BEMs 611 MID's.

[@MilitarySummaryChannel2024]

*In reality, they concealed themselves in their trenches and dugouts, allowing the German tanks to rumble directly over them. Once the panzers had moved past, the Australians sprang from their hiding spots, launching a fierce and unexpected attack on the stunned German infantry. What followed was a brutal, close-quarters battle, with bayonets and hand-to-hand combat playing a central role.*

[@warrenmilford6848]

This is a close to a word for word rip off of a comment I made about the Battle of Tobruk featured in another presentation on this HB channel. You have more or less plagiarised me. Why? And by the way, I'm pretty sure they didn't do the, allowed the tanks to roll over their trenches then surprised the infantry trick in this battle.

[@Giveme1goodreason]

That was Tobruk not El Alamein. At El Alamein we were the attackers. So waiting for Rommel is useless.

[@inurzone]

BLESS THEM ALL 11-11 🙏🏼❤️🇦🇺❤️🙏🏼 FOREVER & ALWAYS MUCH LOVE & APPRECIATION

[@Rusty_Gold85]

Of the 2/48th Battalion of the 9th Div Tom Diver Derrick missed out on VC at this battle: Promoted to sergeant on 28 July,[5] Derrick led a six-man reconnaissance on 3 October, successfully pinpointing several German machine gun positions and strongholds; this information was to be vital for the upcoming Second Battle of El Alamein.[17] The El Alamein offensive was launched on 23 October, the 9th Australian Division taking part.[9] At one point during the engagement, Derrick jumped up onto an Allied gun carrier heading towards the Germans. Armed with a Thompson submachine gun and under intense heavy fire, Derrick attacked and knocked out three machine gun posts while standing in the carrier. He then had the driver reverse up to each post so he could ensure each position was silenced. By the following morning, Derrick's platoon occupied all three posts. The members of the 2/48th Battalion who witnessed Derrick's action were sure he would be awarded the Victoria Cross, though no recommendation was made

[@johnharrop5530]

My father was there behind a Vickers Machine Gun ,he survived 1003days in combat over the whole war ,I’ve got his hat with the T on it which stands for Tobruk ,rat of Tobruk ,he was a Sergeant Major of the 2/2 machine gun battalion

[@Sandman253]

What also helped is that the Australians captured Rommel's signals intelligence unit too, limiting his time to re-act to battle plan changes.

[@ianlowery6014]

That was in the 1st battle of El Alamein

[@0Zolrender0]

Aussie Aussie Aussie. OI OI OI.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

That is really showing your knowledge of military history. Well read.

[@0Zolrender0]

@@anthonyeaton5153 Murikan? You obviously do not understand Australia's national cheer.

[@Robert-n4g6u]

Rommel is reported to have praised Aussies in attack and kiwis in defense

G'Day History Blitz. Great video. BTW can you please do a video on the Battle of Vevi, the only time in history that the Australian Army fought the Waffen SS.

[@Jumbo-k4t]

This is why the Americans are nice to Australia LOL

[@sdfhtg]

🤣

[@SusanPearce_H]

LOL??? Grow

[@josephwurzer4366]

Need maps!

[@alexwood5425]

A map or two would have been good.

[@andrewmilne6241]

The title needs to drop the R

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

Weren't their Polish and Free French troops at this battle?

[@furryfriendification]

Apparently your hearing loss was not service related 🐪

[@Skipper.17]

👍

[@benbrown2470]

Victoria Cross, at that time, was BRITAIN'S highest award for valour, not Australias.

[@RichardJohnson-nq9ys]

My goodness mate you will have to tell the 101 Australians who have been awarded the medal to give it back.

[@awf6554]

Commonwealth and Empire.

[@warrenmilford6848]

Yeah, it's a British award, but it also covered all Empire/Commonwealth troops, so technically the narrator was correct, as it is Australia's highest award for combat bravery, and the vid is basically about Australian soldier's exploits.

[@SusanPearce_H]

You are incorrect.

[@jesseyoung9654]

At that time, Australia was part of the Empire. The concept of Australian citizenship didn’t exist. The VC was the pinnacle for Aussie troops too.