The Rats of Tobruk

[@codebasher1]

My grandfather was a captain in the Rats of Tobruk. He had a ton of memorabilia up until he passed away. Thankfully he donated everything to the RSL who have preserved it all to this day.

[@justashadow2747]

Glad someone covers this battle, not much info i could find but glad this is here

[@apropercuppa8612]

Not to discredit The History Shack, but check out TIK's Operation:Crusader videos. He compiled them into one 9 hour video. It's great.

[@klytouch7515]

I guess the British funded lots of memorial grave stones for it's colonies that they are named them rats .. hmmm ( send in the Rats..) ha ha ha🤣😂

[@epimetheaus1214]

Don't forget the Italian weaponry that was abandoned, having been repaired by the Aussies, they were repurposed and used against German Panzers. I love the way the rats of Tobruk scrounged up everything discarded by enemies and allies alike, using every possible resource they had on hand. Really helps to reinforce the rats moniker.

[@lucykennedy6147]

Aussie Bush mechanics!

[@GrahameGould]

Australia was still full of pioneer resourcefulness then. Very few left now.

[@petereiso5415]

Re-purposed? WHAT? Designed to hurl bang bang things at others. Still used for that very same purpose!

[@epimetheaus1214]

@@petereiso5415 If you're curious, look up El Adem road April 14th 1941, Germans lost over a dozen tanks and most of a battalion in one push.

[@petereiso5415]

@@epimetheaus1214 You obviously didn't read what I wrote, did you ? If you did you certainly didn't understand it.

[@peterread705]

My dad was a Rat of Tobruk and fought at Alamein where Rommels army was broken. The Easter battle described here was the first defeat the Germans suffered in WW2. Churchill said before Alamein the allies never won a battle, after Alamein they never lost a battle. Montgomery said he wished he could take the Australian 9th Division with him to Europe and was proud to say the 9th fought under his leadership. BTW General Morshead was Australian. The Aussies always fought better when led by Australian officers.

[@tK-be6ns]

First defeat the germens suffered was against the Aussies. The japanese' first defeat on land was against Aussies as well

[@anthonyeaton5153]

The first defeat of the Germans was the Battle of Britain.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

Tobruk was a defeat don’t forget.

[@Ask4This]

@@anthonyeaton5153 Yeah for Germany

[@anthonyeaton5153]

@@Ask4This Tobruk was a defeat.

[@planestop8333]

my great grandfather was a rat in the battle of tobruk. however he did survive the battle he was killed in a transport truck when it hit a mine

[@aceous99]

rip

[@Crash-zm2qd]

My great grandad was there as well he was in KDG.

[@anymonkey70]

loads of respect to Australia for tobruk, tough buggers. glad you was on our side 👍

[@datadavis]

At least the wildlife didnt try to kill them in libya. Must've been relaxing!

[@Reg_The_Galah]

In my hometown of Alice Springs there is still a Rat of Tobruk alive, he puts up a impressive display of Christmas lights every year. Really chill dude, but he’s old as and doesn’t have many years left.

[@Giveme1goodreason]

My great uncle was a rat, his older brothers were anzac and original digger. Honestly I’m surprised that there wasn’t more Canadian input in North Africa. Those blokes are warriors and any time Australia, New Zealander and Canadian forces link up they throttle everyone

[@GrahameGould]

Not exactly a good climate for Canucks.

[@samibrydan9467]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqncoX6Dh9qSZ5o

[@saddamesham2023]

اين تم دفنه

[@philiphawron]

Thanks, man this video is really useful for my essay on the topic. Good work!

[@aaliyahdelrosario4497]

The History Shack is just The Armchair Historian but with less subs. This is amazing!

[@Casper4165-r5o]

my great grandfather served as a rat Duncan Mcpherson/Macpherson heard so many stories passed down from my uncle who spent alot of time with him when he came back but was very traumatised and lived as a recluse in the bush until his death. these men were real heroes in my book.

[@nathanmassingham7111]

My granddad was a rat

[@wilsondb100]

Same mine met rommel as a pow and he always respected him

[@patrickharding4831]

Same here, and proud af of him.

[@kendabooka9079]

Same here , he also apparently met one of the brothers from the irl saving private Ryan fellas fredrik or something

[@liamyoung2824]

My great grandad was

[@apropercuppa8612]

Lovely stuff. Concise, covers the essential basics with nice little animations. The only thing that bugged me, and that's probably just the art you had at the time were the Sherman and Spitfire models used, lol.

[@andrewd7586]

My late father initially was there with the 2nd AIF Heavy Anti Aircraft unit, which was recalled or sent back to Papua New Guinea to fight the Japanese. My late uncle though in the infantry division stayed there & became a Rat Of Tobruk. Tough as nails the whole lot of them!💪🏼

[@dunruden9720]

In spite of the fact that their General in New Guinea labelled them cowards!! Lest we forget!!

[@THEWARDIARY]

Thank you for the upload. Keep the video's coming 🖤💀

[@captaincobber]

Quality! Look forward to more.

[@wesleyritchie8208]

This was a really well put together video : )

[@fghjjjk]

My grandad was a brit in a machine gun battalion at tobruk; 1st battalion 22nd cheshire reg.

[@Cynidecia]

Got family who were in them. Crazy to think about.

[@Raysnature]

I had the honour and privilege of working for the daughter of one of the 'Tabruk Four', 'gentleman Jim Almonds. He went on to be one of the founder NCOs of the SAS.

[@dunruden9720]

Tobruk

[@anthonyeaton5153]

Why was it an honour to work for the daughter of a Rat of Tobruk. That's gross sycophancy. I had a friend who won the VC and I wouldn't use those words . 😆

[@thomasweeks3651]

This is the only reason i pass my history class, cheers

[@bigt7706]

Great video

[@christophertucker8031]

You forgot the kiwis.

[@rogerdavies6226]

The father of a lady who was my barber was a Rat. His picture is often seen on posters. -- Another subject. The Desert Fox (misspelling on purpose) I have looked at Rommel several times and I fail to see where he earned his reputation. When he pushed the Us forces back to Kasserine Pass, he stopped. He never looked at the true logistics of what was going on. He could have gone around the north and pushed the Us forces into the sea and captured all his supplies. Instead he chose to withdraw to shorten his supply lines, giving back land had fought for. This is but one example of what I see as one of his failures

[@dunruden9720]

What misspelling?

[@moochiemoochie4432]

I would like to point out, that the red line held by Australians was also defened by Czechoslovakians and Poles. (perimeter about 9 km long)

[@petercastles5978]

The perimeter, also known as the Red Line, was over 30 miles long. Defended by Australian and Indian Infantry. The siege was of roughly 8 months duration. The Polish Brigade came in after 5 months, and the Czechs after 7 months. Nearly all the Australian 9th Division left at 7 months, but leaving one Battalion 2/13th to see out the 8 months.

[@jackalister1662]

Helluva time,helluva bunch of brave men on both sides.

[@Hallands.]

6:45 ... supplied mainly by the Scrap Metal Fleet, also Australian...

[@mrnotanoobnoobnoob2353]

severely underrated

[@Crash-zm2qd]

My great grandfather was there he was in KDG.

[@marcinwkurw3185]

let's not forget the Poles who also defended Tobruk.

[@petercastles5978]

The Poles were there for roughly three months in an 8 month siege.

[@marcinwkurw3185]

@@petercastles5978 so it doesn't count? xD or what

[@trevorlewis847]

the poles relieved the aussies after 5mnths,so we were there first😜

[@marcinwkurw3185]

@@trevorlewis847 I don't argue with this, or with the fact that Australians fought bravely in WWII.

[@DonaldBudge-j8s]

I was in tobruk for just over 2 years 1956 RASC british army

[@dant2048]

I'm guessing the one thumbs down is from a German. Lmfao

[@tomaszbuzaa7322]

or maybe from someone who actually knows sth about the battle?

[@philiphawron]

5:59 just for myself to remember where i was up to

[@Sam-bn5bb]

You know KZbin saves your video progress

[@jamesdurrant7392]

My dad was there he turn the advance with bursts of a bren gun then went on to help liberate u Europe and end up in german prison war camp aftet he help 2000 men get back at arnham in holland he trained most the para and sas and American in there way to fight today thsnk god he stayed alive and iv visit most the places he fought in

[@Crash-zm2qd]

My great grandfather was there as well he was in KDG he then went from North Africa to Italy and Greece he was in army for 11 years from 1934 to 1946.

[@davidedwinhoneywill2611]

Dont forget South Africa!

[@alexanderharold996]

Yeah the rats

[@cyrenaicacyrenaica1991]

Will I'm from TOBRUK 💔

[@michalsawa8949]

Australians did hołd the frontline for 3 weeks. Poles did hold the line 7 weeks. To the end of battle of Tobruk. Im dissapointment you did not mention this.

[@opinionatedwombat4217]

The 9th division held Tobruk for 5 months before being relieved

[@petercastles5978]

3 weeks?? TheAustralians were there for 7months, and the 2/13th (Australian)was there for the 8 months. The Poles were there for roughly a bit over 3 months.

[@Wedmenek]

Rly good

[@shehran6936]

India didn't exist before 1947, you mean they allied with South Asia or the British Raj?

[@saddamesham2023]

نعم كان مستشفي الي يعالجو في جرحاهم. هي كرموسه. اقويدر جدي

[@paulredinger420]

The Australians held the axis at bay. The tide of battle turned for the axis. Due to logistics Rommel had to retreat back west past Tobruk. The axis resupply and attack easy again. This time capturing Tobruk from the allies. The defensive positions were left to go to 💩 by this time. The defences weren't as formidable as when the Australians were there. Axis pushed to El Alamein. Axis were spent. The majority of Rommel supplies were being destroyed by the allies. (Allies were reading German communications) Montgomery attacked westward for the last time. Allied forces landed in French Morocco for operation Torch driving eastward. The axis were in a vice from the east and west then defeated in Tunisia. Good bye Africa corps!

[@navyXDF]

Straya

[@HySteria909]

BOYSBOYSBOYS