Hi,
Here are a couple of extracts from primary sources about the events of 15 July 1942. First, from the records of the
Fliegerführer Afrika:
15 July 1942After a short burst of fire, the enemy had succeeded in breaking through the center of the Brescia Division and pushing forward, with a force of forty tanks, through its southern flank into the area of Alam el Dihmaniya. The situation thus created represents a potential threat to our entire front; in an attempt to avert the danger, the operations being carried out by the 21st Panzer Division have been cut short, and all mobile elements are being rushed to the breakthrough point for a counterattack. The point in question lies on the western slope of the El Ruweisat ridge west of Alam al Dihmaniya, and can be sealed off only provisionally and with great difficulty. The enemy has been hindered materially in the bringing forward of rear elements by our concentrated air operations, and has thus been prevented from exploiting his local successes. The arrival of the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion and the approach of the 15th Panzer Division from the west were sufficient to avert the crisis and to force the enemy to withdraw from the attack (1200 prisoners). The task force "Baade" from the 90th Division, moving up from the south, was headed off by an enemy flanking maneuver coming from the east and was forced to join the right wing of the 15th Panzer Division. Utilizing all available personnel, our Luftwaffe forces carried out continual attacks on enemy rear elements in the Deir el Nima area. As we expected, the enemy withdrew his fighter aircraft after our dive bomber attack at 18:40, enabling us to send up an attack force of Ju 88s at 19:00 with a minimum fighter escort.
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And from the war diary of the
Afrika Korps:
15 July 194206:00: Panzer Army Africa orders the 21st Panzer Division to hold a group in readiness for operations with the Africa Corps.
All units of the 15th Panzer Division are engaged in a defensive battle, and enemy tanks are making a fresh attack from the south-east. The battle echelon is sent in against this enemy force from teh south-west. The attack is successfully halted.
07:40: A reconnaissance unit under the command of Lt. Schrötter is being sent out so that information on the course of the battle may be obtained more quickly. He reports that trig. point 63 is occupied by the enemy. The 90th Light Division receives orders to send Reconnaissance Unit 33 north immediately, and for the Baade Group to turn north.
08:30: The enemy has now pushed forward to an area directly south of Ruweisat. The divisional staff of the Brescia Division must change position. There is no contact with the liaison officer attached to the division. After some time it has only just been learnt that Lt. Colonel Mittag was severely wounded on close combat, and that Sturm, a civilian specialist, was killed.
Reconnaissance Unit 33 attacks very quickly. Inquiries establish that the Baade Group cannot have received the 90th Light Division order owing to some oversight.
09:00: The Schrötter reconnaissance unit also reports enemy forces south-west of trig. point 63. Army reports that according to an intercepted signal, enemy forces are withdrawing to the breakthrough area. In reality, however, the situation appears to be quite different.
11:00: No new reports on the enemy have been received. The Baade Group is placed under the direct command of the Africa Corps. At the moment this unit is at Deir el Anqa. As there are enemy forces north of the unit, it will go through Bab el Quattara, and for this reason it is uncertain whether it will arrive in time. The situation is critical. The outcome of the day's operations depends on the punctual arrival of units brought in for the counter-attack. A further deterioration in the situation was caused by strongpoint garrisons of the Brescia Division abandoning their positions. Threats with weapons were unavailing.
12:30: The Baade Group finally arrives and the area south-east of El Mireir is designated as its objective. The situation remains unchanged at Hill 63.
The Pavia Division is also retiring westwards. The critical nature of the situation increases. The 90th Light Division will use all available forces for counter-attack in the north.
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I hope that the above is of interest.
Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications -
http://www.facebook.com/airwarpublications
by Oasis on 18 Aug 2012 10:48 
