Raid on Sollum Barracks 15/16th April 1941

Discussions on WW2 in Africa & the Mediterranean. Hosted by Andy H
User avatar
Urmel
Member
Posts: 4896
Joined: 25 Aug 2008, 10:34
Location: The late JBond

Re: Raid on Sollum Barracks 15/16th April 1941

#16

Post by Urmel » 02 Mar 2014, 17:09

Reading through the files of Gruppe Herff is interesting. Basically they got so fed up with these recurring attacks (referred to as 'evening attacks', implying an unpleasant routine) that they set up an operation called 'Wendepunkt' (turning point). The aim was to destroy by envelopment the British forces opposite Bardia/Sollum and to take Halfaya Pass, which had been identified as the point where the attacks originated. It's quite interesting to contemplate that without the constant needling, Halfaya Pass may well have remained in the hands of the British forces, and BREVITY might have been more of a success.

So maybe a case of a tactical series of successes leading to an operational defeat?
The enemy had superiority in numbers, his tanks were more heavily armoured, they had larger calibre guns with nearly twice the effective range of ours, and their telescopes were superior. 5 RTR 19/11/41

The CRUSADER Project - The Winter Battle 1941/42

User avatar
David W
Member
Posts: 3516
Joined: 28 Mar 2004, 02:30
Location: Devon, England

Re: Raid on Sollum Barracks 15/16th April 1941

#17

Post by David W » 02 Mar 2014, 17:24

Food for thought that's for sure.


User avatar
ClintHardware
Member
Posts: 816
Joined: 21 Jan 2011, 13:17

Re: Raid on Sollum Barracks 15/16th April 1941

#18

Post by ClintHardware » 02 Mar 2014, 21:19

Urmel can you give us what you have on 'Wendepunkt' ? It sounds fascinating.
Imperialism and Re-Armament NOW !

User avatar
Urmel
Member
Posts: 4896
Joined: 25 Aug 2008, 10:34
Location: The late JBond

Re: Raid on Sollum Barracks 15/16th April 1941

#19

Post by Urmel » 03 Mar 2014, 01:18

How's your German?
The enemy had superiority in numbers, his tanks were more heavily armoured, they had larger calibre guns with nearly twice the effective range of ours, and their telescopes were superior. 5 RTR 19/11/41

The CRUSADER Project - The Winter Battle 1941/42

MarkN
Member
Posts: 2625
Joined: 12 Jan 2015, 14:34
Location: On the continent

Re: Raid on Sollum Barracks 15/16th April 1941

#20

Post by MarkN » 14 Oct 2015, 17:08

ClintHardware wrote:Here is what the 3rd Coldstream Guards had to say:
RaidOnSollum15th16thApril1941.pdf
Sadly another example of brave lions lead by plodding donkeys.

The attack was poorly conceived, badly planned and executed with the precision of a balloon. The Guards after action report highlighting a number of key moments were even the simplist of things were done so badly that the effort was doomed to failure and unnecessary loss of life.

User avatar
ClintHardware
Member
Posts: 816
Joined: 21 Jan 2011, 13:17

Re: Raid on Sollum Barracks 15/16th April 1941

#21

Post by ClintHardware » 20 Oct 2015, 22:03

No...I think they enjoyed themselves .....according to the Field evidence.
Imperialism and Re-Armament NOW !

User avatar
Urmel
Member
Posts: 4896
Joined: 25 Aug 2008, 10:34
Location: The late JBond

Re: Raid on Sollum Barracks 15/16th April 1941

#22

Post by Urmel » 24 Apr 2016, 13:16

Julian, anything on this attack reported by Knabe?

http://rommelsriposte.com/2016/04/24/d- ... april-1941
The enemy had superiority in numbers, his tanks were more heavily armoured, they had larger calibre guns with nearly twice the effective range of ours, and their telescopes were superior. 5 RTR 19/11/41

The CRUSADER Project - The Winter Battle 1941/42

User avatar
ClintHardware
Member
Posts: 816
Joined: 21 Jan 2011, 13:17

Re: Raid on Sollum Barracks 15/16th April 1941

#23

Post by ClintHardware » 28 Apr 2016, 13:38

Hi Urmel
The attack Knabe refers to in your link at 0530 15/4/41 seems to be the end of the patrol/recce undertaken by the 1st DLI the details of which are on page one of this topic but if so it does not match the 1st DLI account in terms of artillery support. However it may well have been laid on to mask the patrol getting out and not noted.
Imperialism and Re-Armament NOW !

Post Reply

Return to “WW2 in Africa & the Mediterranean”