British Matilda II tanks knocked out at Halfaya Pass examined by Rommel and Bastico in 1941

Operation Battleaxe was a British Army offensive in June 1941 aimed at raising the Siege of Tobruk and recapturing eastern Cyrenaica from German and Italian forces. It was the first time during WWII that a significant German force fought on the defensive. The British lost over half of their tanks on the first day and only one of three attacks succeeded. The British achieved mixed results on the second day, being pushed back on their western flank and repulsing a big German counter-attack in the center. On the third day, the British narrowly avoided disaster by withdrawing just ahead of a German encircling movement. The failure of Battleaxe led to the replacement of British General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief Middle East, by Claude Auchinleck; Wavell took Auchinleck’s position as Commander-in-Chief, India. Italian commander-in-chief in North Africa Ettore Bastico is seen with General Erwin Rommel examining the aftermath of the engagement, these vehicles likely belonging to the 4t