Welcome.
You have arrived at The CRUSADER Project, either by a link on a discussion forum, or through a Google search using a clever search term. If you want to know what this project is about, start reading this page. If you have been here before, you may want to know what has changed recently. You’re in luck, I recently added an updates page, which you can find at this link. If at any given time you want to return to the Table of Contents, simply click on the picture on the top of the page.
Apart from the main purpose, I am also always happy to help those who had relatives in this battle, regardless of which army they fought with. Simply drop me a comment on the relevant page. I have already been able to help some to learn more about the services and sacrifices made by their fathers or grandfathers, and it is one of the pleasures of this work to be able to do this.
Why am I doing this? My late grandfather served involuntarily in the Wehrmacht in the counter-battery branch of the artillery, fighting in Poland, Holland, Belgium, and France, before moving to Russia. He ended the war in Denmark. He died in 2010 of old age. His experience inspired me to learn more about this chapter in Germany’s history, and I ended up with this project, which is better suited to my language abilities than trying to do justice to the war in Russia.
A small note of caution – this table of contents will only put posts under their major categories, not into multiple categories. The choice of category is made by me and maybe erratic. 🙂 I hope the Table contains all the pages, but I may have missed some due to a move to a new service provider a while back.
Finally, a note on links to other websites. I am not checking those regularly, and WordPress does not alert me to broken links. So if you come across a link that’s no longer working, either on the side bar or in an entry, drop me a line. It’s much appreciated!
Naval Forces
Supply Statistics for North Africa
Successful Italian Convoys November 1941
Italian Naval Vessels engaged during CRUSADER
Transport Ship Tonnage Losses on the Italy-Libya Route
German Sonar on Italian Naval Vessels
The Emergency Supply Programme of 22 November 1941
Commonwealth Prisoners of War Killed at Sea by Royal Navy Submarines
Sinking of Submarine HMS P.38 on 23 February 1942
Submarine Supplies to North Africa 1941
Naval Personnel Losses during CRUSADER
Survivor Interrogation Reports of German Submarines
German AA gun installations on Axis merchants – 26 Nov. 41
German Radio Intercepts Relating to Convoy Operation MF3 and Loss of SS Thermopylae
Naval Supply Situation – 1 December 1941
The Kriegstransporter Programme
HM/Sub Urge May Have Been Found
German Sonar on Italian Vessels – Pt. 2
German Sonar on Italian Vessels – Pt. 3
Translation of the War Diary, Commander U-Boats in Italy
12 September 1941 – Battle for the Tembien Convoy
Ground Forces
Major Ground Commands and Commanders
11th Indian Brigade in CRUSADER
Italian Division Strengths on 1 February 1942
German General Officer Casualties During CRUSADER
Battalion Kolbeck on Ed Duda 1/2 Dec 41
Sonderverband 288’s Arrival in Africa
Finding your way around the battlefield – German style
The Tobruk Amphibious Assault Scare
Who used the French Canon de 155mm Schneider C guns?
Day 1 of the Tobruk Breakout from the German Side
German Army Unit Designations Explained
Defending Position 19 – Part 2 Retreat from the Tobruk Front
Kampfgruppe Burckhardt in North Africa Jan – March 42
German Firing Trials Against the Matilda II Infantry Tank 19 March 1942
German and Italian new self-propelled anti-tank guns during CRUSADER
Bencol – Advance on Benghazi Part I
22 Armoured Brigade and the Delay in Starting the Operation
Losses of German 15th Armoured Division
Commonwealth Tank Numbers when CRUSADER started
Mechanical Failures of 7 Armoured Division tanks – workshop report
More Info on the Use of the French 155mm Mle.1917 gun
The Italian Parachute Carabinieri Battalion in CRUSADER
‘Sunscreen’ British Armour Camouflage
Some more on the French 155mm Mle.1917 gun
1st Carabinieri Parachute Battalion in North Africa 1941
Personnel Losses in the German Army Artillery during CRUSADER
Panzerregiment 5 at the End of CRUSADER
Experience with Tanks of 2 Armoured Brigade, January 1942
Some more on experience with Cruiser tanks, Jan. 42
Brandenburger Special Forces in North Africa, 1941
German Tanks Sent in January 1942
Use of the 3.7″ AA gun in the Ground Role – Lessons Learned 1942
The first and last battle of 2 Armoured Brigade – 23 January 1942
First S.A.S. Operation – SQUATTER
8 Army Supply Organisation – Lorries Lorries Lorries
British/US tank deliveries 2nd half of 1941
Some more on problems with Cruiser tanks
Night Operations 25 November I – who attacked strongpoint 903
Tobruk Breakout Objective Names and Map
The first US soldier killed in ground combat?
Cross-sections and plans of the Tobruk fortification system
Strength of I./S.R.104 when entering the Halfaya Sector
2-pdr Experience and Lessons Learned
Tank losses in Operation CRUSADER
Fuel Requirements Artillery Regiment 33 – 26 September 1941
Tank Deliveries for the D.A.K. Pt. 1
Technical vs. Battle Losses in PR5
Di Nisio Column (Ariete) on 23 November 1941, Totensonntag at Sidi Rezegh
Air Forces
The major air commands and commanders
A look on the waterlogged landing grounds
Italian Air Force frontline strength
Daily Italian Air Force History
Regia Aeronautica Fighter Planes during CRUSADER
Regia Aeronautica Bombers during CRUSADER
More on I./StG3’s transfer to North Africa
RAF Strength in the Middle East November 1941
Luftwaffe raid on Giarabub 15 November 41
Daily Report by Fliegerfuehrer Afrika 23 Nov. 41
Luftwaffe Intel Assessment of Desert Air Force Strength 20 Nov. 41
Boeing B-17 bombers in the Middle East, 1941
Flight Archive on the Free French Air Force in 1941
Ground Support by the Western Desert Air Force
Operation Report No.12 S.A.A.F. Squadron, 29 November 1941
Some more on German Air Transport during CRUSADER
German Transport Aircraft Strength in Greece, December 1941
The B-24 Liberator during CRUSADER
The effectiveness of dive-bombing
Axis Air Strength for the Planned Attack on Tobruk in November 41
Effectiveness of Air Attacks on Axis Forces – 30 Dec 41 to 1 Jan 42
No. 107 Squadron’s costly shipping strike on 11 October 1941
Axis Aircraft found on Captured Landing Grounds
eArticle on German Desert Rescue Squadron Announcement
Beaufighters and Telegraph Poles
Background to No. 220 Detachment’s B-17 planes in use during CRUSADER
Air battle over Landing Ground 125, 23 November 1941
Combat Reports and War Diaries
Italian Navy Reports on Engagements with Force K
Combat Report 15th Rifle Brigade 28 Dec. 1941
Combat Report Panzerregiment 8 29 November 41
Diary of Composite Squadron NEMO
An expensive visit to Castelveltrano
6 RTR War Diary 1 to 23 November 1941
Pictures from Force E’s Desert Ride to Gialo
War Diary Detachment 101 Special Wireless Section 26 Nov to 13 Dec 41
First Battle of Gazala 13 December 41
The Battle for 1 Army Tank Brigade’s repair workshop
2 Beds & Herts War Diary for fight with Batallion Kolbeck – 1/2 Dec 41
The New Zealand Night Attack, 26/27 November 1941
Kampfgruppe Briel’s Defense of Gambut Airfield
Ariete’s Actions on Totensonntag – After Action Report
Tobruk Fortifications Analysis
Combat Report – 3./Flakregt. 33 for Sidi Rezegh 23 November 1941
Report by Lt.Gen Enea Navarini on African operations of XXI Corps
Strategic, Intelligence, ULTRA
Countries Involved in Fighting During CRUSADER
Effect on Air Transport in Russia
German Strategy in the Mediterranean
The Impact of the War in the Far East
The Strategic Impact of the Counteroffensive
Rommel’s Misappreciation of the Battle – 2 Dec 41
‘The Good Source’ – the Axis intelligence success against US codes
Supply Requirements of German Forces – November 1941
Capacity of Tripoli and Benghazi ports
The end of the Halfaya garrison
German Code Names Used during CRUSADER
Protecting the Secrecy of Radio Interception
70 years ago today – 21 January 1942
Luftwaffe Aerial Recce Report – 12 January 1942
Luftwaffe Aerial Recce Visual Report – Bildskizze morning 22 November 1941
Panzergruppe Daily Intelligence Assessments
Please click here for an overview table.
Orders of Battle
OOB of 101st Motorised Infantry Division Trieste
Order of Battle Division z.b.V. Afrika (later 90th Light) for 10 November 41
OOB of 7th Armoured Brigade at the start of CRUSADER
The Tobruk Garrison at the Start of CRUSADER
8th Army’s OOB and tank strength after CRUSADER
Order of battle of a British Cruiser regiment in October 1941
New Zealand Division on Zaafran, 1 Dec 1941
OOB for a new Rifle Company Organisation in Panzerarmee
Number of Guns of 1 Armoured Division, 8 April 1942
Commonwealth Medium Guns on 5 November 1941
Captured Guns in Use by 13 Corps, 17 February 1942
OOB Data for Sonderverband 288
Tank arrivals for 42 R.T.R. before Operation CRUSADER
Order of Battle of Ariete Elements at Sidi Rezegh 23 November 1941
Order of Battle for Italian 21 Army Corps 18 November 1941
San Marco Marine Battalion OOB 1941
Tanks and Tank Variants during CRUSADER
Pre-CRUSADER
Initial Transport of the Afrikakorps
Holding a Tiger by the Tail – Tobruk April 1941
Daily War Diary Entries – D.A.K. War Diary No. 1 Feb to Aug 1941 – see link below:
Post-CRUSADER
Torpedoing of MS Nino Bixio, August 1942
German Guidelines of use of the 88mm gun
The death of Hans-Joachim Marseille
Biographical
Personal Pictures by an Italian Soldier
Video Interview with Giovanni Fascisti veteran
Diary of Major Ling, 44 R.T.R.
Literature
The Mediterranean Fleet – Greece to Tripoli
The War against Rommel’s Supply Lines
The Battles of the Malta Striking Forces
A short write-up on Reid’s Force E
History of 4th Armoured Brigade
Online Version of Official UK History
Other
Happy 100th Birthday Royal Navy Aviation!
Minitiature Modelling of 22 Armoured Brigade
Operation CRUSADER in the News
Aerial Pictures of Tripoli, 1942
British Pathe Newsreels on Operation CRUSADER
Translation of Arab Terms on Maps
Rommel’s ACE Hardware, Chincoteague Island
Pictures from Duxford Flying Legends air show 2012
The War Illustrated on Operation CRUSADER
If it were in a movie, I wouldn’t believe it…
Italian Navy Vessel Pencil Drawings
Fall of Bardia and Halfaya Videos
Australian Documentary on the Desert War
Air War Publications Article – 2.H/14 Pt. 1
Air War Publications Article 2.H/14 Pt. 2
Chieftain’s Hatch – Crusader Tank Pt. 1
Website on the Royal Navy’s Inshore Squadron
Chieftain’s Hatch – Cruiser Mk. IV A10
Painting the Past – Picture Colorisation
Book Content
What really happened at Bir el Gobi 19 November 41?
Bit of an update – September 2013
Andreas?
I have just come across this website as I try to identify which of the RTR regiments my father was in at Tobruk. He was captured when it fell so he may heve been either 4RTR or 7RTR. Do you have any mention of him in your studies of the war diaries. I do not know when he enterd Tobruk but he was in the siege.
Any help would be fantastic
LikeLike
Hi Ben
I’ll have a look-see. Was he an officer or tank commander?
All the best
Andreas
LikeLike
Andreas,
I have come across this looking into the death of my grat uncle who served with 2nd Bn York and Lancaster regiment. Died 24/11/41, likely in build up to assault on strong point ‘Wolf’ from what I can gather. I was hoping you could point me in the direction of some of the articles you have which would be most relevant, or if by some chance you had come across references to him / his unit. He is 4745747 Sjt H W Green
I understand what you have may not be that specific, but I would be grateful for anything you would be able to provide!
Jon
LikeLike
Hi Jon
I am out on business for a few days, but I will have a look-see, and let you know what I can find.
All the best
Andreas
LikeLike
Hi Andreas,
Have you got any tips or sources I could look at for the actions of York and Lancaster Regiment?
Jon
LikeLike
Hi Jon
This one slipped my mind. I haven’t been able to find a regimental history that looks promising. Hi Jon
So in the absence of this, I would think primarily the regimental, brigade, and tobruk fortress war diaries are of interest? These are all on my list of things to get. I will go through the 4 RTR diaries for you (remind me please!), and in the meantime there is a bit of information here, which you are probably already aware of:
http://www.blackwatch.50megs.com/tobruk.html
And in these posts by me:
http://wp.me/phMWl-id
https://crusaderproject.wordpress.com/2009/08/15/the-tobruk-breakout-from-the-other-side-of-the-hill/
Both general situation, nothing specific on the 2 Y&L
Very sorry about completely forgetting about your question.
All the best
Andreas
LikeLike
Did you get my email Jon? I have something for you.
All the best
Andreas
LikeLike
Thanks for the info – a great insight into what the 2Y&L were doing, I will send you anything else I can dig out with any delving into the regimental archives or the war diary.
Jon
LikeLike
I have an original 1 ” thick field copy of the secret British report by 7th Armoured Div on events at Sidi Rezegh, published in the desert by Gott in January 1942. Of any interest to the project?
Pete
LikeLike
Hi Andreas,
First class work!
Could you be as kind as to drop me an email as there is something I would like to run past you :0
My warm regards,
Jack.
LikeLike
Hi Andreas, Thanks for your email, I have sent you a reply
Jon
LikeLike
Hello tried to contact you via ww2 talk, but it wouldn’t let me. My grandfather was lost on the ss chakdina.
LikeLike
Dear Ms. Powell
I have to apologise for the delay in response. Was there a specific question you had?
With kind regards
Andreas
LikeLike
Hello, only just found your message
LikeLike
Hello Dear administrator of the website “The Crusaider Project”!
You are chosen as one of the best site of Second World War for the interantional contest named “1939” (http://contest1939.jimdo.com) in nomination “Best site of North Afrika 1940-1943” (http://contest1939.jimdo.com/north-afrika/).
Popular voting will start 15th January 2014. When it’s start we will inform you by E-mail with direct link fo voting (just send me an message for I know your E-mail adress). Then you can make banner on your homepage about voting for your visitors vote you.
If any questions, let us know. Have a nice day!
Best regards,
Administration of the contest “1939”
LikeLike
Hi – wondered if anyone could help with my understanding of Tracer Card of my Great Uncle Alfred Hunt 7932295. It states he was a POW in 25/11/41 but recaptured from enemy hands 2/1/1942.The card shows 59TR – but I do know he was a Desert Rat???? I believe when captured would have been part of the Sidi Rezegh battles? Many thanks for any advice. C Stevens
LikeLike
Dear Clare
Many thanks for your inquiry. I would suspect 59TR to be a typo for 5 RTR. If he was recaptured, he was one of the POW released when Bardia fell to the South Africans on 2 January – about 2,500 Empire POW were released that day, all of them ORs I believe, no officers, who had been shipped out. If you email me I will be happy to send you some more information on this.
All the best
Andreas
LikeLike
Thank you for prompt reply!! Where would I find your email address please?
LikeLike
Dropped you an email.
LikeLike
Hello Andreas, excuse me if I chose this place for a ‘service question’ which has not much to do with your blog, but I have no idea how to find a solution for this. Do you know the e-mail of the ww2 talk user Brian/ADM199? I have tried to contact him for the lists of POWs who died on Italian ships that were sunk in 1941-1942 via private message, but it seems not to work.
LikeLike
Ciao Lorenzo
I have looked through my emails, but it appears I only communicated with him through WW2 Talk as well. I am afraid I cannot help you.
All the best
Andreas
LikeLike
Hello, I have just discovered this site and find the wealth of information very exciting.
I have a question that I hope you can help me with.
I have stumbled across a source (unnamed and unverified) that suggests that during Crusader the South African divisions contained Infantry battalions with only 3 line companies and a weapons company, as opposed to 4 line companies and a weapons company as was standard TO&E for commonwealth divisions. Can you shed light on this or verify actual TO&E for the Infantry Battalions in the South African Divisions?
Please and Thank you
LikeLike
Dear Hoyt
I am afraid I have no clue. Unfortunately I have no access to South African war diaries, these are held in Jo’Burg, not in Kew.
It’s possible though, the South African divisions had a special organisational standard. I will have a looksee if the RDLI history contains any clues.
All the best
Andreas
LikeLike
hi!
it is a wonderful repository of valuable knowledge on an important chunk of history. Kudos for the admin for the hardwork. I am recently compiling record of 4 Field Company Bengal Sappers and Miners and have kind of stuck a dead end. Can anyone put me wise by sharing any relevant details regarding employment, location and any other pertinent input regarding the 4 Field Company of Bengal Sappers and Miners.
Thanking you in advance.
God Speed.
LikeLike
Hi
Many thanks for the compliment. I am afraid I have not noted down anything specific for them, but will now have a look when I go through the records. and revert here.
All the best
Andreas
LikeLike
Has anybody ever heard of a Baron F Von de Genf? I have silver topped swagger stick inscribed “Baron F Von de Genf, Mekili 1942”. There is also the outline of a tank and three crosses or X’s inscribed on it like so; XXX.
I would be very grateful for any information.
LikeLike
Hi Thomas
I am sorry, but that doesn’t ring a bell.
All the best
ANdreas
LikeLike
Thank you anyway Andreas. I have some information that he was a Swiss/German national but nothing more. I will keep looking.
LikeLike
Hello, Andreas!
I run a similar blog to yours at tankarchives.blogspot.com. I focus largely on the Eastern Front, but there are documents that would be relevant to me that you might have. Have you perhaps come across ballistics tables? While Soviet artillery tables appear to be easy to find, I have had trouble with foreign guns. Do you perhaps have the table for the 8.8 cm KwK 36, 7.5 cm KwK 40, or 7.5 cm KwK 42? Also, is there an email I can contact you at directly?
Peter
LikeLike
Hi Peter
Very nice site you have there! I am afraid I have nothing as technical as what you are looking for. I am very sorry I cannot help you there.
With kind regards
Andreas
LikeLike
Just found this and it looks quite good. I emailed the location on to my old co-author Alessandro Massignani. I understand that there were more than five Oasis Companies . . . .
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Mr. Greene
Many thanks for the compliments! I look forward to any other comments you may have,
On the Oasenkompanien, I am basing my entry on the September 1941 OOB for Panzergruppe. This is not a flawless document, but the best I have. I haven’t looked into whether further companies might have been assigned at a later date, especially considering that some were lost at Bardia, I think.
All the best
Andreas
LikeLike
Vance von Borries may know a bit more – he is the one who let me know 5 companies was NOT the answer. I forwarded him this site. Could additional ones have arrived later . . . ?
LikeLike
Hi Jack
Quite possible. I have amended the article with a copy of the source, to make it transparent where my number came from.
All the best
Andreas
LikeLike
Andreas
do you know where I can find a full casualty list following the sinking of SS Chackdina on the 5th December 1941
LikeLike
Hi, I am afraid I have never seen a full casualty list. Naval History Net has the navy/merchant navy losses, there are also pages for the New Zealand and Australian losses, and maybe you can construct the British/South African losses from a search on CWGC, but I doubt you can find a list of German and Italian casualties.
All the best
Andreas
LikeLike
Do not know the losses for SS Chakdina This is all I know. Jack Greene http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?16046 http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2MMed-c8-19.html
LikeLike
Hello, i am new to this, so i hope that i get this right, !!!, My uncle William John Turrell army number 6286126 was with the Royal East Kent Regiment “the Buffs”, he was one of the brave men who was involved in the battle of Alem Hamza Ridge (bless them) sadly on the 15th of December 1941 he and many others were out numbered, captured and taken prisoner,
I have a photo that was taken of my uncle along with 6 other men while in a POW camp, maybe you could help, put names to faces, i will email you copy of photo if requested, as my uncle wrote and dated info on back of photo.
However, what i would like to know is from point 204, what route would the pow’s had taken ??
My uncle i know ended up at a Pow camp at Mullin Near Pupping.
His POW number was 155006.
He remained a POW from 15th December 1941 until the 5th of May 1945,
Any help or information about the above would be gratefully received.
thank you, kind regards
David Turrell
LikeLike
My uncle, John Brian Cother DOB 11/04/16, Second Lieutenant Royal Artillery, 72 Field Regiment, Service # 137857, Date of Death 5/08/41 Cyprus, buried Nocosia War Cemetary. . I am attempting to track this soldiers path to Cyprus, I believe his unit travelled with the 5th Bn Green Howards and the 150th Infantry Brigade aboard the Empress of Asia, arrived Port Twefik on 23 June 1941, the 72nd remained at Quassassian . Here is a slight difference as one report has them moving to Cyprss with no date The second report I have found the regiment assembled at Knutsford Cheshire, moved to Weymoth 1940. April 1941 it left England and arrived by sea Egypt on June 13, 1941 It embarked for Cyprus on 24th July 1941 and landed there the next day.
I believe the second notes pertain to my uncle, what I would like to know, where the basic training depot was in UK, Uncle Brian came from Hove Sussex. At what age did he sign up, I have no details of this,
I live in Central Florida, I will be in the UK during the summer and plan to request his military papers. I am compiling his biography for his soon to be 95 year old sister.
Any information you may have would be sincerely received. I have photos.
LikeLike
Hi Bonny,
many thanks for the comment. I am afraid I have absolutely nothing on the 50th Division and 150 Brigade. I am sorry I cannot be of any help.
All the best
Andreas
LikeLike
My Father Flt. A.E.Marshall DFC, DFM was in North Africa flying Hurricanes with the 73rd Squadron. I have, not only his Pilots Log Book but his diary from that time frame as well as a lot of other “things” that could possibly help in your quest for a “complete history” not one determined by academics as the “only truth”.
Cheers
Barry Marshall.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Barry
Many thanks for your post. I’d love to see those!
All the best
Andreas
LikeLike
Hi Andreas, I tried to forward some photos but they were “not accepted”!
If you want I can send from my personal e-mail address but I would need yours to start: Mine is marshall850@hotmail.com
Cheers
Barry
LikeLike
Hi Andreas,
I recently started researching a piece of trench art I bought over 50 years ago – the piece is in the shape of a shield in Black slate/stone. On and on the back is carved “Angefertigt in der Kriegs gefangenschaft Sudafrika 1942”. On the front is a battle scene with Tanks, Artillery and a fort. Inscribed on the front is DAK 1941 with an Eagle and swastika. Below is “Bewidmet der 12.Oasen Komp Sidi -Omar 22.11.1941”. I can mail you some Pics if this is of interest to you. pkings9538@aol.com
LikeLike
Hi there,
A wonderful source of information here!
Im just wondering of you would have any further information on the fighting at Point 204 on 19th December 1941?
My Great-Uncle was with the Buffs during their last stand and was captured there.
Regards,
Piers
LikeLike
Hi Piers, I have quite a bit of information on this. Apologies for the late reply. You can email me on a.biermann[at]gmail.com
LikeLike
Ladies and Gentlemen, my father was a soldier in North Africa (15th Panzerdivision / Kradschützen-Bataillon 15) in the period from the 5th of April until his capture on 3th of December 1941. He spoke on several occasions that during this time he had come to the Siwa Oasis as part of a military reconnaissance. Was this possible? Do you know anything about it? Who could know something? Here in Germany and also Internet I have so far for this period no information found.
I would be very grateful to you for any hints.
Sincerely
LikeLike
Hi Bernd, I am sorry, I thought I had responded. Your father was almost certainly captured in the failed advance of Vorausabteilung Geissler towards Bardia. I very seriously doubt the Siwa story, I have no record of any German forces coming near it in 1941. The Siwa/Giarabub oases were well defended, and very far away from the main area of operations.
The battle in which your father was most likely the one described here from p. 158 onwards. This includes a German report. It was pretty much a total disaster for the Germans.
http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Maor-c6.html
With kind regards
Andreas
LikeLike
Andreas, many thanks for the answer. The facts and assumptions you have presented are correct or I see them as well. I already knew the New Zealand source. Thanks for that too.
Sincerely Bernd
LikeLike
http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p4013coll8/id/2980/rec/2
LikeLike
Danke! Kannte ich noch nicht 🙂
LikeLike
Subject: article on German Antisubmarine Equipment on Italian vessels – Destroyer Da Mosto – war diaries of the second officer
Dear Andreas,
Through the internet site “Con la pelle appesa a un chiodo” managed by Lorenzo Colombo, I knew of your very interesting site “The Crusader Project”, where I could read the article of the German Antisubmarine Equipment on Italian Vessels of July 15 2009.
I’m Mario Fuselli, nephew of Rodolfo Balbo, Lieutenant during the Second World War of the Italian destroyer Da Mosto that, on 1st December 1941, was escorting a tanker from Sicily to Libia. As you know, during the voyage, the convoy was attacked by Blenheims of RAF 18th Squadron, that damaged the tanker, and then it was intercepted by cruisers of Force K HMS Aurora and HMS Penelope, escorted by the destroyer HMS Lively. The result was an uneven but epic battle, but with an inevitable end. Destroyer Da Mosto was sunk, and more than half of its crew perished.
Fortunately my Grandpa survived, along with the commander, some officers and 135 other men. He told me many times the story of this action, also telling me that the crew of HMS Lively saluted the survivors on life boats giving them the military honour for the bravery shown during the battle.
My Grandpa died on September 2007, he was 95 y.o. Recently I was tiding up his archive (he left war diaries along with a lot of documents, letters and photographs from the period 1940-46) and I was really struck by the fact that he and his comrades in arms have been reunited themselves after the war’s end for years and years, till mid 90s, to commemorate and celebrate the episode and to remember their mates perished during the battle.
In his war diaries, especially in the page of the battle of 1st December he clearly mentioned two of the German sailors who survived the battle, the Petty Officer Rublack and the seaman Maidenoff (in his diary and in the official Navy documents he his named Naidenoff).
Recently came to my mind the idea to write a book on the action of Da Mosto, not a mere account of the battle, but a collection of remembrances and emotions of the men that wrote – as was written by an Italian historian many years ago – one of the most virtuous pages of history of the Italian Navy.
Sorry for this long digression, now I go straight to the point. Considering your site a very interesting and useful source of information, I ask you if I can cite this interesting report, obviously citing your work within the sources.
In addition, I would be very grateful if you could help me to contact some relatives of the German sailors of time and/or you could send me some documentation, war diaries, or whatever of that period you have relating the Da Mosto.
I think that even today, nearly 80 years after such events, the remembrance of our grandfathers should not be forgotten and lost and we must preserve their memory.
Best regards,
Mario Fuselli
Email: mario_fuselli@libero.it
Address: Via F. Pozzo 4/3, 16145, Genova, ITALY
LikeLike
Caro Mario, thanks a lot for the very interesting story, and I am glad to hear your grandfather survived when so many of his comrades did not. He was lucky then that unlike his commander he did not transfer to Scirocco!
On a more general note, I think the action by da Mosto is irrefutable proof that the reputation of the Regia Marina as unwilling to fight and protect its charges is wholly unwarranted.
I can see what if anything I can do to help regarding the German sailors. You are of course more than welcome to use any material on this site to help your work.
I have some other posts on the S-Geraet that contain background information you may find useful.
With kind regards
Andreas
LikeLike
Any serious study of the war in the Med will show the bravery of Italians in the entire period of the war. The failure was in their government NOT supplying the best means to fight. Check out my co-authored THE NAVAL WAR IN THE MEDITERRANEAN 1940-1943.
LikeLike
Dear Mr. Greene,
I couldn’t agree more.
With kind regards
Andreas
LikeLike
What a comprehensive effort!
Apologies if I missed it, however, is there a list/roster of all German troops serving under Rommel, specifically, or with the Afrika Korps during its time in N Africa?
Thanks!
LikeLike
Hi Josh
I doubt such a list exists.
All the best
Andreas
LikeLike
Andreas, thank you for responding. Odd search, in that my mother or aunt had been pen pals with a German soldier. Do not have any of the letters, but have a name, and do not know how they got connected to him from US. Regards, Josh
LikeLike
Dear Andreas, just discovered your site. I am into my 40th year in the defence force, with an interest in armour. Your site is marvellous! And I am soo pressed with the help_support you give to others. Keep up the good work. William
LikeLike
Dear William, thanks for the kind words. I am glad you like the site and find it useful.
All the best,
Andreas
LikeLike
What a brilliant website this is.
“Hit” it by accident while searching for tank types deployed in the North Africa campaign. My intent is to build a (fictional) diorama of tank engagements, encompassing as many Allied and Axis types as I can find (1:72/76 scale).
Inspired by an Italian friend and model-maker, who is attempting to build a mini-diorama of an RAF airfield in the desert, featuring a 1:72 Gloster Gladiator no less. He has been working on it for almost 9 months, using “after-market” parts, and the top wing is still not fitted to the lower one! I understand that this level of model-making is still a major activity in Italy.
Bottom line – does anyone have photos of said airfields and/or Gladiators that he could use?
And, totally unrelated, my late father was an AOP pilot in WW2 (652 Squadron), if anyone is interested in the Normandy to Holland theatre. I have a handful of photos of himself and his Auster aircraft in Normandy …
LikeLike
Thanks for the compliments Roger!
LikeLike