Battle
The British assault on the Axis positions on Brega, and El Agheila began on the night of 11/12 December. The Axis forces engaged, after a few time, with a British reconnaissance force at Merduma (60 mi (97 km) west of El Agheila) behind the Axis lines, so Rommel decided to withdraw. By the evening of 12 December, the Axis withdrawal began, except for some units covering the withdrawal.
On 13 December, Axis reconnaissance aircraft discovered some 300 vehicles north of Marada oasis (75 mi (121 km) south of El Agheila), which meant for the Axis forces the danger of being outflanked, so the withdrawal continued. Meanwhile, in the north, a British attack was held back by the Italians.
On 15–16 December, isolated engagements occurred between the two combatants. On 17 December, the bulk of the German forces withdrew from El Agheila.
On 18 December, short-lived but fierce fighting took place at Nofaliya (100 mi (160 km) west of El Agheila), which brought the battle of El Agheila to an end.
Read more about this topic: Battle Of El Agheila
Famous quotes containing the word battle:
“I have just read your dispatch about sore tongued and fatiegued [sic] horses. Will you pardon me for asking what the horses of your army have done since the battle of Antietem that fatigue anything?”
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)
“the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither
yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet
favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.”
—Bible: Hebrew Ecclesiastes (l. IX, 11)
“The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.”
—Bible: Hebrew Ecclesiastes 9:11.