Battle of El Agheila - Prelude

Prelude

No important actions took place during the eighteen days between the evacuation of Ajdabiya on 23 November and the beginning of the Battle of El Agheila on 11 December and, consequently, historians have paid little attention to this period. However, Rommel described in it detail in his memoirs. There were disagreements with his political and military superiors and he engaged in fruitless bitter arguments with Hitler, Göring, Kesselring (German commander of the Mediterranean theatre), Cavallero (Italian chief of staff), and Bastico (Governor of Libya). Rommel's idea was to withdraw to Tunis as soon as possible, while they wanted to stand at the Brega line as long as possible.

Meanwhile, the British had their own difficulties. They had to supply their own forces over a long distance from Egypt to Ajdabiya. The Alexandria to Tobruk section of 440 mi (710 km) was relatively easy as there is a railway between them. By contrast, although the section from Tobruk to Agedabia is shorter (390 mi (630 km)), supplying the British forces was much more difficult in this section, as materiel had to be carried either by the Via Balbia road, or by sea (first to Benghazi, then to Ajdabiya).

For a substantial part of the pursuit to El Agheila, the British commanders were uncertain of Rommel's intentions. They had been caught out in earlier campaigns by an enemy that had drawn them on and then counter-attacked. Montgomery had intended to build his army's morale by banishing the habit of defeat and retreat and, to this end, two divisions were held at Bardia, resting and providing a defence line in case of necessity. Despite Rommel's concerns of entrapment by a rapid Allied advance across the Cyrenaica bulge, Montgomery was aware that an extended and isolated force could be vulnerable, as demonstrated in early 1941 and early 1942. When a reconnaissance force was sent across country, it became delayed by water-logged ground and a subsequent, stronger force was fought off.