Morshead — Tobruk encircled, 10 April

Rommel's offensive had swept across Cyrenaica, but the port of Tobruk, taken by the Australians in January, remained in Allied hands at the heart of the territory reconquered by the Axis. Its garrison — the 9th Australian Division and British units, under Major-General Leslie Morshead — now found itself encircled. Yet Tobruk was vital: the only major port between Benghazi and Egypt, it denied Rommel a forward base and threatened his supply lines should he push toward the Suez Canal.

Wavell had ordered the place to be held. Morshead had the use of improved Italian defences — a double ring of strongpoints, ditches, minefields — and the support of the Royal Navy, which could resupply the port by sea under the bombs. But his men were exhausted by the retreat, water was scarce, and Rommel, intoxicated by his advance, wanted to take Tobruk in a single blow to open his road.

Morshead had to set the doctrine of the defence: hold a fixed and passive line awaiting relief; conduct an aggressive defence, multiplying patrols and counterattacks to wear the attacker down and deny him any initiative; or prepare for a possible evacuation by sea if pressure became unbearable.