Australians played an important role in North Africa, the Mediterranean area and the Middle East between 1940 and 1942.
Royal Australian Navy ships were active in the Mediterranean against the Italian navy from 1940, and supported Australian troops at Tobruk. The ships took supplies to the besieged troops by night, frequently under heavy attack from the German Luftwaffe.
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Tobruk, 4 May 1941. Members of the Motor Transport Section of the 2/32nd Battalion standing in front of an air raid warning sign. The red flag mentioned on the sign is necessary as it is not always possible to hear aircraft or warnings above the noise of vehicle engines. (Image provided by AWM)
Australian troops had been sent to the Middle East early in 1941. They were very successful in defeating Italian troops at Benghazi, and Vichy French forces in Syria. The biggest test came against the German troops who were trying to take the port of Tobruk, a strategically important area. Allied troops, including many thousands of Australians, dug in and were able to hold off repeated and determined attacks. The Germans had contemptuously referred to the defenders as 'rats' in their holes - the Australians took on this title with pride, and called themselves the 'Rats of Tobruk'. Australians were prominent also in defeating the Germans at the Battle of El Alamein in 1942.
Australian troops were sent to defend Greece and Crete in 1941, but in a disastrous campaign they were forced to retreat, with the loss of many dead and thousands taken prisoner.