Battle Overview
The Mersa Matruh Battle occurred on June 26, 1942, during World War II in North Africa.
The battle was between the Axis powers led by Erwin Rommel and the British Eighth Army.
Resulted in an Axis victory.
Background and Context
The British Eighth Army retreated to Mersa Matruh after losing at the Battle of Gazala.
General Ritche decided to pull back to gain time after learning of the fall of Tobruk.
General Auchinleck took command and planned a retreat to El Alamein.
Key Events During the Battle
Rommel launched an attack against the fortified positions at Mersa Matruh.
The German 21st Panzer Division and Italian divisions attacked the British defenses.
British forces, led by General Holmes and General Gott, faced intense pressure.
Consequences and Aftermath
The British forces faced significant losses with a breakdown in their retreat strategy.
The New Zealand Division received air support, while Indian and South African divisions did not, affecting their capability to retreat.
Two-thirds of the British troops managed to escape during the night.
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