Bir Hakeim

On the 10th of June 1942, knowing that holding Bir Hakeim was no longer essential for the continuation of the battle, French general Koenig decided to break through the encirclement and escape to the British lines with all the 1st …

1942-06-10

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On the 10th of June 1942, knowing that holding Bir Hakeim was no longer essential for the continuation of the battle, French general Koenig decided to break through the encirclement and escape to the British lines with all the 1st Free French Brigade Group. At twilight, all units gathered at the south-west gate, except for Pacific Battalion 1 which used another exit, east of the old fort. Around midnight, units on foot who opened the road reached the German positions of the 580 Aufklärungs Abteilung. This was the beginning of a fierce and confused night battle, often in close combat. A charge of Bren Carriers of the Legion opened the road for all French vehicles. On the 11th of June, unit by unit, group by group, on foot or in vehicles, the majority of the Free French reached the allied lines. Bir Hakeim was finally in the hands of Rommel but the 1st Free French Brigade Group lived to fight another day.

Bir Hakeim, Libya

The Battle of Bir Hakeim took place at Bir Hakeim, an oasis in the Libyan desert south and west of Tobruk, during the Battle of Gazala (26 May – 21 June 1942). The 1st Free French Brigade under Général de brigade Marie-Pierre Kœnig defended the position from 26 May – 11 June against Axis forces of Panzerarmee Afrika commanded by Generaloberst Erwin Rommel. The Panzerarmee captured Tobruk ten days later. The delay imposed on the Axis offensive by the defence of Bir Hakeim influenced the cancellation of Operation Herkules, the Axis invasion of Malta. Rommel invaded Egypt, slowed by British delaying actions until the First Battle of El Alamein in July, where the Axis advance was stopped. Both sides used the battle for propaganda, Winston Churchill declared the Free French to be the "Fighting French".

Wikipedia: Battle of Bir Hakeim

Free French

German

Game Type: Standard

Board Type: Desert

Website Access: Available