What happened?

The soldiers held the Libyan port of Tobruk against the African Corps, during the Siege of Tobruk in WW2.

When?

The siege started on 10 April 1941 and was finally relieved at the end of November.

Where?

Tobruk, Libya (shown by blue star)

Why did they get the nickname 'Rats of Tobruk'

The Australians gave themselves the nickname ‘Rats of Tobruk' after Radio Berlin described the Australians as 'caught like rats in a trap'. Also this nickname was created because the Australian troops built all of the deep trenches and also would gather materials during battle.

Describe the conditions:

It was on the Western Desert which is a very flat stony desert filled with scorpions, vipers and flies. Being in the desert the environment was very dry and hot. At Tobruk, the ground was a hard surface which dropped to sea level in steps.

List 6 other battles Australia was in during WW2:

- Air war over Europe

- Second Battle of El Alamein

- Battle of the Atlantic

- Battle of Berlin

- Battle of the Mediterranean

- The Battle of Leyte Gulk

Write a 100 word summary for one battle in WWII

The Battle of Leyte Gulf

The Battle of Leyte Gulf (October 23–26, 1944), also known as the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea, is the largest naval battle of World War II and could also possibly the largest naval battle in history. This sea and air battle crippled the Japanese Combined Fleet, permitted U.S. invasion of the Philippines, and reinforced the Allies’ control of the Pacific. Australia was the first Allied warship to be hit by a kamikaze aircraft. The U.S. discovered the First Attack Force and sank two heavy cruisers west of Palawan. Then, a series of air clashes followed, especially in the Sibuyen Sea. Finally, on October 26, the three major engagements of the battle were fought, almost all at the same time which was an intense end to the battle.