Part 12/17:
In a morale-boosting gesture, Auchinleck personally flew over the front to observe the situation, remaining calm amidst the disarray. The British forces, battered but resilient, began to recover from the chaos, repairing tanks, regrouping units, and preparing to defend Tobruk and the surrounding key positions. Pienaar’s South African Brigade, in particular, demonstrated stubborn resistance, even as it retreated tactically to better positions.