Part 14/17:
Meanwhile, British commanders showed resilience and adaptability. They refused to retreat wholesale, choosing instead to hold key positions. Auchinleck, examining the situation and the fragmented German advance, made the controversial decision not to withdraw further. Instead, he directed his forces to prepare for renewed offensive operations, believing Rommel’s supply lines would give out first.
Rommel, unaware that key Italian divisions like the Ariete had failed to engage as planned and that some British positions had been reinforced, pressed ahead with his plans. His subsequent orders aimed to push eastward and westward to encircle the British, but logistical and tactical setbacks restricted his operational scope.