Part 15/17:
The battle’s chaotic endgame revealed the profound risks of Rommel’s aggressive style. His overconfidence, coupled with logistical failings and command friction—especially with Crüwell—undermined his victory aspirations. The German forces had suffered severe tank and personnel losses, and their overstretched units were vulnerable to British counterattacks once the dust settled.
The Turning Point: Assessment and Future Prospects
Despite the apparent German success at Totensonntag, the battle exposed critical vulnerabilities within Rommel’s command structure and supply system. The rapid, uncoordinated advance left German forces battered and disorganized, with depleted armored units, lost tanks, and strained logistics.