Part 5/16:
Rommel’s attempt to push the 5th Panzer Regiment forward towards Indian positions was halted multiple times due to British artillery and supply shortages. His divisions, like the 15th Panzer, found themselves divided and low on fuel, ammunition, and water, further hampering their offensive capabilities. German units suffered operational setbacks, including losing contact and being split into smaller groups, which persisted over the next few days.
Meanwhile, the Italians at Tugun, exhausted and nearly out of supplies, surrendered, marking a clear sign of the battlefield’s toll. Rommel’s forces were stretched thin, fatigued, and suffering from small-unit breakdowns, making decisive advances increasingly difficult.