Part 9/13:
By the evening of December 5th, the Axis forces, including the critical Panzer divisions and the Italian Ariete Division, began an organized withdrawal. Rommel realized that, given the supply shortages and manpower fatigue, pushing further into Egyptian territory was impossible without risking complete destruction.
He ordered his units to evacuate forward of Tobruk, withdrawing to the south and establishing defensive positions around El Adem and the remaining perimeter. The "dash to the wire" had come at a significant cost, and the German-Italian forces were no longer capable of mounting a decisive offensive.