Desert Siege

With the distinctive mix of vigour and intelligence that made him a celebrated correspondent during and after the Second World War, Chester Wilmot tells the story of the fighting in and around Tobruk from January to December 1941.

Tobruk set an example of courage in the face of superior strength; of firm spirit in spite of hardship; of cheerfull defiance and offensive defence. Like Gallipoli, the coastal fortress of Tobruk in northern Africa has a special place in Australia’s war annals. For eight months in 1941 the Australian Imperial Force helped hold the besieged town against German forces that had hitherto suffered no check. With the distinctive mix of vigour and intelligence that made him a celebrated correspondent during and after the Second World War, Chester Wilmot here tells the story of the fighting in and around Tobruk from January to December 1941. His compelling book, based on personal observation, official documents and eyewitness accounts, is given even greater impact by the use of enemy sources, including extracts from the diaries of German officers.