Germany's first land loss in WW2; Tobruk & the Australians in Africa
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- Опубліковано 3 лип 2016
- This was my very first video I made at 15. In terms of editing, I can appreciate that it's not Hollywood standards, but feedback is appreciated!
2011 marked the 70th anniversary of Australia’s first major battles of the Second World War. These actions and campaigns were fought in the Middle East and the Mediterranean where the three Australian services were continuously in action throughout 1941.
The second year of the war had begun with a series of impressive British and Commonwealth successes against the Italians in Libya. Australian troops led the advance. But a rapid German offensive quickly reversed these early victories. All that stopped the Germans’ march on Egypt was the defiant garrison at Tobruk.
For eight long months, surrounded by German and Italian forces, the men of the Tobruk garrison, mostly Australians, withstood tank attacks, artillery barrages, and daily bombings. They endured the desert’s searing heat, the bitterly cold nights, and hellish dust storms. They lived in dug-outs, caves, and crevasses.
The defenders of Tobruk did not surrender, they did not retreat. Their determination, bravery, and humour, combined with the aggressive tactics of their commanders, became a source of inspiration during some of the war’s darkest days. In so doing, they achieved lasting fame as the “Rats of Tobruk”.
- AWM website
This video is dedicated plainly and simply to the Rats of Tobruk Association of Victoria, and around Australia due to their tremendous work and dedication in keeping the Rat spirit alive.
This documentary was used for my Extended Project Qualification, with minor errors found unfortunately too late. Please provide any comments or feedback! I'd love to hear from you all!
ratsoftobrukvictoria.org.au/
As an American I was always told at my time in the Navy there is a reason we are allies with Australia. They never give up and are savage in war. You think of nations like Canada, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand who are peaceful nations and have a good reputation globally. Send them to war and they change. Cheers to you Australia.
We are seeing some savagery rising up again here in Australasia, in light of totalitarian government s attempting to take away our freedoms.
On behalf of Australia thankyou for your comments they are much appreciated. As a very proud nephew of a rat of tobruk I agree with your statements.
Mate, if u see what our country is like on a day to day basis you'll see why Aussie's aren't backyard hicks like the world thought. We live in the harshest country on the planet, that's why we are savage, we have to fight to survive day by day by a island continent that doesn't want us here, our Great Southern Land. Love our armed forces, we are so extremely lucky, i wouldn't wanna be from anywhere else on the planet or protected by any other forces but ours
when oz troops are sent to do a job we get on with it. so as not to loose too much our drinking time
Get ready to lose the next one. We are being set to fail against China. A few years of worsening economic hardship and we'll be ready for a war to be started , which we will lose. We don't have to, it's by design.
My Grandfather is a Rat of Tubruk. He's still alive and today is his 102nd birthday. Im so proud...
Spent a day sharing a hospital room with a ( then 93 yo) rat of Tobruk , a while ago. He was a hell of a character, who had led a hell of a tough life. Very modest, didnt want to talk about the fighting, but happy to discuss everything else. Told some very touching stories about the civilian populations he encountered through the war, for which he had nothing but admiration. Honoured to spend that short time with a living legend.
my pop was a rat as well . sadly he has passed Henry Shinn (Acka)
goo ster my grate grandfather was a rat as well
My great great grandfather fought at Gallipoli in the First World War and then went to Tobruk to protect his so, he died at age 67 his name was Bernard Holton btw
Tell him there are many young Australians grateful to him and the Rats of Tobruk. Those men fought a hell of a seige, better than Staliningrad. All our Aussie Veterans should be held with high respect. Fought in three theatres at once, with populations a quarter of Britain's. Your grandfather is a hero.
Australians were the first to stop the Germans and also the first to stop the Japanese at milne bay, and that can never be taken away from them.
anzacs mate anzacs 11
Nic Bing not ANZACS. No Kiwis fought at Tobruk. There were only ever 2 ANZAC corps. The first was at Gallipoli, the second was during the Greek campaign.
incorrect..my father was a KIWI ..he joined the army in Australia with some of his KIWI mates ... OK !
There was no New Zealand army at tobruk
but there were Indians and British Artillery and like 3-4 planes (those poor guys were insanely out numbered)
My late uncle was a soldier of Polish Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade and fought in Tobruk, from August 18th 1941 till end of The Siege, alongside Australian comrades in arms.
Respect from Poland!
My grandfather was a rat. He never spoke about it. When He passed I got his medals and his diary. I am very proud.
Same, my great grandfather was a rat as well
My grandfather was in PNG. He would tell me a few minor bits and pieces but you'll find that most who fought in WW2 didn't talk much about it.
My pop was conscripted as a gunner on a Bren carrier and shipped out to North Africa, hit by shrapnel and lost hearing in one ear after his commander was goofing with grenades during a training exercise he was then discharged due to his injurys, he battled prostate cancer twice (and won) then 3 hernias suffered from operations meanwhile earnt a second dan black belt in martial arts at 80 and finally succumbed to liver cancer at 88,
Unfortunately at that time I was a foolish 18yo and I'm still not even 1/4 of the man he was, I Miss him dearly cherish those that are still left truly a generation of hard nuts
my dad was a rat, and he never spoke about it at all to his children. When he died I found a letter that he was in Tobruk.
Same man, but even after his death i still dont have any information😢
The Australians of that era were formidable men. Major General Leslie Morshead , the Australian Commander , was even more so, and he told his men that " there will be no Dunkirk here. If we have to get out we will fight our way out. There will be no surrender, and no retreat". I believe his experience in the first war, of constant patrolling, set him in good stead for the second. Whilst in Tobruk, Morshead had seen an English newspaper article saying "Tobruk can take it". Morshead roared " We are not here to take it, we are here to give it". Give it they did, and the Hun didn't know what hit them. Right from the start of the siege the diggers , and 18th Indian (not Ghurkas), took it to the enemy, setting out from the "Red line" every night to harass and torment their opponents. Morshead ( Tobruk and El Alamein) beat Rommel twice, yet the world only knows Mr Rommel. The narrator said a few times that the Australians were there 5 months. The Australian 9th's 18th Brigade was removed and replaced by a Polish Brigade, after 5 months. The rest of the Australian 9th Division was there for seven months, and the 2/13 Battalion ( 9th Div.) saw out the eight months of the siege. The 9th didn't go home, they went to Palestine and Syria. Their next stunt was El Alamein in 1942, where they played the pivotal role in the breakout.
Thanks for your comment. My dad was 9th Div. 2/3 Pioneers... after they finished in El Alamein these loyal, brave, dedicated men were virtually sent straight from the deserts of North Africa into the jungles of S.E. Asia. Defeating the Japanese advance along the Kokoda Trail.
Morshead was an officer in the 1st AIF in France in WW1 and acquitted himself well. He knew his craft very well and had fought against Germans before -WW1. He was THE general for that job in Tobruk. I admire his soldiering skills.
thank you Aussies for showing the world the Nazi war machine wasn't so tough afterall. this yank appreciates your dedication and bravery. Germany and Japan learned soon on that the 'roos, springboks, and kiwis were indeed a fighting force not to be trifled with. thanks mates!
What about the bulldogs, yanks, maple leafs and our strange French and Russian allies. (Bulldogs= British empire)
-Australian citizen
@@zachbocchino5501 it was a joint effort mate, no one made it work alone
@@lachlanpriday8786 well I mean at the very beginning.
Brothers in Arms along with our Yank mates.
Respect to our brothers in arms in Australia from the U.S. 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸💪💪💪
Same back mate🇦🇺🇺🇸
God save the Queen, god bless America, god defend New Zealand, something to do with Canada and thank god for Australia/ns
Thanks m8
To u back
I’m wearing my akubra hat from 1942
Cheers mate :)
Same to u, God bless Australia and America. From Aussie land 🇦🇺 🇺🇸
Tremendous video and tribute to the Rats. My Grandfather was a British army Signals Captain who was attached to the Rats of Tobruk. He was so impressed by the Australians fighting spirit and character that he immigrated to Australia after the war with my grandmother who he had met in Egypt after she fled France.
Thank you from an Aussie Veteran ❤
My grandfather served as a rat of tobruk .As a child he would tell me stories of his time in the Army in WW2 .After drinking sweet sherry ,tears would stream down his face from the horror of seeing his mates dieing in battles and killing the enemy .Pop told me that he had to kill the enemy or they would kill him,he had no joy in killing a fellow human ,even if he was a enemy. As a nine year old child at the time I was proud of him as I am now and for eternity. RIP DEAR POP.
My grandfather fought at Tobruk and El Alamein, PNG, Borneo, Tarakan and Brunei, with the 9th Division 2nd AIF. A great number of his mates were left behind in the deserts of North Africa and the jungles of South East Asia but he was one of the lucky ones. He came home to his wife and two small children whom he hadn’t seen in over 4 years and got on with life and didn’t make a fuss. To me he was a hero but like most men of his generation he was just doing his part. I’m immensely proud of him and all Australians, especially of the fact Australians were the first to show the world that the German War Machine wasn’t invincible.
My Father was with the 2/23rd at Tarakan.
My Grandfather was in the same places possibly the same division
Respect all of the Australian veteran's that fought for our freedom that we enjoy today. But they would be disappointed in what the government of today has let into Australia as refugees
Your words mirror my feelings 👏 My grandfather was in the 9th at el alamein. I had the honour of collecting his 75th anniversary medal from the governor of Tasmania in government house.
My grandfather was a Rat too, Lionel Wolfe, he was know as The Fox
As an Australian retired soldier I can tell you we always tried to live up to the reputation of our forbear,I think we did well especially in Viet Nam.
Damn straight.
Apparently in Vietnam,when the Vietcong and the north vietnamese knew the aussies were nearby they'd lay low until they'd gone.A lot of aussies were tunnel rats and that's a job not many wanted to do and fully understand why.Proud to be from the great southern land.
This reply is long but it's from the heart.
For good reasons regarding military secrecy vs glorification, much of our forces' experiences and sacrifices are skimmed over and generalised. Aussies honour this by keeping their loved one's stories quiet.
But times have changed and decades have passed. These documentaries will, I hope, bring fresh, overdue and well deserved recognition to the physical and mental sacrifices of our BEST AND BRAVEST.
You did it for the benefit of everyone else and to let these acts go un-sung is nothing short of betrayal.
Today's ADF needs to stand up against ANY AND ALL who wish to let extremist political ideology infect our way of life and insult a century of Australians who fought and died for it.
It was this lack in public knowledge that made YOUR experience worse than it needed to be. When I saw the gov using soldiers to back police actions during covid, I believed it was too late to stop an uninformed generation make it all for nothing... but it's not.
I'M PROUD OF YOU as are millions more and it's time for all of us to step up and speak out. Sorry about the novel but I'm furious that our spineless leaders are selling us out and I hope our current and former ADF put a stop to it. A million Aussie's,at least, will be there to support it.
"Lest we forget"
Thank you for your service and agree the Australian soldiers in Vietnam showed the same fighting spirit of the diggers at Tobruk and New Guinea.
Retired Aussie Armoured Corps soldier here. I support your comment, our viet vets acquitted themselves very well in the tradition of the first ANZACS. Vietnam was before my time, but served under Viet vet Sergeants.
Another good reminder of how the people of India have fought alongside Australia for a common cause, I am an Australian who values our alliance with our Indian mates
@@anthonyeaton5153 Hear hear.
It wd be more to the point for you to fight the totalitarians who have taken over Austalia.
We were damned grateful to them at Casino.
Many people don't know, but when the Americans had fought themselves to a standstill in the first battle, and the New Zealand Army Corps commanded by Freyberg replaced them for the second battle, our numbers had been too few for the plans, so the 14th Indian Division was added to the NZAC strength.
The fighting in the town always gets the spotlight, and 28 ( Maori ) Battalion didn't enjoy assaulting the town, but while they were doing that, all of the mountainsides were assaulted mainly by Indian troops. They took a great many of their targets, and suffered loses as much as 50%.
In one instance, they took their hillside positions, attacked the peak and drove off the gemans, found some mistake was made and they were in the wrong place and now the enemy knew they were there . . . then simply reformed and attacked, FOR 12 HOURS, the hilltop they were supposed to hold.
Took it, and had been reduced to less than a company, beat off one counter attack, and British troops were able to link up with them so they could withdraw. 50% casualties.
Heroes.
@@anthonyeaton5153 whats your problem?
@@anthonyeaton5153 You tosser.
I love how Aussies are always smiling in war photos
I think it comes from the British heritage, entire families are smiling in photos with their homes blown up in the Battle of Britain.
Its an Aussie mindset. They have a light hearted view of life and all the hardship in it. I live in Australia for 7 years and kind of get the idea.
Unfortunately in a lot of WW1 photos they aren't
@@LureThosePixels No one was smiling in WW1.. European brothers using the collective accomplishments of our ancestors to build machines of war to be used against each other. Never again! No more brother wars!
@Evilstorm11 Hahahahaha
I live in this City.. Tobruk.. the graves of soliders still there till now.
Please look after them. We'd do the same if they were your boys.
As an Australian, I’m proud of my fellow Aussies for giving it their all out there, I’m extremely proud of them and may anyone that died in the name of Australia Rest In Peace.
Even though I'm a kiwi I am proud for the Aussies
platipus54321 mate we are proud of our kiwi bothers from across the ditch as well. We just dont say it enough
As a ex-Australian soldier i will always want my Kiwi brothers by my side over any other soldiers on earth , We may give each other shit and try and kill each other on the sporting field , BUT there is no greater respect for each other than what Australians and New Zealanders have , LEST WE FORGET
NZ brigades were foremost in the German defeat at the battle of Mareth line. Rommel’s last stand.
platipus54321 brothers in arms 🇦🇺🇳🇿
@Letocetum sulley we saved your never seen sunshine arses!!! My great grandfather is in pcs all over paschendaele. He was middle weight champion of the allied world and your shellshocked poor excuse for officers made him cannon fodder grrrr.
many thanks to the soldiers of AU's and NZ. all our freedoms came from your hands as well as any others. America says thank you!
Brad Campbell thanks for your recognition of others mate. As an Aussie civilian I really appreciate what your troops have done for us. Pity so many turn it into a pissing comp. Instead of remembering the incredible sacrifices made by all allies in all fields. Lest we forget
Maoris Battalions! 😱😱😱😱
I mean we wouldn't have succeeded without you guys' help so thank YOU🙌
We don't have any freedoms snap lockdowns and closed borders.
And mate, I may be late to the party, but my late father served with your Americans in New Guinea during WW2. As dad often said, “We’d have been lost without the Yanks!” So thank you! 🇺🇸🤝🇦🇺
"If I had to take hell, I would use the Australians to take it and the New Zealanders to hold it." -Erwin Rommel.
Erwin Rommel never fought on the Eastern Front. So he wouldn't know what hell really was.
@Lay no there was a great great difference. Yes, the East was bigger. But unlike the West it was war a war of annihilation. Nothing remotley comes close to the East. Alot of material out there for you too watch or read to understand its wasnt "the same but bigger".
@Lay ok the front comment is silly. Right up there with Arabs who say the word Ant Semitism shouldn't be used because Arabs are Semites. Yet we all know what it refers to. Same with Western Front. A front can range from a tactical/strategic to a theatre. A theatre being the entire war from Greece to England. And no, none were as equally as terrible. The West did not have death camps in them, nor pogroms, nor the Einstzgruppen (suggest you research them to understand a big difference in fronts), massive programs of starvation 'Case Blue'. The west also didn't see the larget migration of peoples in centuries. By the way, the maginot line was in France so the same front.
@Lay did you read? Thats what i wrote. You really couldn't grasp what i was saying could you? You used France and Maginot Line as separate fronts. With the invasion of France they are the same front.
You wanted me?
Australia's achievements on the battlefields cannot be overstated. Punching many times above its weight, our troops have played leading roles in every major conflict and every theatre of operations since the early twentieth century, gaining the fear and respect of all enemies they have faced, as well as from those they have fought alonside, and the gratitude of the people they have saved. Lest We Forget.
That is wrong very often overstated.
My father (8th Army) had a LOT of respect for the toughness of the Oz soldier. One time an Ozzie returning from a deep patrol asked him if he had any water. My father said that all he'd got he'd just rinsed his socks in. The soldier drank it back in one and thanked him.
Epic. Bloody brilliant story.
I doubt that's true. Who told you that?
Gort Newton his father probably
Gort Newton it actually sounds like something we (Aussies) would do.
Love a good shoey or socky?
I an an ex Australian soldier and I know a lot of Brits and Americans and it is very common for their soldiers to praise Australia and its armed forces for allying with them and for being very good. In fact I find it a bit embarrassing and have to tell them no we are not actually as good as you are thinking. So cheer up they do appreciate us. They have an idea that we are super soldiers and we really are not at all. We had to be quite good because there have never been many of us.
Having said that give it back. Only a few hundred kilometers off the coast of Australia are the wrecks of dozens of American major warships lying in a thousand meters of water with many of their crews entombed inside. There are hundreds of US aircraft wrecks in that water and hundreds more in the jungles of New Guinea. They died here defending us. Japanese occupation of Guadalcanal and New Guinea did not threaten the US. It Threatened Australia and New Zealand.
In defense of Australia carriers Lexington Wasp and Hornet were Sunk Enterprise and Saratoga heavily damaged (every US carrier was sunk or damaged and only a patch up major effort enabled the US to get 2 carriers to the battle of Midway). 1 battleship was heavily damaged 8 Cruisers were sunk 3 damaged and many destroyers and smaller craft were sunk. 615 US aircraft were lost and casualties were 15,000 men. New Guinea operations were on a similar scale for air and ground losses. So they put their sons in harms way for us in a very big way. Thanks America. I wont ever forget that.
Grahame Nicholson I served in 5-7 battalion for 10 years and I found the same thing with praise from the Americans,and it was a bit embarrassing,but I know that Australian infantrymen are multi faceted.This meaning the Americans have the luxury of say only employing someone as a Machine gunner or rifleman,where literally we could fit into any of the multiple rolls of an infantry platoon.Even a private stepping up to a platoon Sgt if need be.
Dear Grahame, there is only ONE country in the world that actually spends MORE to put a man in the field than does the USA..that is Australia , Ken. This is not with held information. DO some research and the USA does produce documentaries basically saying it won ww2 all by itself, Ken. Fact is - you can check this too!. The British , up until the very LAST 6 months of the war , had more men in field in actual combat, more planes in the sky actually fighting against and more warships at sea in action, against the enemy in ALL theartres of the war and it was not until up to that final 6 months of the war the USA preponerance of arms actually exceeded that of the British. So Ken, I get a bit embarrassed by the embellishment of YOU and others of what the American view is. I had MAY relatives who fought and died in New Guinea before any USA soldiers got there. There were engagements by Australian forces that credit was given to the USA so that in their home news stories the public would continue to want to fight, but these engagements and reported US successes were won by dead Australian soldiers Ken. Utter hog wash what you say!
@@Sq12Sq22u22 My father always spoke of the Coral Sea. America saved us. But i met a canadian who told me the Americans were making too much money out of WW2 to become involved. Which led to the old saying that the Japanese (stupidly) disturbed the savage nest.
The Brits didn't stop Japan from invading southern New Guinea, it was the US Navy. That is a simple fact not hogwash. Pull your head out of your butt
@Nunya Bis Troll.
My granddad was one of these brave men, and I couldn't be prouder of him and I'm so greatfull of the sacrifices these young men made for us. Long live the Rats of Tobruk!
Max respect to the Anzac Soldiers.
What legendary conduct they displayed at all times, wherever they were deployed in WW1 and 2, often achieving victory against the most incredible odds. Absolutely brilliant soldiers.
Lest we forget.
The irony is that Blizkrieg was essentially invented toward the end of WWI by General Monash- an Australian.
They got totally decimated in WW1.
@@marknorris1381 that’s an oxymoron. Decimated means 1 in ten.
Except when some refused to fight at Gallipoli. And when they ran at Singapore and when some refused to go on patrol in the jungle..
Don’t believe all the hype.
I remember very well the day of Jack's interview. Sadly he passed away in 2018 and I still miss my chats with him. There are so few of these 'boys' left now, most aged over 100. The film is still great!
Glenda, I've come back to this video nearly 6 years later to see it blown up! I'm so glad this video got the recognition it deserved to showcase the work of the Rats of Tobruk Association! Jack was such an incredible man, switched on till the end. Thank you for all your help, and I hope you're doing well.
Aussies deserve more credit. They are heroes
as a group .. credit isnt really a thing
One of my fathers closest friends was a Rat of Tobruk. Growing up I was always in awe of his presence. A tall, well built man with an eye patch. He had lost one eye at Tobruk. Quietly spoken. He and dad never spoke about their WW2 experiences except if it was funny! They always spent Anzac Day with mates. They both “suffered in silence”. Those were different times. Kinder times. People were more caring…. They looked after their mates without pomp and ceremony. Australians were the only country where men held the hands of the dying…. They all stayed together even as death approached…. All other soldiers from all countries (both sides) let their mates die alone - that was a cultural thing. Yes - Aussies are different. The Rats of Tobruk are truly inspirational…. They are the true heroes…. Many gave their lives so we can live in freedom today. RIP All you Rats! Gone but never forgotten. 🌺🌺🌺
Mateship is such an integral part of Aussie culture. Thank you for sharing your story 👍
My grandfather was a rat of Tobruk and survived but died back in 2003 thank u pops for serving ur country
Yes, nice to have an veteran Australian point of view. Loved the mess tins which he had saved for 70-odd years. Remarkable. I used my uncle's old WW2 RAF mess tins when I served as a reservist 40 years later! They were dated 1944.
had the same mess tins ay Greenbank army camp in the early 1970s 71-72 I was an army cadet
I still have my Dad's in my camping gear, he was in PNG in Signal Corp
A great uncle was a Rat of Tubruk. He was hit by a German shell in the back and was transported back home. His wife (my great aunt) used to tell us you could put your fist in his back it was so deep. He eventually died from his injury not long after coming home. A generation later, my mother married a German. It's a strange world.
Add on from previous comment below, the men of INDIA who fought throughout ww2 in inc the famous battle of MONTE CASSINO should always be remembered for their bravery snd sacrifice.
they cant play cricket .. but love them forever
I’m proud to be an ex Australian Infantry soldier, no matter the conflict nor the enemy will leave our presence felt everywhere we fight. We are a Fierce fighting force and I believe we will continue to be for a very long time
Espre da corps
Nailed it
It's Esprit de corps,and a grunt would say they served in the Regiment or the RAR. Poser.
DUTY FIRST.
@@S.M.E.A.C old faithful 7yrs Pal so pls anytime your in Sydney name ya pub and we will continue this dispute after a schooner or 2 yeah just like the way it’s ment to be played out , instead of insults behind a keyboard like a coward
@@S.M.E.A.C I’m still waiting for ya hero ! Where ya at ?
@@oldfaithfuliii5997 Respect, the Australians always perform excellent wherever they go from Milne Bay to Tobruk to Long tan! Best soldiers in the Pacific.
Thank you Australia for defending us Brits when we needed you the most to us you will always be considered British you were at all odds you were fighting in the airs in the u.k you were fighting with us in India and Burma you suffered with us and the Indians in the Burma wall and I would like to see a movie based on that on a Australian soldiers view getting tortured it probably would make me cry. Btw you helped us in Africa against Erwin the fox Rommel who got out-foxed you really are great heroes and massive help along the new Zealand's and Canada may your honour be remembered forever!
I lost my great grandfather who left my great grandmother and unborn son to fight for the empire. When he was killed his brother married my great grandmother and raised my grandfather. My grandfather was off scratch at golf, beat the davis cup captain at tennis and captained Geelong cricket club. He would be a multimillionaire in any sport he chose if he was in his youth today. We gave you our best and brightest. Our gene pool suffered because of it. Never forget us England. You owe us big time.
@Nunya Bis The medal he won for winning the middle weight championship was bequeathed to me as the eldest son of my generation. It hangs proudly on my uncles wall, who is caring for it while I am working abroad. If you do not believe me then give me your email address and i will let you see it for yourself.
@Ralph Ralph I'm confused at what our debt is to you? I'm assuming your Australian, so other than thanking your ancestors for what they did to help our country. What do you want us to pay exactly?
Disregard my name, my great uncle lays in the English Channel after defending England in 1940
@@alexleclaire3289 After the fall of Tobruk they did send us three hundred Sherman Tanks that had been intended for their own forces.
My Grandfather was a Rat of Tobruk. 🇦🇺
If it's "Not Hollywood standard" then that's a commendatory feature, not a derogatory one.
This is one hell of an important historical document, an excellent piece of work, thank you.
Mate, you put this together at 15? Nice work young fella!
My uncle was one of those men. When he passed away my aunt sent me a dozen roman coins he had acquired while digging trenches around Tobruk. He later saw service in New Guinea backing up the 'Chocos' on the Kokoda trail.
Milita, when the Regular Soldiers saw how the Milita had fought a fighting withdrawal and the terrain and conditions they were fighting in they never used that derogatory name calling everagain and gave them the respect that they deserved.
@@stevenmallory3768 My Grandfather also went from being a Rat to to Kokoda and called them "Chocos" until the day he died. As he pointed out, it was a derogatory term that they, in true Aussie fashion it must be added, ended up wearing like a badge of honour.
Aussies, we are there to do a job, no mucking around, no complaining, get the job done, then relax and have a beer! Our Tobruk veterans were pulled out of Tobruk after successfully defending Tobruk from DAK and Rommel, then replaced with Brit soldiers, Rommel fighting the brits then succeeded in the battle for Tobruk. From a retired Aussie Armoured Corps soldier.
BTW, there is a famous 1960s and 1970s Australian singer, Russell Morris. I knew him about 13 years ago, he told me his Dad was a Rat of Tobruk, served with the 2/27th Infantry Battalion. Russell had hit songs such as The Real Things, Wings of An Eagle, Rachel's Coming Home (which he told me was about a nurse in Vietnam and sick of what she was seeing), and Hello Mr America. All these songs are on UA-cam.
My Grandfather NX17811 served in D company, 2/17th Infantry Battalion at Tobruk and was present for the first German defeat at port R35 on the red line on Easter Sunday 1941. The first Victoria Cross received by an Australian in WW2 was Jack Edmondson's posthumous one from that Easter Sunday battle. My Grandfather smuggled a box brownie camera with him and I have all his original photos. I miss him. I wish I could have spoken more to him about Tobruk. He sat me down once when I was 16 and told me about it. It was the one time he ever spoke of the war and I am forever grateful that he trusted me with his story. I have his medals now and will never let them go.
Little bumps on my arms. Retacing the steps of my Grandpa. He never talked about it. Im so proud and I love him and miss him.
Love you, Aussies! Sorry for MacArthur (FDR and Truman hated him, too!) Love your fighting spirit! And, definitely the coolest Expats of any culture on Earth.
Yeah he’s not popular with a lot of us Aussies. Then there’s the way we were portrayed in the Gregory Peck movie! wtf… anyway, thanks mate…
All good mate. It was Chrchhill that really left us for dead. What a crap general and leader he was!
Not your fault. I think all generals are political, and no longer purely army and keeping the best interests of those who serve under them at the forefront of their decisions. From a retired Aussie Armoured Corps soldier
My old pappy served during the siege with the 6th Division and was stretched out when the Aussie's were eventually relieved. He never spoke about it and died recently at 97. Great seeing an Aussie doco about Tobruk. I'm enjoying learning more about the subject and I'd like to see more. The rats did it tough. Lest we forget.
our current millenials would melt under the first wave of fire.
@@0Zolrender0 not those in the Australian Army. They're still tough bastards who do honour to Anzac spirit and keep the legend alive.
@@brucelamberton8819 yes like shooting Jared civilians by a VC winner.
My late father went to the Middle East, being Alexandria, Cairo, Haifa. Within months though was called back to New Guinea to fight the Japanese for the remainder of WW2. My late uncle however remained back & became a Rat of Tobruk. After that campaign he also came back to fight the Japanese. All up our family had 5 brothers (being my father, & 4 uncles serve). Thankfully all came home. Lest We Forget…🙏🏻
The Anzacs are superb soldiers as are the Canadians and certain Brit units, but volunteer armies are always better than conscript ones. The Brits and Aussies defended Tobruk bravely for 241 days, but they had supplies from the Navy. Over the 241 days 744 Australians and 100 British lost their lives in the fighting to defend it, compare that to the British Paras losing 1200 lives in just 4 days of intense street fighting at Arnhem. The hot conditions around Tobruk though must have made it hell, and the Anzacs were superb in this sort of environment. God bless the 35478 British Empire soldiers who lost their lives fighting in the North African arena, amongst them 3500 Australian and 3000 New Zealand troops who supported the British superbly. Heroes every one of you. Thank you from the heart.
About time someone done a video about the ANZAC’s….
Yes ANZAC Australia, NewZealand army corps they were both there….❤❤❤
Proud to say that my grandfather fought in Tobruk. He was wounded in action and dismissed with honours when he got home. He chose not to be dismissed and went on to fight the Japanese in Papua New Guinea.
I miss him.
These men are the true life blood of our beautiful country without these men I and many other Australians would not be the blessed country that we live in today these men have my utmost respect and while I understand this is only a small comment on a UA-cam video these men are the bravest and best Australian has ever produced much respect for both prior and current serving soldiers
Great job with the video - well done. I enjoyed this. My father flew Spitfires in North Africa and Italy, so this was of great interest to me.
I love being Australian 🇦🇺
Same...
Me too brother, always have. Love this country and the people.
Then why is there a crisis of depression .
It's not Hollywood standards, it's better. Well done. Good on you.
Thanks for the video! Well done! The world tends to forget what convictions you had and what sacrifices you made! Thanks from an American who understands!
Excellent - can't believe you made this at 15. You have a talent for editing and your narrative voice is fantastic. All the best to you.
james Welsh.. well done on your first video.
I thought the editing was perfect....
Your passion and connection to the story came through. The pace... the tone.
You are a great story teller.
My uncle served with BCoy, 2/2 Bat, 16th Brigade, 6th Div which took part in the Battle of Bardia and the capture of Tobruk, before being shipped to Crete, where he took part in the Battle of Crete. He was then shipped to a garrison in Syria for 3 months before being shipped back to Australia to take part in the Kokoda Track Campaign.
However the 16th and 17th Brigades were diverted to participate in the defense of Ceylon (Shri Lanka) before continuing on to New Guinea where he was finally killed at Templetons crossing on a the Kokoda Track.
My late uncle served in North Africa during WW2 including Tobruk. a sniper got him with a bullet through the hand. in 1943 after the battle of Alamein he was sent home to Australia for a few weeks leave then shipped off to fight the Japanese in New Guinea. in New Guinea he was involved in three landings, ie beach assaults. nearly got killed by Japanese machine gun fire while advancing thru the jungle, was listed missing in action for a while, was mentioned in dispatches, caught malaria and was finally discharged in 1945 with the same rank as when enlisted, a private. I have his service record and lots of old photos of him while on active service. it must have taken a heavy toll on him as alcoholism led to diabetes and he died at the age of 49. I remember the funeral when I was a little kid, my mother, who was close to him especially when they were children, was very distraught which impacted me to this day. he is buried next to his mother, my grandmother, in a simple grave with nothing to suggest he ever was involved in the war. from time to time I visit to pay respects.
I'm so proud of my country..
I'm proud we smiled through it no matter how hard it was.
You obviously were not alive at the time nobody smiles when they are being bombed and shelled.
@@anthonyeaton5153 You're a salty little man aren't you? commenting negative shit on everyones comments grow up
@@whiteox8903 My comments aren’t negative but an accurate positive counter to the glorifying bull shit spouted about how great theAustralians were /are. They speak highly of the Turks who killed Aussies by the thousand also the Germans who did the same and praise German generals especially Rommel who was a loser, but denigrate their comrades in arms the British soldier and speak of British generals in disgraceful terms and yet they were winning generals. There is a gap in military history knowledge of a lot on this forum.
@@whiteox8903 My comments are positive.
Wow that's awesome I must say.
Nice to see an Oz view of things. Thanks for the upload.
Thanks for the comment Ralph. Really appreciate it!
Agreed, good to see an Assie view on the war. Love Australia, except your gun laws and your spiders :D
Fuck Australia, Australians and their piss warm beer!
I bet you're fun at parties...
James Welsh Loooove "warm beer", as long as the company is great :-)
I spent 3 months travelling Australia, had lots and lots of "warm beer", even more cold beers, and met wonderful people...
Regards.
feels like i just blinked and the video was over, very well put together with a lot of respect. great job mate
In 2021 there are about 3,000 WW2 AIF (Australian Imperial Force) soldiers still alive out of neatly 1 million volunteers who enlisted. No conscription/national service in WW2 and WW1 for Australians. We can only use the term ANZAC (Australian & New Zealand Army Corps) to refer to a force if the Australians were in a combined force with the New Zealand Armed Forces.
Our brothers across the ditch no matter which side of the ditch.
Massive respect to these men. My grandad was in the 8th army, though not at the siege of Tobruk. I used to sit and listen to him tell his stories for hours, he was and still is a god to me.
Thanks for doing this and uploading, mate. This should be common knowledge in Australia at least. Good job.
Superb work. Look forward to watching more. I'm so impressed. Great editing great interview skills, fantastic direction. And the spirit of the film left me gob-smacked. Bravo Zulu.
Good on you! This is from an ex RAF pilot, son of a
New Zealand fighter pilot ace from the second World War, who appreciates history. Thank you for mentioning the Indian contribution.
There was an Australian destroyer group operating in the Med. Goebbels said it was only good for scrap iron. The Australians named the group the Scrap Iron Flotilla.
Yeah .…… my father served in the scrap iron flotilla
Aussies have a self depreciating sense of humour [Aus spelling]. They named themselves The Rats Of Tobruk and have worn the badge with pride since.
They got called rats by Rommel who called them that. They then wore that name with pride and so the name "The Rats of Tobruk" was coined. Never call an Australian something you think is foul. If he beats you he wil wear that name to show that you called him that but he won.
+0Zolrender0 It wasnt Rommel at all mate, it was Lord Haw-Haw (William Joyce) that essentially gave them that name over the radio.
e james land battle
RIP Leslie Morshead and The Rats of Tobruk. Unrivalled tenacity and bravery. From Liverpool, England.
The South African 2nd Infantry Division also took part in a number of actions in North Africa
@MrBuckaroonie North Africa, Italy, the war in the east had the SAAF detachments, and one of the highest scoring Raf aces was South African, Adolf "sailor" Malan. We had a small commitment to the war. Did alot of training for pilots here and in modern day Zimbabwe. There was a portion of political figures who supported Hitler, they were all jailed. Not to forget helping out in East Africa, had a very large number of solider to fight the Italians in Ethiopia and areas around there.
My grandfather was there, he was artillery. My grandmother, was also there, She was one of the nurses who shared her rations with him by taking some dough out of the bread and putting her rationed packet of smokes in the bread, put the dough she took out back in to hide the smokes, and have a guy deliver it to my grandfather. He died in 1981, she died 15 years ago. RIP.
Racer your story is so truest and I feel for you.
You did an excellent job James! My parents were Polish and one of their good friends was a German tank driver who was with Rommel in Africa. He loss all his hair at that time and it never grew back!
It was a horrible time for all!
Figure they just had a German friend, the tank driver wasn't Polish ?
It was so so hot in those tanks there in the searing heat / sun.
There were Polish infantry at Tobruk too, along with an excellent British artillery unit.
All highly respected the others contributions fighting the Germans and holding the port of Tobruk.
God Bless - Thank u Oz - Love from UK 'Lest We Forget'
Excellent video-and you were 15? Dang! I loved the quietly anticipatory lead-in. This is fantastic. You’ve got a “Future in Pictures.” Great Narrative too!
I used to live next door to a Tobruk veteran. At the time I was in my late twenties and he was in his seventies. I lived next to him for two years and he hardly ever spoke to me. Days before I was due to move out of that house, I started talking to him over the fence as I was loading stuff into my car in the driveway. He suddenly out of nowhere started telling me about how he had been a rat of Tobruk and living underground in bunkers during the siege with bombs raining down overhead all the time. He said, it was a strange thing, living during the siege and not knowing if any given day would be your last day alive. He started telling me in detail about his experiences and how he had got his love of playing jazz music during the war. After that I moved out and never met him again but I often think about the way he suddenly opened up about those experiences. He died a few years later after that.
Well done James. My great uncle was there in the 7th Division AIF and your vid was very informative. At the same time my grandfather was doing his work in the sky in the RAAF
My beautiful father (6th Division), participated here. He was originally a Polish Jew but a more patriotic Aussie, I never knew.
Some Germans when they saw the Australians hats they ran because most Australians were farmers with guns and knew how to use them and they knew how to dig fast.
I've been privileged enough in my life to have one of these gentlemen in my family, as a child he could tell the most amazing stories, sadly I didn't find out how great they were till to late in life
Brits, Aussies, and India.. what a badass combo
nice work mate, well done was a good watch
Thanks Matt!
Thanks for highlighting the efforts of these Australian heroes and I think Dr Karl has a long way to go to get this history highlighted in our schools
My great grandfather was a Rat of Tobruk. I get chill and goosebumps thinking about the Australians and hearing all the stories about them. I'd hate to come up against us. Gives me a tear to my eye
I love how the Aussies gave the Germans a bloody nose at the Siege of Tobruk. Epic battle indeed! Though, it is not the first major Nazi German loss on land. This happened over a year earlier on the 29th of May, 1940 in Narvik, Norway to be exact. That loss was so bad that the Germans in Northern Norway were close to surrender and might done so if France hadn't been invaded, drawing Allied support away from Norway.
Fun fact is that the first Allied general to give the Germans a bloody nose was a Norwegian from Trøndelag who history unfortunatly has buried due to his poor relationship with the then Labour Party government. Even still, due to his views, whenever a statue or anything is unveiled in his honor, Labour Party members do not attend.
His name was Major General Carl Gustav Fleischer.
The Germans were not even remotely close to any withdrawal or surrender at all.......read the history and dont be blurred - even the British which had sent assets to this had to withdraw...your facts are not fact, I am sorry.
Some german prisoners taken at tobruk refused to believe they had been captured by a single australian platoon, left behind after all the rest had been evacuated. They said "you can't be australian, all the australians left, that's why we attacked. You are only dressed like australians to frighten us."
That was in Crete
Bloody hell man, I'm getting choked up here! Excellent work, good research.
Good on you ,young James Welch for trying to keep the spirit of ANZAC alive. Don't take any notice of the knob jockey military historians trying to take you to task because you may have missed a word or two that they seem to deem to be of major importance. Maybe it wasn't the FIRST defeat of the Germans but it WAS the first time that they were turned around and their advance stopped. Again, Good on you young man for having a go. Flock the detractors.
☑️
My grandfather was 2/48th Battalion at Tobruk, Alamein and New Guinea. Great video mate.
As an Australian i'm used to our military achievements being somewhat diminished with the future greater good in mind. But seriously fuck me; people need to know and celebrate the fact that the Australian military was the first to defeat both the Germans and the Japanese on land in WW2. I think that first of all the Australian public should finally be informed of this fact, and it should be celebrated. And second of all our current allies, most notably America, need to show a greater appreciation of the nations that have their back.
I'm with you there mate
As an American I couldn't agree with you more.
I'm not Liam (above) But as an Aussie I thank you For that Freddy. I reckon we all did a bloody good job and made a lot of blues to. There are things that happened here in Aus (not widely known) that we should be ashamed of BUT then that probably goes for all countries involved, that's war though.
Love the book by Peter Fitzsimons on Kokoda (and Tobruk by the same author!). Really captures what the 39th went through as well as the political bullshit and drama hanging over them like a cloud throughout the entirety of the campaign (such as being accused of running like rabbits in the face of superior Japanese troops).
How about WWI. Haig hated Aussies so much that he always described their actions as those of commonwealth forces. He always gave them the shit missions hoping they'd fail. They didn't. Haig's attempt to discredit the Australians actually worked in the allies favour. It took the Germans until late 1917 to realise that where the Aussies were, is were the shit fight was about to happen. First to breach the Hindenburg line. First into Damascus. Pound for pound, the best soldiers on the western front.
I've just stumbled across this video today and I am very glad I did. Your description says it's your first video and not Hollywood standards, but damn bro give yourself some credit. This is not only one of the best edited videos I've seen on youtube, but genuinely something I would watch as a professional documentary. I don't know what you're doing nowadays since this is a while ago obviously, and I'm doubtful you'll ever see this comment, but whatever it is just know you've got some serious talent. Massive respect to you, and best of luck in the future.
Thank you for the upload.
Watching from Australia.
Nice work young James, you're a true son of ANZAC...keep that authentic accent, we get tired of Paul Hogans echo every where we go.
Perter Fitzsimmons book 'Tobruk' is a great read, a must for any WWII buff.
The Aussies, Kiwis, Brits (their artillery section were decisive in the battles, particularly repelling a major perimeter break), Indians, Poles, and probably a sprinkling of other nationalities there really punished a very serious, well trained enemy.
The type of determination that makes you proud to be Australian.
Mate I gotta say you did a wonderful job on this mate I had 2 great uncles that were pow's in Burma the Aussies efforts in that war are very much over looked you have done a top notch job keeping there memory going 💪💪
This is bloody amazing! I can't believe you made this at 15.
Good job mate, nice to see some Aussie history
Yes....and it was also claimed that quadalcanal was the first land victory against the Japanese but it wasnt....it was the outnumbered and outgunned australians at milne bay and then kokoda....
Also the australian and new Zealand troops during the greece crete withdrawal decimated the german para and a ss division...if u look at the Australian track record its something to be very proud about....and also ww1 Australia won a lot of key battles
peppermint butler just watch the documentary and shut up.
jose jr. llanes i dont have to watch it i already know about Singapore....Australians werent the only ones who played up....u have had your feelings hurt by a aussie havent u???
peppermint butler not at all. I watch documentaries and found some contradictions in some stories. So were the comments. So don't bashed me with your foul languages. You are swearing like pagan. That makes you uneducated person.
Like I said. Watch the documentary.
jose jr. llanes 😁😁😁....yeah right...so your thought u would write a comment about Australia's military history being flawed coz of what a few Australians did at Singapore???....no mention of the majority of Australians who fought to the end for Singapore???.....nah...u thought u would just have a dig about that coz u saw a documentary....i call shit when i hear it and your first comment was an attempt to stir shit...so dont back pedal with your righteous bullshit...."pagan"...😂😂😂....swear words are alive and well and part of the english vocab so with having said that i will leave u with a big fat FUCK YOU
jose jr. llanes wow u sure like shit dont you. What's wrong mate? Why you so salty? Did an ooooooostralian let the air out of your girlfriend or something?
Great Video James Welsh. You have talent
Thank you: A very well put together documentary. I had the honour and pleasure to know quite a few 'Rats' and some RAN and RAAF men of the Middle East Campaigns as well. These 'Rats of Tobruk' were, in many cases, the sons of the original ANZACs who'd held out against the Turks at Gallipoli in World War One; it was in their blood to hold out. I think that mention should have been made of the Australian Commander, Lt Gen Sir Leslie Morsehead; (shown at 17:43)also a Gallipoli veteran: known as 'Ming' (due to his facial likeness to the actor that played 'Ming the Merciless' in the original 'Flash Gordon' 'Talkie serial' of the 1930's) He was a great Commander who cared a great deal for the men under his command.
My granda and his brother both fought here and they never spoke of their experiences so this will be the closest insight i will get
Thanks ANZACS & the Canucks too for Being there in the Boer War, WW1, WW2, Korea & beyond! 🇬🇧🇦🇺 🇬🇧🇳🇿 🇬🇧🇨🇦 Let’s all hope also that a CANZUK 🇨🇦🇦🇺🇳🇿🇬🇧 tomorrow eventually materializes too for us all as well!
This is an amazing and well informed documentary. Well done mate 👍
Close enough to Hollywood standards. Fantastic job, loved every minute of it. Great piece of history recorded forever.