The Failed Defense of Bardia, January 3, 1941

[Wargames]

I'm interested in the fall of Bardia as both Bardia and Tobruk had nearly identical defenses yet Tobruk did as well with one division as Bardia did with four. I found a book critical of the Italian defense of Bardia claiming only 6,000 men were on the line but with no explanation.

I'm aware that Bardia's two best divisions were on the east side of the perimeter line and the British bypassed them by attacking further west but I expect the same thing happened at Tobruk so the reason for the greater defeat must run deeper.

 

[Andreas]

1941?

All the best

Andreas

 

[David Wormell]

Yes, he must mean 1941.

This book here is pretty good, but from the Australian rather than Italian perspective....

Battle of Bardia (Australian Army Campaign): Amazon.co.uk: Craig Stockings: 9780987057457: Books

Buy Battle of Bardia (Australian Army Campaign) by Craig Stockings (ISBN: 9780987057457) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[Wargames]

I found this by Craig Stockings on line:

The Anzac Legend and the Battle of Bardia on JSTOR

Craig Stockings, The Anzac Legend and the Battle of Bardia, War in History, Vol. 17, No. 1 (January 2010), pp. 86-112

www.jstor.org

 

[jwsleser]

I'm aware that Bardia's two best divisions were on the east side of the perimeter line and the British bypassed them by attacking further west

I am not sure what this means. Bardia's defense was basically oriented north to south. The main attack (16th Aust Bde) was north of the switch line at the junction of the «23 marzo» and the «Marmarica» divisions on the western face of the defense.

I would need to reread the accounts to see if I can offer any thoughts on your question.

 

[Wargames]

I am not sure what this means. Bardia's defense was basically oriented north to south. The main attack (16th Aust Bde) was north of the switch line at the junction of the «23 marzo» and the «Marmarica» divisions on the western face of the defense.

I would need to reread the accounts to see if I can offer any thoughts on your question.

I show two blackshirt divisions north to south with two metro to the east (I consider the switch line to be on the east side of Bardia.). The Australians 6th division main attack fell on the southwest side, their navy bombarded the north, while 17th brigade occupied the Italians on the east side. Could be I'm not lining up north and south correctly on the map.

 

[jwsleser]

I have attached two maps of the battle. The first is from the Australian Official. It shows the switch line and the Australian attack.

The second is from Montanari. It shows the Italian unit locations.

 

[Wargames]

Thank you. On the Montanari map, are the blue circles battalions?

 

[jwsleser]

Possibly. It has been quite a while since I have read about the fighting at Bardia.

 

[diciassette2000]

no.....look at map.....
all the best
maurizio

 

[diciassette2000]

The areas circled in blue are the strongholds that took on the names of places or localities according to the Italian nomenclature in use in the Royal Army in 1940 ....
all the best
Maurizio

 

[jwsleser]

Ahh, the map from La prima offensiva britannica in A.S.

 

[diciassette2000]

yes.....Jeff
Maurizio