Like stealthy shadows, they saw without being seen. The story follows a trio of characters as they head off to fight rommel on north africa. The rats of tobruk is undoubtedly a propaganda piece. On the side is a painting of a rat holding a cigarette and the words rats to you, symbolising the rats of tobruk, painted by tx12 private r. Fighting rats of tobruk 1951 soldiers chips rafferty, grant taylor, peter finch of the australian and new zealand army corps hold off the nazis for months. The siege started on 10 april 1941 and was finally relieved at the end of november.
There were two sides within this battle on one side were the allied forces of britain, australia and india. The rats of tobruk was the name given to the soldiers who held the libyan port of tobruk against the afrika corps, during the siege of tobruk in world war ii. French revolution, revolutionary movement that shook france between 1787 and 1799 and reached its first climax there in 1789hence the conventional term revolution of 1789, denoting the end of the ancien regime in france and serving also to distinguish that event from the later french revolutions of 1830 and 1848. Allies surrender at tobruk, libya on this day in 1942, general erwin rommel turns his assault on the britishallied garrison at tobruk, libya, into victory, as his panzer division occupies the. The rats of tobruk was the name given to the soldiers of the garrison who held the libyan port of tobruk against the afrika corps, during the siege of tobruk in world war ii. Tobruk patrols were of two types fighting and reconnaissance. Also they lived in very dirty conditions and were always dirty and muddy like a rat. The defenders of tobruk and their besiegers were at a stalemate. First, while still only 19, he was involved in a network to help his czechoslovak. Read the rats of tobruk by john berchmans devine available from rakuten kobo. Twentieth century theories on combat motivation and breakdown. The collection contains all kinds of narrative, educational, documentary, advertising, instructional and government films and videos from all over the world. A little less of the personal dramatics and more of the action.
First, while still only 19, he was involved in a network to help his czechoslovak compatriots flee the 1939 nazi occupation. German radio started calling the australians poor desert rats of tobruk, which they took immense pride in, calling themselves the rats of tobruk. The film follows three drover friends who enlist in the australian army together during world war ii. Rats of tobruk, the 1944 stream umbrella entertainment on. May 12, 2012 the famous story of the rats of tobruk and the ships that supplied them in ww2, as told by the rats themselves. By 1941, theyre with the 9th division of the australian infantry force, fighting italians and nazis in north africa. Tobruk was very dry and warm as it was a desert environment. The rats of tobruk may not be charles chauvels best movie, but it deserves serious consideration as his best movie about war. With grant taylor, peter finch, chips rafferty, pauline garrick. Then, the british 8th armys taking of occupied africa in 1943, from the trouncing of tobruk to the triumph at tripoli, can be relived once more with the oscarwinning documentary desert victory.
It was planned that 70th division would break out from. The fighting rats of tobruk 1944 opens on a pastoral scene lowing herds roaming over the gently rolling hills of australia, whips cracking, and on the background soundtrack a male chorus singing an outback song. Peter finch, chips rafferty, grant taylor, and pauline garrick star in the rugged australian wwii adventure the fighting rats of tobruk. The conditions in the siege of tobruk war were desert, rubble, rocks and dust repeated ground assaults were coming from bombs and shells that had gone off all around the area during the fight, which subjected the australians to fight in a harsh dusty place were war was taking place. The rats of tobruk the fighting rats of tobruk 2015. The job of the reconnaissance patrol was to gather information and, if possible, to secure prisoners for identification. The rats of tobruk was the name given to the australian soldiers defending the port of tobruk, in libya. Lord hawhaw sarcastically referred to the garrison as poor desert rats of tobruk during radio broadcasts. They set up perimeters as a defence against german attacks, which successfully worked. Lord haw haw gave them the name the rats of tobruk, and the australians took it upon themselves to use this name. The eight month long siege of tobruk in 1941, which saw the name rats of tobruk first coined by radio berlin as a contemptuous one take a proud place in australian history was one of the greatest stories of bravery and endurance against overwhelming odds in the history of modern warfare.
The rats of tobruk 1944 anzacs wage a long and courageous resistance to nazi invasion during world war ii. For relief, the australian soldiers get to go sightseeing in down town tobruk or whats left of it. Semidocumentary about the anzac fighting at tobruk. To prepare for that, rommel wasnt receiving the supplies and material he needed. The replica memorial is based on the 1941 memorial in the tobruk war cemetery, built by australian soldiers during the siege, which has since been destroyed. The video cellar is an eclectic collection of feature films, shorts, animations and tv shows. Tells the story of three menbluey, a tough two fisted drover taylor, milo, a laconic dingo trapper rafferty, and pete, an intellectual english new chum finch. Identifying with authority, they obeyed rather than thought. From this insult emerged the honourable name rats of tobruk, adored by fellow australians back home. The rats of tobruk controlling north africa would give the allied forces a base from which to attack occupied europe, across the mediterranean. The rats of tobruk were soldiers of the garrison that held the libyan port of tobruk against the afrika corps, during and after the siege of tobruk in world war ii.
For films about the blue division, see the list of world war ii films since 1950. The 1941 siege of tobruk, birth of the rats of tobruk. The siege of tobruk lasted for 241 days in 1941, after axis forces advanced through cyrenaica. The rats of tobruk hold an identifiable place within the ranks of returned servicemen, particularly in australia, where there is the rats of tobruk memorial, canberra on 22 march 1944, the original members of the rats of tobruk formed the north bondi subbranch of the returned and services league of australia and it is still known in modern times as tobruk house or the. This was an adf pr video extolling the values of the australian defence forces. Adolf hitler had prepared for war by socially engineering his followers into the perfect fighting machines. Miloslav kratochvil bitton was a hero several times over. The rats of tobruk 1944 directed by charles chauvel. Australian troops earned the nickname the rats of tobruk for their defence of the libyan port during rommels long but ultimately abortive siege of it. As war breaks out in europe in 1939, three friends droving cattle in australia decide to join up. If you like this clip, listen to the full abc rn documentary by clicking download audio at. The rats of tobruk, a name adopted by australian soldiers who were at the siege of tobruk.
Rats of tobruk is a twoplayer operationaltactical game that simulates rommels easter day attack on tobruk in april 1941. The germans called them the rats of tobruk always digging in the ground and urged them to come out and fight. The allies marching and singing were off to see the wizard was neat as was the german announcer naming the allies the fighting rats of tobruk, which was deemed a badge of honor by the allies. View a list of all the feature films sorted by popularity. Australians in tobruk originally posted by byron back to the original thread. As in many war movies, the camaraderie of the men is stressed. The rats of tobruk 1944 the rats of tobruk 1944 the image could not be loaded. An abridged version was released in the united states in 1951 as the fighting rats of tobruk. If it had a drawback it was in the instrumental background. The fighting rats of tobruk is more of a narrated documentry, poorly acted and shot in darkness. The rats of tobruk is a 1944 australian film directed by charles chauvel. Hear what life was like for australians working and fighting for their lives in the. The rats of tobruk simple english wikipedia, the free. Richard burton did a fine hollywood based film, desert rats, about the same siege at tobruk and chips rafferty had a featured role in that.
Revolution nationale 19141944, revue dhistoire moderne et contemporaine. The battle started on 11 april 1941, when tobruk was besieged by an italian and nazi german force commanded by lieutenant general erwin rommel. An abridged version was released in the united states in 1951 as the fighting rats of. The rats of tobruk is a 1944 australian film about the siege, focusing upon the. The weapons they used were mostly bayonets and guns that were captured. Rats of tobruk home tribute is a tribute to the rats of tobruk, who fought in tobruk, during the siege of tobruk, of 241 days from april 10 to december 1941. This battle was fought in the north part of africa and it was important because it was home of an important harbor, the countries involved were australia, united kingdom, india, poland, czechoslovakia, germany and italy. The raaf and ran took part in the battle of the atlantic.
The fighting rats of tobruk dvd, 2001 for sale online ebay. Together they serve in north africa, fighting against the forces of rommel in what has now become one of australias greatest wartime legendsthe rats of tobruk. There were also major oil fields in the middle east that were vital to fuel their tanks, planes and motorised transport. Australian forces battle german tanks and infantry for an incredible 281 days in order to capture the libyan port tobruk, one of the crucial battles of wwii. This is the personal record of nine months spent as a medical officer on active service in libya. Before ww2 its inhabitants figures about 4,000 citizens, residing in several 100 whitecolored homes standing out starkly about the sunbaked, rugged terrain sloping right down to a. The rats who returned to melbourne formed as association which has branches in every state as well as in the united kingdom.
Video overview the rats of tobruk 1944 on aso australias. Historical inquiry education resources for schools teachers and. Apr 28, 2014 miloslav kratochvil bitton was a hero several times over. This was on movie4men today and i unfortunately missed the first 20 minutes, however im sure it will be shown again. The rats of tobruk were soldiers of the garrison that held the libyan port of tobruk against the afrika corps, during and after the siege of tobruk. Good shepherd depressing place terrible job for nuns french with filthy arabs.
They were called the rats of tobruk as there attitude and the way the australians fought made them live like rats and they scurried around the war collecting food and weapons stealthily which made them seem like rats. Action packed war epic about a group of british commandos who find themselves trapped behind enemy lines after the german afrika korps smash through the allied defenses in north africa. On march 22, 1944, original members of the rats of tobruk formed the north bondi subbranch of the returned and services league of australia and it is still known in modern times. No quotes approved yet for fighting rats of tobruk. The rats of tobruk hold an identifiable place within the ranks of returned servicemen, particularly in australia, where there is the rats of tobruk memorial, canberra. The french foreign office and the origins of the first world war, 1898. At stake was control of the suez canal, a vital lifeline for britains colonial empire, and of the valuable oil reserves of the middle east.
Tobruk is a tiny but significant harbour on the coastline of cyrenaica. During the siege of tobruk, which lasted from february to november 1941, during world war ii, german and italian troops, led by general erwin rommel, gained control of the city of tobruk in libya. The nazi propagandist lord haw haw william joyce derided the tenacious defenders as rats, a term that the australian soldiers embraced as an ironic compliment. Corny, but its a fair enough way to open a movie made during wartime. On return home the soldiers formed the rats of tobruk association. Historians will always be better placed to analyse the complex factors, specific to time and place, that explain the particular, such as the french defeat of 1940. Curators notes the rats of tobruk 1944 on aso australia. I did a bit of research for the game panzer leader on the forces in the na campaign some time ago and came away with the understanding that the australians were among the best troops, if not the best troops, on either side of the conflict. It is slow to get going, but the story is a good one, and the acting is quite well done.
Where did the australian soldiers fight the germans in ww2. Grant taylor is the squarejawed lead, chips rafferty adds character, and peter finch is the uppercrust englishman. Incorporated into the memorial is the original inscription stone, the only surviving relic of that memorial, and at one time a front step of the tobruk post office. Together they serve in north africa, fighting against the forces of rommel in what has now become one of australias greatest wartime legends the rats of tobruk. Before ww2 its inhabitants figures about 4,000 citizens, residing in several 100 whitecolored homes standing out starkly about the sunbaked, rugged terrain sloping right down to a small quay. Australien defenders of tobruk in they could hardly move, the trenches were so tight we remember today the rats of tobruk. A lot of the fighting is done at night and it is very difficult to see what is going on because the film has gotten darker over the years. The siege started on 10th april 1941 and was relieved at the end of november when australian forces were withdrawn. Siege of tobruk simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. See the full list of the rats of tobruk cast and crew including actors, directors, producers and more. For 8 months at tobruk in 1941, 15,000 australians and 8,000 british and indian troops held a german army 7 times their number and 7 times their armor.
Information supplied by the family of robert scarr and the. A captured veteran of the early european campaigns stated. The name rats of tobruk was given to the soldiers that took tobruk during the siege of tobruk during 1941. The victorian state branch decided to form a pipe band as a living memorial to the soldiers who died at tobruk and to keep alive the proud name the rats of tobruk. Did it have something to do with the french revolution. The fighting rats of tobruk 1944 james higgins 20091205.
This opened with an outflanking movement that brought eighth army to within 30 miles of the tobruk perimeter. It was mainly lots of bread made on the campsite and the only drink was water. Most of the fighting scenes were in the dark which did not translate well on my dvd version as the scenes looked totally black. During world war ii, franco remains neutral so gibraltar is never overrun but nevertheless he sends the blue division to fight for germany on the eastern front. Episode the anzacs the australian and new zealand forces built on the reputation they had earned during world war 1 for being among the finest fighting troops in the world. Using this as a rallying cry, the rats of tobruk defended the city for 250 days, winning an important battle against the germans, and helping to turn the tide of wwii. Of course the production values were much superior, still the rats of tobruk shows a lot of care about the australian fighting man and his contribution in world war ii from the folks they were defending. The rats of tobruk was a nickname distinct from the betterknown british desert rats of montgomerys 7th armoured division. It was also located on the border which made it easier to inport and export. Pilot on board to take us up canal but no word of departure. I quite enjoyed the film and it was easy to see why peter finch became such an international star he was an natural. Rat of tobruk definition rats of tobruk association. The rats of tobruk hold an identifiable place within the ranks of returned servicemen, particularly in australia, where there is the rats of tobruk memorial, canberra on 22 march 1944, the original members of the rats of tobruk formed the north bondi subbranch of the returned and services league of australia and it is still known in modern times as tobruk house or the rathouse. In poland, france, and belgium, once the tanks got through the.
The famous story of the rats of tobruk and the ships that supplied them in ww2, as told by the rats themselves. Found these quotes about the 9th australian infantry division who defended tobruk for 242 days in 1941. Tells the story of three menbluey, a tough two fisted drover. Its members used all their bushcraft to avoid being discovered. North africa campaigns, 194043, in world war ii, series of battles for control of north africa. Is there an actual list of names of the rats of tobruk. Fighting rats of tobruk movie quotes rotten tomatoes. Neame was to fight a delaying action up the via balbia towards benghazi and then the. In the course of the fighting, the germans blasted insults as well as artillery at the largely aussie troops, likening them to rats. They read their newspaper tobruk truth written by soldiers for soldiers. Feature films, shorts, silent films and trailers are available for viewing and downloading. Read this faq about determining if something is pd. Slowly, the focus on defence against the germans lessened, and patrols would be sent out, either reconnaissance or fighting.
Ulrich wilcken 18621944 and paul cartledge 1947 both of. Army vehicles armored vehicles french marine b 17 tank armor armored fighting vehicle battle tank world of tanks ww2 tanks. Jun 26, 2015 together they serve in north africa, fighting against the forces of rommel in what has now become one of australias greatest wartime legends the rats of tobruk. The siege of tobruk was a battle in libya during the north african campaign of world war ii. The rats of tobruk is a dated but watchable aussie ww2 movie, of which there arent too many in existence.
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