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My ROT Website is now near completion and contains some 13,500 records of Rats of Tobruk for Aussie, UK and Polish - Veterans and Fallen. The records on my ROT Website are taken from my National ROT Database. At 27/11/2017, both are works in progress - if you find errors or omissions, please contact me by email found on my Website in Contacts.
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Owen Carlton
A Proud Nasho
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∙ 6y ago
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How do you become a member of the rats of tobruk?
you don't... you have to have been at tobruk during the siege!
What weapons were used by the Rats of Tobruk in World War 2?
Click on the link to your right for the weapons used.
Where did the Rats of Tobruk fight?
They were dubbed the Rats of Tobruk, encouraged by the enemy to come out of their holes waving white flags of surrender. But for 242 days, between April and December 1941, thousands of Australian soldiers refused to concede the Libyan Port of Tobruk. (From the ABC website)Answer">AnswerThe Rats of Tobruk was the name given to the Australian soldiers of the garrison who held the Libyan port of Tobruk against the Africa Corps, during the Siege of Tobruk in World War II. The siege starts on 10 April 1941 and was finally relieved at the end of November.The origins of the name likely came from The Nazi German radio, German Calling when they referred to the soldiers as "poor desert rats of Tobruk." This was mostly due to two factors:1. The Australian tendered to counterattack to gather equipment as soon as the enemy was routed;2. The defenders dug extensive tunnel networks and shelters to supplement their trenches - and weren't afraid to use them when bombarded.The Australians gave themselves the nickname 'the Rats of Tobruk' after Radio Berlin described the Australians as 'caught like rats in a trap'.The old warships that helped the Rats of Tobruk with supplies and evacuation of the wounded were insulted by Radio Berlin, being called a 'pile of scrap iron'. The Australians therefore called them 'The Scrap Iron Flotilla'.In typically Australian dry wit, Australians reclaimed the name as a badge of pride, even going so far as to strike their own unofficial medal bearing the likeness of a rat. The metal used to make the medals came from a German bomber the Rats had shot down with captured German guns.The conviction of the 'Diggers' even won them the respect of the Nazis. Major Ballerstedt, C.O. 2nd Battalion, 115th Motorized Infantry Regiment, wrote to his superiors:"The Australian, who are the men our troops have had opposite them so far, are extraordinarily tough fighters. The German is more active in the attack, but the enemy stakes his life in the defence and fights to the last with extreme cunning."The thoughts were echoed by a captured German officer struggling to explain how he found himself a prisoner of war:"I cannot understand you Australians. In Poland, France and Belgium once the tanks got through the soldiers took it for granted they were beaten. But you are like demons. The tanks break through and your infantry keeps fighting."The fighting style of the Australians made it very difficult for co-ordinated attacks by the Germans to integrate effectively. The Australians just weren't behaving as expected, and they took little time in noticing how this was confusing their enemy. (From convictcreations and wikipedia)
What Medals Did The Rats Of Tobruk Win?
The Siege of Tobruk Medal: Originally available to Australian, New Zealand, British, Indian and Polish troops who saw action during the Siege of Tobruk, Libya between April and December 1941. The medal was commissioned and issued by the Rats of Tobruk Association in 1977. Nickel plated bronze, in the shape OS a 'T' the medal has a yellow/khaki riband, with thin red and darkblue stripes left, and thin pale blue and red stripes on the right. The medal was issued to 18 BDE, 20 BDE, 24 BDE, 26 BDE, 2/1 PIONEERs and other miscellaneous units. Some RAAF, Free French Air Force and Canadian personnel attached to the Royal Navy were included. This is not an official medal. These medals are available by special order only.
What was the cause of the Battle of Tobruk?
NARNIA
What are the ratings and certificates for The Rats of Tobruk - 1944?
The Rats of Tobruk - 1944 is rated/received certificates of: Australia:PG
What weapons were used by the rats of tobruk?
The name Rats of Tobruk was given to the soldiers that took Tobruk during the Siege of Tobruk during 1941. The weapons they used were mostly bayonets and guns that were captured.
How do you become a member of the rats of tobruk?
you don't... you have to have been at tobruk during the siege!
Is there an actual list of names of the rats of tobruk?
thomas edward bullock
Why were thy called rats of tobruk?
Becasue during German propaganda radio broadcasts 'Lord Haw Haw' as called by Allied troops, would refer to the Tobruk garrison as "poor desert rats of Tobruk", mocking them and saying that they were caught like rats in a trap, and that they could not get out. When he was saying this he was specificaly refering to the Australian troops, the 9th Division and 18th Brigade. They then adopted this and became known as the 'Rats of Tobruk'.
How many australians died in the rats of tobruk?
800 Australians died out of 14,000 and many more were injured in the Siege of Tobruk.
How many soldiers died in the battle of the rats of Tobruk?
5
What was the role of the rats of tobruk?
The Rats of Tobruk was the name given to the Australian soldiers defending the port of Tobruk, in Libya. The soldiers dug extensive trenches and tunnels for defensive and offensive movement, leading to their nickname. They fought off a siege of the Afrika Corps for almost 8 full months.
What happened to the Rats of Tobruk?
They held out the siege for 8 months until relieved.
What are the release dates for The Rats of Tobruk - 1944?
The Rats of Tobruk - 1944 was released on: Australia: 7 December 1944 UK: 1949 USA: 23 May 1951 (New York City, New York) Japan: 24 October 1956
What weapons were used by the Rats of Tobruk in World War 2?
Click on the link to your right for the weapons used.
Who gave them the name rats of Tobruk?
The name came from a broadcast by William Joyce (aka Lord Haw Haw) which was from memory something like this "Ali Baba Morshead and his forty-thousand thieves... caught like rats in a trap" The 9th Division proudly accepted the title of the Rats of Tobruk. So it could be said while the inspiration was German propaganda, the bestowing of the title belongs to the original men at the siege of Tobruk. As was not uncommon an attempt to ridicule fighting men was turned into a badge of honour, and Rommel attested in his diaries that "In April 1941 Tobruk was defended by brave men."
