Rommel attacks again in the desert

21st January 1942: The see-saw war in North Africa continues - as German forces seek to reverse recent British successes

Erwin Rommel with Italian armoured troops. Italian storm gun Semovente (da) 75/18; PK "Africa", 1942.

On the map the British lines in North Africa looked much better following the success of Operation Crusader, when they had relieved Tobruk and forced the Afrika Korps into a long retreat. At the end of 1941 the British believed that had retaken sufficien…