The 'Gazala Gallop' begins

16th June 1942: Rommel had succeeded in turning the British line in North Africa - now units in danger of being cut off start a hasty retreat

A German gun crew manning a 3.7 cm Pak 36 anti-tank gun in the Western Desert, June 1942.

In the Desert Rommel had broken through the British defensive line in the middle of the Gazala Line. His forces were now heading north-west towards Tobruk. British forces lying east of Tobruk were now outflanked and in danger of being completely cut off.