Professional Documents
Culture Documents
“70 years ago, Australian troops added to such as war broadcasting, journalism and
the already stellar reputation of the digger film thus shaping people’s perspectives on
provided a strong resistance against the battler was witnessed by their allies and
German attackers. This was a shock for enemies present at the Siege of Tobruk.
the Germans as up until this point, their
Blitzkrieg tactics were regarded as
flawless because previously, they had
routed their enemies using this strategy.
Instead, they’re advances were brought to
a halt and they found themselves
attempting to break a siege for 9 months.
They were simply not used to an
opposition counterattacking them rather
than fleeing. A German officer expressed
Figure 4: Robert Menzies and
that their experience in Poland and the Thomas Blamey addressing the
Australian troops
Western Front was a promenade
compared to the Tobruk garrison.13 This
quote highlights the Australian spirit and
adds to the legend that many media
sources attempt to portray when talking
about Australians at war. The British War Corresponding
comrades in high esteem. They had the ‘Rats of Tobruk’ was the reporting by
noticed their allies fighting spirit and it Chester Wilmot (serving a purpose
was from this, the men of these two reminiscent of Charles Bean in Gallipoli)
machine gun post through sheer conquering German forces received their
determination.15 When we think of the first set back at the hands of the
Australian digger, a few common Australians.”17 What happened in Tobruk
descriptions are used. These include has become part of the Australian
qualities such as courage, morale and narrative because of the bravery and feats
resilience.16 It is thanks to media and that the soldiers accomplished as it too,
eyewitness accounts that we have this reinforces the ideas that were given birth
image of the Australian soldier whom by the ANZAC legend.
despite being outgunned by a greater
adversary, will put up a tough fight and
emerge victorious. In any form of
All subsequent Australian battles and Tobruk, they achieved their own
feats would further reinforce the ideas set legendary status.”22 This new generation
in motion by Gallipoli. When the Siege of would add to the existing ANZAC legend
Tobruk happened in 1941, it was like and keep to the themes of Australian
Gallipoli in that it was supporting the military history thanks to their
greater colonial power in a faraway place. determination and resilience in Tobruk.
However, while Tobruk doesn’t seem to This was certainly achieved as the Rats of
have as much of an impact as Gallipoli Tobruk came to be the focus of several
regarding Australia’s culture and history, it media portrayals of courageous Australian
is still recognized as one of Australia’s resilience. Overall, we remember that
great battles.20 FitzSimons argues that to “the spirit of co-operation, trust and
emerge victorious against evil regimes is a comradeship between the men of the
feat worthy of commemoration.21 The garrison, consisting of two-thirds
memory of Tobruk highlights that the Rats Australian and one-third British, was the
of Tobruk left their mark on Australian real strength of Tobruk.”23
history and reinforced the ideas set in
motion by the ANZAC legend. The ANZAC
legend that was established back then, set
an entirely new standard for the
Australian troops who were embarking on
their own campaigns in the Second World
War. “That defiance along with qualities
like mateship and humour, were in the
traditions of the stories with which the Figure 6: Patrolling along the El
rats had grown up. Of what their fathers, Adem Road
by a form of media such as film. Film is a narrative”28 and barely need any
powerful tool in the sense that it aims to embellishment29. The ‘Rats of Tobruk’
make it appealing or shocking to its proud of and yet, not everyone is aware of
accessible. The 1944 Rats of Tobruk24 and What contributes to the power of film is
1953 The Desert Rats25 films were both that it can also spark new interest in a
made shortly after the siege had taken topic like the Siege of Tobruk. It
place and had a “strong Australian introduces people to the event and
interest.”26 Therefore, this film may have preserves that memory of Australia’s
Australian 9th Division being able to form of media because it represents and
overcome the ‘evil’ German forces and influences the way we perceive a subject.
Bibliography
Conclusion Images
Figure 4: Australian Prime Minister Robert and Air Force units which took part in the
Thomas Blamey at the saluting base Australian War Memorial, (20 Jan. 1958)
Figure 2: Smoke rising from the port of Tobruk’, Australian War Memorial, (24
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1
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2 Peter FitzSimons, There’s an inconvenient truth about
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3Fowler, A., ‘List of Australian Army, Naval and Air
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15Chester Wilmot, Allies capture Tobruk: Chester Wilmot 24Charles Chauvel, (dir.), The Rats of Tobruk (Chamun
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18Mark McKenna, ‘Lest We Inflate’, Monthly, Dec. 28Sally Pryor, ‘Major film about the Rats of Tobruk to
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30Michael McKernan, ‘Tobruk’, Sydney Morning
19Peter FitzSimons, There’s an inconvenient truth about Herald, 15 July 2006, para. 1,
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