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1|Rats of Tobruk

the Aussie Digger was established in the


THE RATS OF North African campaign during the Second

TOBRUK: SEQUEL TO World War. This is the legend of the ‘Rats


of Tobruk’. This essay will highlight the
THE ANZAC significance of the Australian 9th Division3

LEGEND? and will discuss how they were the follow


up to the ANZAC legend. This will be
established through eyewitness accounts

Introduction of their actions and how media effectively


interprets their efforts through mediums

“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

with their defence of a small but vital the ‘Rats of Tobruk’.

Mediterranean port.”1 When looking at


the historical and cultural significance of
the ANZAC legend, its birth is often
regarded as a nation defining moment.
Everyone is aware of the significance of
the ANZAC troops, what the ANZAC
legend means and the ways it has shaped
Australian society since its birth.
According to popular Australian historian
and media commentator Peter
FitzSimons, a nation is born when it sheds Figure 1: Australian troops in a
foxhole
blood. For Australia, its birth took place in
Gallipoli.2 However, Gallipoli was not
Australia’s only celebrated exploit in
conflict. Another legend associated with
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the Australian spirit and how it proved to


be unbreakable. Throughout the siege,
Australian losses accounted for 749 killed,
Historical Background
1996 wounded and 604 captured.6 It
would not be until November that the last
On the 22nd of January 1941, the
fragment of the Australian 9th Division
Australian 6th Division aided the British 7th
would be relieved by British forces and
Royal Tank Regiment in defeating Italian
the Polish Carpathian Brigade.7 It was at
forces in a small town called Tobruk.4 In a
Tobruk that the ‘Rats of Tobruk’ legend
few months, this port town would see a
was born and provided a new narrative in
large-scale assault from the German Afrika
Australia’s history.
Korps led by Field Marshall Erwin
Rommel. It would be up to the newly
formed Australian 9th Division led by
Lieutenant General Sir Leslie Morshead to
defend this town. It was vital for the
Australians to defend the Suez Canal as
this forced the Axis to transport supplies
across 1500 km of desert from Tripoli.5
What ensued would be a siege lasting Figure 2: Overview shot of Tobruk

from April to November 1941 which


signalled a turning point in the Second
World War. It was at this battle that
Origin of the ‘Rats of
German forces would witness their first
Tobruk’ name?
major defeat as their advances to take
Tobruk were continuously stopped by the
The name ‘Rats of Tobruk’ sounds
resilient Australian 9th Division alongside
unflattering towards the 9th Australian
their British allies. A factor that the
Division. Surely enough, that was the
German forces did not account for was
3|Rats of Tobruk

intention of British Nazi broadcaster slander and demoralise the Australians


William Joyce (affectionately known as but instead had the reverse effect.
Lord Haw-Haw) who described the
Australian soldiers as “caught like rats in a
trap”8. Lord Haw-Haw in his broadcasts
would constantly taunt the Australians
and called them “rats and scum with
derision and hate in his tone.”9 However,
the Australians were not insulted by being
called rats and wore it like a badge of
Figure 3: Soldiers firing a Bren
honour, dubbing themselves the ‘Rats of Gun

Tobruk’.10 While this is the generally Perspectives from the


accepted origin of the term, there are Germans and British
other interpretations of how the
unorthodox rodent description came A good indication of what the Australian
about. According to an article, “the soldier was like in battle could be
soldiers became known as the "rats" demonstrated by how the enemy
because of their tactic of hiding in perceived them. Prior to the battle, the
foxholes, allowing Nazi tanks to roll past Germans were feeling confident from
them, and then popping up and attacking their previous campaigns where they had
from behind.”11 Perhaps there is some unchallenged success. FitzSimons
correlation between the two ‘origins’ of highlights that “the British had always
the term. Maybe the German troops also retreated, and even if they did have their
listened to the broadcasts and referred to colonials from Australia with them, there
the Australians as such based from their was surely no reason it would be any
experiences in battle against them. different this time.”12 Much to the
Overall, the ‘Rats of Tobruk’ name was Germans’ surprise, the Australians would
dropped from a broadcast intended to turn out to be quite an adversary and
4|Rats of Tobruk

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

fighting alongside the Australians at


Tobruk also held their Australian What really contributed to the legend of

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)

nations developed a strong relationship whom witnessed the courage and

fighting alongside each other.14 Overall, determination Australian soldiers

the qualities of the Australian digger as a displayed in Tobruk. He remarked how in


a skirmish, a wounded officer silenced a
5|Rats of Tobruk

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

Recognition of the Rats:

At Tobruk, the Australian 9th Division


performed greatly in resisting the German
assault. So why is it that there is less focus
on Australia’s successes in Tobruk
compared to the Australian campaign in
Gallipoli? Historian Mark McKenna asserts
that “Almost every book that deals with
our engagement in war, either explicitly or
as a point of comparison, refers to one
Figure 5: Chester Wilmot military campaign: the landing of
Australian troops on 25 April 1915 at
Australian military history, it is guaranteed
Gallipoli.”18 This is because there is a
that some of these qualities will be
notion that Australia as a nation was born
described. This imagery also applied to
at this moment when it had shed blood.19
Tobruk. It was “at Tobruk the all-
6|Rats of Tobruk

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

uncles and older brothers had achieved in


the First World War. They were very much
the sons of the original ANZACS and at
7|Rats of Tobruk

been a surge of popularity surrounding


Legacy through Media
and Film it,27 the purpose of this film may be to
educate and celebrate the feats

What contributes to an idea or a performed by the 9th Division which are

perception of a subject is often influenced “firmly part of Australia’s wartime

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’

represent an aspect of that subject to form a part of Australia’s history to be

make it appealing or shocking to its proud of and yet, not everyone is aware of

intended audience and it is highly Australia’s involvement in North Africa.30

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

shed such a positive light on the involvement. Overall, film is a powerful

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.

contributing to the turning point in the


Second World War. Given the
circumstances of the Second World War,
the purpose of this film may have been to
give people hope and portraying the
Australian forces as heroes. Nowadays,
there is a film being developed to
demonstrate the exploits of the ‘Rats of
Tobruk.’ Seeing that Australia is very
Figure 7: Defenders of Tobruk
proud of its military history and there has
8|Rats of Tobruk

Bibliography

Conclusion Images

In conclusion, the ‘Rats of Tobruk’ legend


Figure 6: Hurley, James Francis, Members
has been ingrained into Australia’s history
of the 2/13th Battalion on patrol along the
and has continued the narrative of the
anti-tank ditch at the El Adem Road
brave exploits of the Australian digger.
[image], (1941)
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91, accessed 10 Oct. 2018.
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9|Rats of Tobruk

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10 | R a t s o f T o b r u k

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11 | R a t s o f T o b r u k

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1
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Memorial, 18 May 2011), Australian War Memorial, (24 Apr. 1958)
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15s, accessed 30 Sept. 2018. AWM%20Research%20file%20581.pdf, para. 2,
accessed 13 Sept. 2018.
2 Peter FitzSimons, There’s an inconvenient truth about
Anzac Day: our soldiers are exceptional [video],
5 ‘Siege of Tobruk’, Australian War Memorial [website],
(Sydney Morning Herald, 25 Apr. 2017) (11 July 2018)
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inconvenient-truth-about-anzac-day-our-soldiers-are- para. 2, accessed 13 Sept. 2018.
exceptional-20170424-gvr6xg.html, accessed 12 Sept. 6 Ibid. para. 5.
2018.
3Fowler, A., ‘List of Australian Army, Naval and Air
7A.J. Martyn, ‘Brief History of the Siege of Tobruk’,
para. 11.
Force units which took part in the Siege of Tobruk
(April-Nov. 1941)’, Australian War Memorial, (20 Jan. 8Peter FitzSimons, Tobruk (Pymble, NSW:
1958)
HarperCollins Publishers, 2008), 329.
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AWM%20Research%20file%20577.pdf, accessed 17 9J.T. White, ‘Lord Haw Haw and the Rats’, West
Oct. 2018. Australian, 28 July 1945, 3, in Trove [online database],
accessed 2 Oct. 2018.
12 | R a t s o f T o b r u k

20A.J. Martyn, ‘Brief History of the Siege of Tobruk’,


10 Peter FitzSimons, Tobruk, 329. para. 1.

11
Sally Pryor, ‘Major film about the Rats of Tobruk to
21Peter FitzSimons, ‘There’s an inconvenient truth about
Anzac Day: our soldiers are exceptional’, Sydney
be produced in Canberra’, Canberra Times, 30 June
Morning Herald, 25 Apr. 2017, para. 8,
2018, para. 14,
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2018.
12 Peter FitzSimons, Tobruk, 293. 22
War Stories: Rats of Tobruk [video].
13 Ibid. 376. 23A.J. Martyn, ‘Brief History of the Siege of Tobruk’,
14 para 5.
Ibid. 417.
15Chester Wilmot, Allies capture Tobruk: Chester Wilmot 24Charles Chauvel, (dir.), The Rats of Tobruk (Chamun
reports, 1941, Productions, 1944).
http://education.abc.net.au/home#!/media/153650/allies-
25
capture-tobruk-chester-wilmot-reports, accessed 12 Oct. Robert Wise, (dir.), The Desert Rats (20th Century Fox,
2018. 1953).
16 ‘Story of Tobruk and the Ninth’, Argus, 31 Mar. 1943, 26Lee Carroll, ‘Tobruk Rats in big battle film’,
2, in Trove [online database], accessed 17 Oct. 2018. Australian Women’s Weekly, 18. Feb. 1953, 24, in Trove
[online database], accessed 8 Oct. 2018.
17A.J. Martyn, ‘Brief History of the Siege of Tobruk’,
para. 1. 27 Mark McKenna, ‘Lest We Inflate’, para. 4.
18Mark McKenna, ‘Lest We Inflate’, Monthly, Dec. 28Sally Pryor, ‘Major film about the Rats of Tobruk to
2012, para. 2, be produced in Canberra’, para 12.
https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2012/december/13
63672450/mark-mckenna/lest-we-inflate, accessed 11 29 Ibid. para 12.
Oct. 2018.
30Michael McKernan, ‘Tobruk’, Sydney Morning
19Peter FitzSimons, There’s an inconvenient truth about Herald, 15 July 2006, para. 1,
Anzac Day: our soldiers are exceptional [video]. https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/tobruk-
20060715-gdnyo5.html, accessed 12 Sept. 2018.

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