Operation Sonnenblume

Operation Sonnenblume (Sunflower) actually refers to the German emergency operation which sent troops to North Africa in February after the Italian 10th Army was destroyed by Allied forces. The original force of a few tanks was quickly upgraded to enough forces to cobble together a make-shift "armored" division designated the 5th Light Division. Rommel took this division along with some supporting Italian troops transferred over from the Fifth Army and began an offensive against the weakened Allied forces (several divisions had been sent to Greece). Additional forces were added as they became available, including the 15th Panzer Division in May and the Italian Ariete Armored Division.

Axis Forces
Deutsches Afrika Korps Corps Troops 5th Light Division 15th Panzer Division African Division XXI Corps Corps Troops 17th Pavi Division 25th Bologna Division 27th Brescia Division 102nd Trento Division XX Corps Corps Troops 101st Trieste Mechanized Division 132nd Ariete Armored Division RECAM

Allied Forces
Cyrenaica Command Corps Troops 2nd Armored Division 9th Australian Division

German 5th Light Division

5th Panzer Regiment Panzer Battalion x2 x2 x4 x5 x1 x2

March, 1941
Pz I is early A version. Pz II represents c version with extra armor bolted on. Most Pz III are early production G model without extra armor. Only a few have the extra armor.

zbV 200 Infantry Regiment

2nd Machine Gun Battalion

x9

x6

x1

x1

x1

x 18

8th Machine Gun Battalion

x9

x3 605th Panzer Jager Battalion

x1

x3

x1

x 17

75th Artillery Regiment x2 39th Anti-Tank Battalion x2 3rd Recon Battalion x1 x1 x1 x6 x8 x2

x4

606th Light Anti-Aircraft Battalion

x4

33rd Anti-Aircraft Regiment x3 x3 x4 x4

x3

x3

x1

x2

The 5th Light Division was a makeshift division built in piecemeal fashion from available units. It was not organized like the previous light divisions used in the Polish Campaign and was called a light division because it had a regiment of tanks but lacked enough pieces to qualify as a full panzer division. The 5th Panzer Regiment was sent from the 3rd Panzer Division but only after its 37mm armed Pz IIIs were traded in for 50L42 armed tanks. The infantry component was composed of two machine gun battalions put together in a provisional regiment (zbV 200). The artillery was only half a regiment. The 3rd Recon Battalion and 33rd Anti-Aircraft Regiment were also provided by the 3rd Panzer Division.
By Greg Moore gregpanzerblitz.com September, 2008

15th Panzer Division

8th Panzer Regiment Panzer Battalion x2 x4 x2

DAK

May, 1941
Most Pz III are brand new from the factory and have the extra armor, a few are older and do not. Some Pz IV with extra armor, some without.

x5

x1

x1

104th Infantry Regiment

x1 Infantry Battalion x2

x1

x1

x2

x3

x9

x2

x1

x1

x1

x1

x 15

115th Infantry Regiment

x1 Infantry Battalion x2

x1

x1

x2

x3

x9 15th Motorcycle Battalion x9 33rd Artillery Regiment x4 33th Pionier Battalion x9 33rd Recon Battalion x1 x1 x1 x6 x3 x2 x6 x1

x2

x1

x1

x1

x1

x 15

x1

x1 33rd Anti-tank Battalion

x1

x 13

x2 2/608 Anti-Aircraft Company x2

x6

x8 The 15th Panzer Division was not available for the start of Rommels offensive but elements did arrive in time for the first assault on Tobruk.

x3

x3

x2

x4

By Greg Moore gregpanzerblitz.com September, 2008

Division zb V Afrika
155th Infantry Regiment x1 Infantry Battalion x3 x9 x2 x2 x3

DAK

June, 1941

x1

x1

x1

x1

x 15

361st Light Africa Regiment

This regiment is mostly former French Foreign Legionnaires of German origin. x1 Infantry Battalion x2 x9 x2 x1 x1 x1 x1 x 15 x2 x3

II/255 Infantry Battalion x9 361st Artillery Battalion x2 2nd Italian Celere Artillery Regiment x2 x2

III/347 Infantry Battalion x9 580th Recon Company x2 x1 x2

605th Panzer Jager Battalion

x4

Actual composition unknown. This is a guess

900th Engineer Battalion x4 x2 x6 x2 x2 x9 x9

This is make-shift division cobbled together from spare parts especially for the assault on Tobruk. It includes Germans, Italians, and former members of the French Foreign Legion. Amazingly, this division eventually became an elite fighting unit. It was upgraded to the German 90th Light Infantry Division in November of 1941.
By Greg Moore gregpanzerblitz.com March, 2009

Italian XXI Corps Troops

March, 1941

5th Army Artillery Group

x8

x8

x4

x4

16th Corps Artillery Regiment

x6

x6

x4

x4

24th Corps Artillery Regiment

x4

x4

x3

x3

3rd Motorized Artillery Regiment

x4

x4

x2

x2

x4

x4

340th Engineer Battalion x3 x3

By Greg Moore gregpanzerblitz.com March 2009

Italian 17th Mot. Infantry Division (Pavia)

27th Infantry Regiment

March, 1941

I Infantry Battalion x9 x2 x 11

II Infantry Battalion x9 x2

28th Infantry Regiment

I Infantry Battalion x9 x2 x 11

II Infantry Battalion x9 x2

26th Artillery Regiment x6 x6 x4 x4

Mortar Company x3 Infantry Gun Company x8 x3 x 11 5th Light Tank Battalion (attached x3 x3 x3

Anti-Tank Battalion

17th Mixed Engineer Battalion

x3

x3

x5

6th Armored Car Battalion (attached

x5

The Pavia Division had been raised and shipped to North Africa to serve as part of the Libyan garrison. During Rommels offensive, the Pavia Division attacked up the coastal road skirmishing with the 9th Australian rearguard all the way to Tobruk. The Pavia Division then participated in the siege of Tobruk until the town was finally relieved in November. The Pavia Division continued to serve in North Africa until finally destroyed at El Alamein in November of 1942. Though technically a motorized division, the Italians were chronically short on transport and only had enough trucks to transport half the infantry battalions.

By Greg Moore gregpanzerblitz.com March 2009

Italian 25th Mot. Infantry Division (Bologna) March, 1941

39th Infantry Regiment

I Infantry Battalion x9 x2 x 11

II Infantry Battalion x9 x2

40th Infantry Regiment

I Infantry Battalion x9 x2 x 11

II Infantry Battalion x9 x2

205th Artillery Regiment x4 Anti-Tank Battalion x8 x3 x 11 x4 x8 x4 x4

Mortar Company x3 Infantry Gun Company x3 x3 x3

The Bolgna Division participated in the siege of Tobruk where it successfully defended against several counterattacks by the Commonwealth forces. The division continued to fight in North Africa until the survivors were forced to surrender at El Alamein, having run out of food, water, and ammunition.

By Greg Moore gregpanzerblitz.com March 2009

Italian 27th Mot. Infantry Division (Brescia)

19th Infantry Regiment

March, 1941

I Infantry Battalion x9 x2 x 11

II Infantry Battalion x9 x2

20th Infantry Regiment

I Infantry Battalion x9 x2 x 11

II Infantry Battalion x9 x2

55th Artillery Regiment x4 Anti-Tank Battalion x8 x3 x 11 x3 x7 x4 x4 Infantry Gun Company

Mortar Company x3 x3

x3

x3

These Italian Motorized Divisions only had enough trucks to transport one battalion at a time out of each regiment. The third battalion from each regiment is back in Tripoli. The Brescia Division saw much action in the siege of Tobruk and was involved in many raids and several attacks against the defenders.

By Greg Moore gregpanzerblitz.com March 2009

Italian 102nd Mot. Infantry Division (Trento) March, 1941

61st Infantry Regiment

Infantry Battalion x9 Infantry Battalion x9 x2 x2 x 11

62nd Infantry Regiment

Infantry Battalion x9 Infantry Battalion x9 x2 x2 x 11

Mortar Company x3 46th Artillery Regiment x4 x4 x8 x3

551st Anti-Tank Battalion x8 x3 Infantry Gun Company x4 x4 x3 x3 x 11

By Greg Moore gregpanzerblitz.com March, 2009

Italian XX Corps Troops

March, 1941

24th Corps Artillery Regiment

One battalion detached from 24th Army Artillery Group x2 x2 x1 x1

By Greg Moore gregpanzerblitz.com March 2009

Italian 101st Mot. Infantry Division (Trieste)

March, 1941

Infantry Battalion 65th Infantry Regiment x2 x2 x9 Infantry Battalion x9 x2 x2 x 11

x1

Infantry Battalion 66th Infantry Regiment x2 x2 x9 Infantry Battalion x9 x2 x2 x 11

x1

9th Bersaglieri Regiment

8th Motorcycle Battalion x1 11th Infantry Battalion x1 x6 x2 x9 x9 x2 x 12

Mortar Company x3 x3

32nd Mixed Engineer Battalion

x3

x3

By Greg Moore gregpanzerblitz.com April, 2009

101st Anti-Tank Battalion x2 21st Artillery Regiment x2 x4 x6 x3 x3 x2

Italian 132nd Armored Division (Ariete)

March, 1941

32nd Regiment Carrista

II

III

VII

x8

x8

x8

x8

8th Bersaglieri Regiment

3rd Motorcycle Battalion x1 5th Infantry Battalion x1 12th Infantry Battalion x1 x6 x2 x9 x6 x2 x9 x9 x2 x 12

132nd Artillery Regiment x6 x2 x8 x4 x4

3rd Anti-Tank Battalion x2 x2

In 1941, Italy decided to deploy one of its few armored divisions to North Africa. Pieces of the division (mainly tank battalions) had been sent previously to North Africa but now the entire division was deployed. The Ariete division began unloading in January and was available for Rommels offensive in April. At this point, Ariete contained one regiment of tanks with most being obsolete light tanks. As the campaign developed, the Ariete Division received more and better tanks, although they were never the equal of what Britain was bringing to the fight. Despite its shortcomings, the division was a very valuable mobile tank division in Rommels force and proved itself many times in the campaign.
By Greg Moore gregpanzerblitz.com Revised Oct, 2009

Raggruppamento Esplorante del Corpo darmata di manovra (RECAM) May, 1941

Mixed Tank Battalion x2 x1 x1 x1
Contains pieces of the 32nd Lt. Arm. Batn, the 52nd Med. Arm. Batn, and an experimental light tank and armored car company.

I Battalion GGFF Battalion Gruppe II Battalion x1 Polizia Afrika Italiana Motorcycle Battalion Machine Gun Company x3 Artillery Mobile Gruppe Volaire x3
Artillery was a mixed group of flying batteries with some mounted on trucks.

x1

x6

x2

x9

Represents two battalions of elite Giovani Fascisti infantry.

x6

x2

x9

x1

x6

x1

x8

x3

x3

x1

x1

x1

x1

x1

x2

RECAM was a special mobile reconnaissance group put together from scattered pieces.

By Greg Moore gregpanzerblitz.com June, 2009

Cyrnaica Command Corps Troops

Forces available at the start of the campaign 1st Free French Motor Battalion (-) 37th Light AntiAircraft Regiment 51st RCY Artillery Regiment x6 x1 x7 295th Field Company Royal Engineer x3 x1

April, 1941

x4

x 12

x 12

x3

x3

552nd Field Company Royal Engineer

x3

x3

Forces that arrived after the start of the campaign Indian 3rd Motorized Brigade 35th Field Squadron Royal Indian Engineers

2nd Royal Lancers Cavalry Regiment

x9

x9

x3

x3

2/3rd Australian Anti-tank Company (attached)

x3

x3

The Brigade had only been recently transferred to this front and was not complete. During the campaign, the brigade was ordered to defend Mechili against the Axis spearheads, despite an almost complete lack of heavy weapons and missing two cavalry regiments. After refusing three different surrender demands, the brigade fought a stiff action before being mostly destroyed. Their stand bought valuable time for the defenders of Tobruk to arrive and prepare.

1st Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps x9 x1 x1 x 11 x2

11th Hussars Recon Battalion

x4

x3

x2

By Greg Moore gregpanzerblitz.com March, 2009

British 2nd Armoured Division

3rd Hussars 3rd Armoured Brigade 6th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment x3 x2 5th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment x6

April, 1941

x3

x2

1st Tower Hamlets Rifles Infantry Battalion 1st Company Free French Motor Battalion (attached) 4th Royal Engineers Squadron

x9

x1

x 10

x2

C Company, 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers

x3

x3

x3

x3

1 company, 1st Frontier Force Motorized Battalion (attached) 1st Royal Horse Artillery

x3

x3

x4 J Battery 3rd RHA Anti-Tank x3 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery x3

x4

x3 16th Australian Anti-Tank Company (attached) 1st Kings Dragoon Guards Divisional Reece Regiment

x3

104th Royal Horse Artillery

x3

x3

x3

x3

x3

By Greg Moore gregpanzerblitz.com February, 2009

x3

x6

x2

The hard luck 2nd Armoured Division was brought in to replace the 7th Armoured after the highly successful Operation Compass. The 2nd was an inexperienced and seriously understrength formation with half of its tank strength consisting of captured Italian tanks and was destroyed in Rommels offensive. Some remnants escaped to Tobruk but most of the division surrendered to the Axis at Mechili on April 8. The 2nd Armoured Division was officially disbanded in May and never reformed.

Australian 9th Infantry Division

20th Anti-Tank Company 20th Infantry Brigade x1 x1 Infantry Battalion x3 x 12 x1 x 13 x2 x3 x3

April, 1941

2/13th Battalion 2/15th Battalion 2/17th Battalion

24th Anti-Tank Company 24th Infantry Brigade x1 x1 Infantry Battalion x3 x 12 x1 x 13 x2 x3 x3

2/23rd Battalion 2/28th Battalion 2/43rd Battalion

26th Anti-Tank Company 26th Infantry Brigade x1 x1 Infantry Battalion x3 x 12 x1 x 13 x2 x3 x3

2/24th Battalion 2/32nd Battalion 2/48th Battalion
2/32nd Battalion arrived by sea after the siege of Tobruk began.

2/7th RAA Regiment x4 x4

2/8th RAA Regiment x4 x4

2/12th RAA Regiment x4 x4

By Greg Moore gregpanzerblitz.com Updated June, 2009

2/3rd Australian Machine Gun Regiment

x 12

2/3rd, 2/7th, 2/13th Royal Australian Engineers 9th Australian Divisional Cavalry Regiment

x9

x3

2/3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment x6 x6

x6

x3

The Australian 9th Infantry Division was formed in England in late 1940 from brigades coming over from Australia. The division was sent to the Middle East and then to North Africa to complete its training and equipping. It was supposed to be part of a garrison force in Libya but soon found itself in the middle of Rommels offensive. The inexperienced Aussies managed to fall back in good order to Tobruk with minimal casualties and became the foundation of the defense of that important port. The tough Aussies were ordered to try to hold the town for at least two months until relieved. They successfully defended Tobruk for over six months against repeated Axis attacks until Operation Crusader finally broke the siege, earning themselves a special place in history. The 9th suffered over 3000 casualties in their defense of Tobruk. Note: although the division was not completely motorized, the resourceful Australians managed to acquire enough motorized transport during the retreat to move their entire division back to Tobruk in good order. This sometimes involved towing flatbed trailers or broken down vehicles full of troops but they got the job done.