- The Siege of Tobruk was a protracted battle between the Axis forces of Germany and Italy and the Allied forces of Britain, India, Poland, and Czechoslovakia during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War.
- The town of Tobruk, located in eastern Libya, was a strategic port that both sides sought to control due to its access to the Mediterranean Sea and its potential as a supply hub.
- The siege began in April 1941 when German and Italian forces launched an offensive to capture Tobruk, which was then defended by British Commonwealth troops.
- Despite repeated Axis attacks, the Allied defenders managed to hold their ground and even launch successful counter-attacks, tying down significant Axis resources.
- The siege lasted for a total of 240 days, until December 1941, when British forces under Operation Crusader broke the siege and relieved Tobruk.
- The siege of Tobruk was a major turning point in the North African campaign as it demonstrated that the Allies were capable of successfully resisting Axis offensives and paved the way for further Allied victories in the region.