Battle of Bir Hakeim
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The Battle of Bir Hakeim (May 26, 1942 - June 11, 1942) was fought, during World War II, between the German/Italian Afrika Korps and the 1st Free French Brigade, with support from the British 7th Armoured Division. The German commander was Feldmarschall Erwin Rommel and the French commander was General Pierre Koenig.
The Germans attacked Bir Hakeim on May 26. Over the next two weeks, the Luftwaffe flew 1,400 sorties against the defenses, whilst 4 German/Italian divisions attacked. On June 2, 3, and 5, the German forces requested that Koenig surrender, he refused and launched counterattacks with his Bren gun carriers. Despite the explosion of the defence's ammo dump, the French continued to fight using ammo brought in by British armored cars during the night. Meanwhile, the Royal Air Force dropped water and other supplies.
On June 9, the British Eighth Army authorized a retreat and during the night of June 10/June 11 the defenders of Bir Hakeim escaped.
Units involved in the defending 1st Free French Brigade were:
- 2nd and 3nd battalions, 13th half-brigade of the Foreign Legion
- 1st battalion, naval fusiliers
- 1st battalion, marine infantry
- the Pacific battalion
- march battalion #2 of Oubangui-Chari
- 1st artillery regiment
- 22nd North African company, 6 sections
- 1st company, engineers
- a transmission company
- 101st company, trains/automobiles
- a light medical ambulance.