ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with Operation Crusader. The first section paints the overall strategic-operational background. The second section focuses on the attempts made by the Allied forces to learn from their past experiences. The last section shows how these new lessons were implemented in combat against the Axis forces. The Allied forces enjoying numerical superiority was able to defeat but was unable to destroy Rommel’s force. Rommel was able to escape thanks to his penchant for conducting a brilliant mobile retreat. The Allied formations attempted to update their combat effectiveness by trying to learn new techniques. Their attempts, though successful in positional warfare, fell far short of the high standards, demanded for conducting mobile warfare against the professional Afrika Korps. Several potentially effective innovations were blocked by those higher up in the Allied command chain and some erroneous innovative measures were implemented by the Auchinleck regime, which did not raise combat effectiveness of the Allied forces.
