Point 175

Battle of Point 175
Part of Operation Crusader during the Second World War
Tobruk–Sollum area 1941
Date 29 November – 1 December 1941 Location near Sidi Rezegh, Libya 31°49′36″N 24°08′10″E / 31.82667°N 24.13611°E / 31.82667; 24.13611Coordinates: 31°49′36″N 24°08′10″E / 31.82667°N 24.13611°E / 31.82667; 24.13611 Result Italian victory
Belligerents
Italy	New Zealand
Commanders and leaders
Mario Balotta	Bernard Freyberg
Strength
132nd Armoured Division Ariete: 9,274 men	2nd New Zealand Division: 20,000 men
Casualties and losses
Operation Crusader: 5,707	Operation Crusader: 4,620

The Battle of Point 175 was a military engagement of the Western Desert Campaign that took place during Operation Crusader from 29 November – 1 December 1941, during the Second World War. Point 175 is a small rise just south of the Trigh Capuzzo, a desert track east of Sidi Rezegh and south of Zaafran, with a good view of the vicinity. In early November 1941, the feature was held by German infantry of Division z.b.V. Afrika (later named the 90th Light Afrika Division). Troops of the 2nd New Zealand Division and Infantry tanks of the 1st Army Tank Brigade attacked and captured Point 175 on 23 November, during the Battle of Sidi Rezegh, at the start of Operation Crusader. The New Zealand troops then attacked westwards and made contact with the Tobruk garrison, which had broken out to meet them. From 29 November – 1 December, the New Zealanders defended the point and the area to the west against Axis attempts to sever the link with the Tobruk garrison and regain control of the local roads. The new 132nd Armoured Division Ariete re-captured Point 175 late on 29 November.

The defenders mistook Italian tanks heading towards them for South African reinforcements led by armoured cars and let them approach unchallenged; 167 men of the 21st New Zealand Battalion were taken prisoner (the Italians apparently being just as surprised to find the area not occupied by Axis troops). The 6th New Zealand Brigade was almost destroyed in the fighting around Point 175 and eventually its remnants retreated to Zaafran. The division then returned to Egypt to refit, having suffered 4,620 casualties. When the division reassembled, it was sent to Syria to recuperate and was almost returned to Asia to participate in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater after the Japanese invasion of Malaya on 7/8 December 1941.

...
Wikipedia