The 7th Croatian Division was blocked by Birhakim. The Serbs fought very hard, making this place a tough bone.￥∵,ww≯w.2±3wx.co≡m's attack on this place began before dawn on May 18.

At 4:30, the darkest moment before dawn.

The tranquility of the desolate and quiet Cyrenega Desert was broken by a rumbling sound of cannons. Balls of fire rose up on the periphery of Bill Hakim. One by one, a series of shells drew a shiny white line in the air and flew towards the enemy's frontier positions. The 7th Croatian Division concentrated almost all more than 100 artillery more than 75mm guns and launched a fierce shelling on the Serbian 3rd Division. The dense artillery fire quickly turned the Serbian positions into a sea of ​​fire, and the earth trembled in the huge roar.

The shelling before the attack lasted for more than an hour. After a brief pause, the roar of motors came. Stet invested an armored battalion and an infantry battalion during the first attack. More than 100 tanks and armored vehicles lined up in combat formations and began to launch assaults to the enemy's positions. The number of artillery in the Serbian Division was only about half of the Croatian Division, but these artillery were well hidden, and it was difficult for the Croatian Division's artillery to suppress them.

The enemy's artillery fire continued to explode in the tanks, and several tanks and armored vehicles were destroyed, but more tanks continued to advance towards the flash. The machine gun bullets fired from the Serbian positions hit the armor, splashing sparks, but they could not stop the advance of the tanks and armored vehicles.

Suddenly, a dull sound exploded from under the tank's body, and the tank's tracks were blown off and they immediately lay down. As a result, more and more tanks were blown up, and the Serbs buried a large number of mines in front of the position. Unfortunately, these attacking armored troops plunged into the minefield set up by the enemy.

In desperation, State had to order the attack to be suspended.

The first attack of the Austro-Hungarian army ended in a crushing defeat, losing 27 tanks and armored vehicles in just half an hour. The crew of the tank escaped from the destroyed tanks and retreated with the infantry accompanying the attack, but many people fell on the road. In order to cover the retreat of the infantry and the remaining armored vehicles, artillery on the Austro-Hungarian position sounded again, and smoke filled the Serbian positions, and their shooting was finally suppressed.

During the day, State ordered Melzin's armored regiment to circumn the rear of the Serbian position and made two more attempts from the northeast direction. Unexpectedly, the Serbs also laid a large number of mines in this direction, causing the armored regiment to suffer considerable losses. At night, the 7th Infantry Battalion took advantage of the moonlight to break into the trenches on the front line of the Serb army, but was driven out by the Serbs with bayonets. The 7th Infantry Battalion, who was responsible for the assault, was injured by nearly half. State was forced to stop the attack and siege instead, waiting for the engineers to clear out several passages in the minefield, and then the armored troops launched an attack.

The two sides started an artillery battle at Bill Hakim, and the 7th Croatian Division was blocked from this line.

On the coastal front, the 21st Division was progressing smoothly. The British gave up Delna and retreated to Tobrook with all their might.

General Birdwood, the commander-in-chief of the British Army on the Cyrenega front, seemed worried. The Austrian fleet blocked the port of Tobrook and his maritime transportation line was cut off. Rear Admiral Wilms fought a battle with the Austro-Hungarian fleet outside the port, trying to break through the enemy's maritime blockade, but was beaten back. Now two of the four British battleships in the port were severely damaged, so they had to sit on the shore and act as defensive turrets.

What's even more dangerous is that last night, an Austro-Hungarian cruiser launched a shelling attack on the Port of Serum, and the British guards there were weak. If the enemy landed from there, the entire British retreat in Cyrenega would be cut off.

Outside the Port of Tobrook, five Austro-Hungarian battleships led by the "Queen Teresa" and two armored cruisers were shelling the port facilities and warships and transport ships in the port. Six British and French battleships were fighting back against the sea near the coast. Since there were no fortress guns, the Austrians even approached about 15,000 yards to launch shelling into the port.

Water columns rose in the port, and the pier was also greatly damaged. The enemy warships on the sea in the distance were shining with fire in the muzzle of the rumbling sound, and balls of white smoke rose on the sea. The "Cornwalish" used its four 12-inch main guns to fight back. The severely damaged battleship stranded on the beach near the entrance of the channel and became the target of the opponent's focus on attack.

The 7th Indian Division, which defended the Gazara defense line between Tobruk and Bill Hakim, quickly collapsed under the attack of the Austrian army. The Indians had never seen a tank and did not know how to deal with armored weapons. They fled in front of tanks and armored vehicles. Although London repeatedly emphasized the demand to defend Tobruk, General Birdwood had no hope for this.

The trouble that Horwald faced was insufficient troops. The 7th Croatian Division was restrained by Birhakim, who had only one 21st Division in his hand, and the Marines were still slowly preparing for landing in Serum. So the commander of the North African Legion ordered State to draw out an armored battalion and a mechanized infantry battalion from Birhakim to launch an attack on Baldiye behind Tobruk.

Sir Hamilton did not intend to obey London's orders and defend Tobrook to the death, putting his four divisions in danger. After the attack at the Port of Serrum, the British commander-in-chief of the Middle East Army managed to get London to approve his plan and withdraw his troops from Tobrook.

On May 23, the Austro-Hungarian Marines began landing in Serum, which prompted Hamilton to make up his mind to retreat.

Bill Hakim's defensive position is much stronger than the Austrians estimated, and the Serbs defending here are much more tenacious than the British. Since May 17, the Croatian 7th Division has made no progress on its offense. Now they have cleared several passages in the minefield and State is preparing to launch a full-strength attack.

However, the Serbs suddenly retreated. Stankovic led his only 9,000 remaining people to break through the siege at night and retreat to Serum.

The next morning, when Austro-Hungarian troops rushed into Birhakim, the only remaining here was more than 1,000 wounded soldiers and discarded heavy equipment left by the Serbs.

The tenacious defense of the Serbs at Bill Hakim won valuable time for the British to retreat from Tobrook. On May 25, the Marines finally sent a regiment to Serum, but they could only watch the retreating British army rolling past them and retreating towards Egypt, but they were unable to stop it.

Horwald entered Tobrook, but the purpose of the battle was not achieved. The British retreated almost completely. The most important thing was that the aviation troops kept throwing bombs above their heads, causing some trouble for the British's retreat. General Wilms ordered the blowing and sinking of all warships and transport ships in the port, and then the troops retreated from land. Black smoke was everywhere in Tobrook Port, and the wreckage of shipwreck was everywhere in the port.
Chapter completed!