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Tobruk  By  cover art

Tobruk

By: Peter FitzSimons
Narrated by: Humphrey Bower
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Publisher's summary

In the early days of April 1941, the 14,000 Australian forces garrisoned in the Libyan town of Tobruk were told to expect reinforcements and supplies within eight weeks. Eight months later these heroic, gallant, determined "Rats of Tobruk" were rescued by the British Navy having held the fort against the might of Rommel's never-before-defeated Afrika Corps.

Like Gallipoli and Kokoda, the siege of Tobruk is an iconic battle in Australia's military history. Under ceaseless attack from Rommel's men, the Australian defense held strong. In Tobruk, Peter FitzSimons relates the personal histories and stories not only of the men who defended the garrison against the German onslaught but of the Desert Fox, Erwin Rommel, and the powers back in both Berlin and Britain.

©2006 Peter FitzSimons (P)2007 Bolinda Publishers Pty Ltd.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

"Gripping stuff." ( Sydney Morning Herald)
"A thorough, highly readable, distillation of the overlooked Battle of Tobruk." ( The Age)

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What listeners say about Tobruk

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Great tribute.

Loved it, especially after Bengazi event of 2012. Narrator's voice is perfect for this book.

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1 person found this helpful

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a heavily researched piece

strong emphasis on the human experience. I now have an understanding of what it must have been like.

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Excellent Read

Very well told and narrated. The book gives a general outline of WWII up to and after the battle as well as following the lives of many of the survivors afterwards.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Slow start

The book has a slow start but very good overall . I feel the book made me more and more curios about WWII in Africa and it's overall influence . D.C.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Story

A great story well told. I've read A LOT of history books about WWII, this one goes up there with the Battle of the Buldge by Ambrose. Rarely do Americans realize how much effort other non-European countries put into the winning. This book goes beyond the battle and includes all the interesting political and background info leading up to and through the battle.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

ABSOLUTELY BLOODY FANTASTIC

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, the timelines and the way the reader is involved in mutiple parallel stories on different sides of the globe adds much depth and is significant to the complete works.
Very well written and wonderfully read by Humphrey.

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4 people found this helpful

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FitzSimons honours true heroes.

This book is excellent. FitzSimons avoids writing a dry history and instead gives a lively narrative that leaves you with a sense of the what life was like during the siege of Tobruk for the soldiers on the frontline, their commanding officers and their loved ones at home.

Humphrey Bower's performance is exceptional, particularly when it comes to the accents of the various soldiers in the campaign and his delivery of the German phrases and words. Each character in the story is given a life of their own and this is what lifts this from a simple historical account to a story that everyone needs to hear.

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1 person found this helpful

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Bring it on Rommel!!!!

What made the experience of listening to Tobruk the most enjoyable?

The details of the people involved and the background information.

What other book might you compare Tobruk to and why?

A Time for Trumpets: The Untold Story of the Battle of the Bulge, Charles McDonald or John Tolands Battle Story of the Bulge.

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A must read!

Excellent! In everyway! Riveting! It's a must read! From a WW2! Stand point! A very memorable book!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

poignant and we'll balanced; especially appreciate

stories from both sides, spouses and children at home, political influences impinging on the war. I do find it hard to believe that the Italians were all so incompetent, cowardly, and stupid; including some stories of their role doing SOMETHING right would have made the book a more complete study of this phase of the war.

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