Tobruk

At the beginning of the Second World War, Libya was an Italian colony and Tobruk became the site of important battles. It was captured by British and Australian forces on January 12, 1941, but was then besieged by German and Italian forces under Generalleutnant (later Field Marshal) Erwin Rommel (see: the Siege of Tobruk). After being driven back for the winter, the Axis forces finally took Tobruk on June 21, 1942, along with a wealth of supplies that the fort held. It was recaptured on November 11, and remained in Allied hands thereafter. Tobruk can be classified as one of the turning points of the war.