The fighting rats of tobruk 1944 the fighting rats of. Rat of tobruk dennis davis on surviving war, heartbreak and finding love again when dennis davis was fighting on the battlefield of tobruk, he. By downloading or embedding any media, you agree to the terms and conditions of. This opened with an outflanking movement that brought eighth army to within 30 miles of the tobruk perimeter. The rats of tobruk is a 1944 australian film directed by charles chauvel. The rats of tobruk hold an identifiable place within the ranks of returned servicemen, particularly in australia, where there is the rats of tobruk memorial, canberra on 22 march 1944, the original members of the rats of tobruk formed the north bondi subbranch of the returned and services league of australia and it is still known in modern times as tobruk house or the rathouse. The tobruk defenders endured regular attacks by enemy bombers and stukas but tried to make the best of it. May 27, 2017 watch the fighting rats of tobruk full free lynn m.
Movie about australian rats of tobruk ww2 rats of tobruk. This battle primarily involved the australian 9th infantry division, as well as british artillery batteries. Following on the great tradition of forty thousand horsemen, charles chauvels 1944 cinematic account of the battle of rommel. An english writer and two australian cattle drivers encounter danger serving in the anzacs during the 281day stand at the libyan port of tobruk. Grant taylor, peter finch, chips rafferty, pauline garrick, mary gay, george wallace, joe valli, tony villa, joe. The fighting rats of tobruk 1944 joe valli in the fighting rats of tobruk.
The job of the reconnaissance patrol was to gather information and, if possible, to secure prisoners for identification. The siege started on 11 april 1941 and was relieved on 10 december. From the box back, including some odd formatting the sun blazed down with whitehot intensity, turning the horizon into a shimmering, dancing ribbon. Peter finch enjoyed one of his first major screen successes with this wartime drama from australia. Watch the fighting rats of tobruk full free by lynn m. Curators notes the rats of tobruk 1944 on aso australia. Turner classic movies presents the greatest motion pictures of all time from one of the largest film libraries in the world. Using this as a rallying cry, the rats of tobruk defended the city for 250 days, winning an important battle against the germans and helping to turn the tide of wwii. Fighting rats of tobruk 1951 soldiers chips rafferty, grant taylor, peter finch of the australian and new zealand army corps hold off the nazis for months. The rats of tobruk chips rafferty, peter finch, and grant taylor all of whom are australian star in this wartime drama about one of australias greatest military legends.
It was planned that 70th division would break out from. The rats of tobruk was the name given to the soldiers of the garrison who held the libyan port of tobruk against the afrika corps, during the siege of tobruk in world war ii. Together they serve in north africa, fighting against the forces of rommel in what has now become one of australias greatest wartime legendsthe rats of tobruk. The nazi propagandist lord haw haw william joyce derided the tenacious defenders as rats, a term that the australian soldiers embraced as an ironic compliment. The fighting rats of tobruk 1944 opens on a pastoral scene lowing herds roaming over the gently rolling hills of australia, whips cracking, and on the background soundtrack a male chorus singing an outback song. The rats who returned to melbourne formed as association which has branches in every state as well as in the united kingdom. The goal is to hold tobruk for at least two months. War books on the australian siege of tobruk 194142. The mandalorian, gravity falls, and free solo top our list of the best. The rats of tobruk 1944 directed by charles chauvel. Grant taylor is the squarejawed lead, chips rafferty adds character, and peter finch is the uppercrust englishman. The rats of tobruk memorial pipes and drums was formed in 1960 as a living memorial to the military units involved in the siege of tobruk of wwii. The fighting rats of tobruk desert victory on tcm shop. The polish army in the siege of tobruk, 1941 imperial.
Tobruk is a tank combat simulation set in north africa, specifically mayjune of 1942. I would rather watch desert rats desert fox on the same subject matter. Corny, but its a fair enough way to open a movie made during wartime. On return home the soldiers formed the rats of tobruk association. Information supplied by the family of robert scarr and the. Bluey grant taylor is a tough drover not afraid of a fight, milo chips rafferty is a laconic dingo trapper and drover, and peter peter finch is an intellectual. Aug 18, 2016 also featuring george wallace and joe valli, chauvels bold tale of war gives life to the many heroic tales of mateship during wwii. Fully restored and presented in a brand new transfer, the rats of tobruk is a rousing tribute to the many brave the soldiers who served their nation. The only libyan territory still in british hands was the cyrenaican port of tobruk.
This site is dedicated to those who fought at tobruk. Soldiers chips rafferty, grant taylor, peter finch of the australian and new zealand army corps hold off the nazis for months. Oct 11, 2011 fighting through incredible heat, cold, thirst and hunger with unmistakable bravery, determination and passion 2011 marks the 70th anniversary of the battle of tobruk. The fighting rats of tobruk is a 1944 australian film directed by charles chauvel starring grant taylor, peter finch, chips rafferty and george wallace. I believe if you want to see just how far directors have progressed from the early days of film making to what we expect today, then this film is worth. The rats of tobruk may not be charles chauvels best movie, but it deserves serious consideration as his best movie about war. By 1941, theyre with the 9th division of the australian infantry force, fighting italians and nazis in north africa. The name resounded in headlines throughout the british empire.
The battles played out are not very clear and leaves the viewer guessing what really happened. The rats of tobruk 1944 clip 1 on aso australias audio and. He was a rat of tobruk until forty five, he was one of the few that came back alive. Dec 26, 2018 action packed war epic about a group of british commandos who find themselves trapped behind enemy lines after the german afrika korps smash through the allied defenses in north africa.
The allies marching and singing were off to see the wizard was neat as was the german announcer naming the allies the fighting rats of tobruk, which was deemed a badge of honor by the allies. Italy a german ally had occupied libya, right next to egypt where the british were heavily ensconced. The black rat by iris clayton he lived in a tin hut with a hard dirt floor. These actions and campaigns were fought in the middle east and the mediterranean where the three australian services were continuously. The rats of tobruk is a dated but watchable aussie ww2 movie, of which there arent too many in existence. On 22 january 1941, a joint force of british, australian, and indian troops captured the libyan port city of tobruk making it the only alliedheld city in axiscontrolled territory. Find video, photos, forums, blogs and shop for some of. Tobruk patrols were of two types fighting and reconnaissance. Rats of tobruk memorial pipes and drums home facebook. The 1941 siege of tobruk, birth of the rats of tobruk. The victorian state branch decided to form a pipe band as a living memorial to the soldiers who died at tobruk and to keep alive the proud name the rats of tobruk. Most of the fighting scenes were in the dark which did not translate well on my dvd version as the scenes looked totally black. The fighting rats of tobruk is more of a narrated documentry, poorly acted and shot in darkness.
There were also major oil fields in the middle east that were vital to fuel their tanks, planes and motorised transport. For relief, the australian soldiers get to go sightseeing in down town tobruk or whats left of it. The rats of tobruk the fighting rats of tobruk 2015. The australians gave themselves the nickname the rats of tobruk after radio berlin described the australians as caught like rats in a trap. The film is a tribute to the australian fighting spirit. Most of the fighting scenes were in the dark which did not translate well on. As war breaks out in europe in 1939, three friends droving cattle in australia decide to join up. The siege started on 10 april 1941 and was finally relieved at the end of november. A lot of the fighting is done at night and it is very difficult to see what is going on because the film has gotten darker over the years. Whittock winning world war one the western front diaries dvd history. Commemorating one of the first major battles that australia fought in world war ii, the rats of tobruk 1941 special exhibition is on display in the canberra memorial until.
Battered and scarred he fought for this land, and on his return they all shook his hand. Like stealthy shadows, they saw without being seen. The fighting rats of tobruk dvd, 2001 for sale online ebay. Captured german and italian weaponry was used throughout filming. After the defenders of the stronghold were dismissed in nazi propaganda as rats in a trap, they soon started calling themselves the rats of tobruk.
Combined german and italian troops had sealed off all land approaches to tobruk on april 11. In the course of the fighting, the germans blasted insults as well as artillery at the largely aussie troops, likening them to rats. Original us theatrical trailer for the fighting rats of tobruk a classic australian world war ii film. The rats of tobruk was the name given to the soldiers who held the libyan port of tobruk against the afrika corps, during the siege of tobruk in world war ii. Grant taylor is the squarejawed lead, chips rafferty adds character. The rats of tobruk were soldiers of the australianled allied garrison that held the libyan port of tobruk against the afrika corps, during the siege of tobruk in world war ii. Identifying with authority, they obeyed rather than thought. The fighting rats of tobruk desert victory, dvd, war, 089218777195. Australian troops of the australian 9th division and the 18th brigade of the australian 7th division under lieutenant general leslie. Watch the fighting rats of tobruk full free youtube.
Its members used all their bushcraft to avoid being discovered. Like gallipoli and kokoda, the siege of tobruk is an iconic battle in australias military history. Also featuring george wallace and joe valli, chauvels bold tale of war gives life to the many heroic tales of mateship during wwii. Simpson and duffy ww1 australian hero gallipoli childrens book not only a hero. The rats of tobruk were australian war soldiers that fought in a siege that took place from 11 april 1941 to 27 november 1941. The army provided advisers who had served in tobruk.
Of course the production values were much superior, still the rats of tobruk shows a lot of care about the australian fighting man and his contribution in world war ii from the folks they were defending. Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee. The rats of tobruk were soldiers of the australianled allied garrison that held the libyan port. Eight months later these heroic, gallant, determined rats of tobruk were rescued by the british navy having held the fort against the might of rommels neverbefore defeated afrika corps. Rats of tobruk is a twoplayer operationaltactical game that simulates rommels easter day attack on tobruk in april 1941. The powerful story of three soldiers brought together by the fortunes of war, set against a backdrop of the legendary defence of the north african city of tobruk by australian infantry forces during world war ii. Erwin rommel, in a letter to his wife, lucie, wrote, today may well see the end of the battle of tobruk. Later, almost exclusively at night, a fighting patrol would act on viable targets found, operating under the simplest of guidelines. The fighting rats of tobruk by fox lorber by charles chauvel. Australians standing by in a hot section of the front, 400 yards from the enemy. An abridged version was released in the united states in 1951 as the fighting rats of tobruk. Together they serve in north africa, fighting against the forces of rommel in what has now.
Together they serve in north africa, fighting against the forces of rommel in what has now become one of australias greatest wartime legends the rats of tobruk. Watch rats of tobruk online vimeo on demand on vimeo. The story follows a trio of characters as they head off to fight rommel on north africa. Richard burton did a fine hollywood based film, desert rats, about the same siege at tobruk and chips rafferty had a featured role in that. Adolf hitler had prepared for war by socially engineering his followers into the perfect fighting machines. The rats of tobruk controlling north africa would give the allied forces a base from which to attack occupied europe, across the mediterranean. The fighting rats of tobruk 1944 rare movie collector. Peter finch, chips rafferty, grant taylor, and pauline garrick star in the rugged australian wwii adventure the fighting rats of tobruk. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The rats of tobruk, a name adopted by australian soldiers who were at the siege of tobruk. An illustrated life of simpson, the man with the donkey a is for anzac primary school gallipoli book vietnam 50th anniversary cap war campaign ribbons brief history of the third reich by m. Rats of tobruk home tribute is a tribute to the rats of tobruk, who fought in tobruk, during the siege of tobruk, of 241 days from april 10 to december 1941.
Tells the story of three menbluey, a tough two fisted drover taylor, milo, a laconic dingo trapper rafferty, and pete, an intellectual english new chum finch. War breaks out and the three men find themselves fighting together at tobruk, where all but the sheepherder are killed. Military books about the siege of tobruk 194142 books. Available on dvd through au following on the great tradition of forty thousand horsemen, charles chauvels 1944. The film follows three drover friends who enlist in the australian army together during world war ii. The rats of tobruk 1944 clip 1 on aso australianscreen. The old warships that helped the rats of tobruk with supplies and evacuation of the wounded were insulted by radio berlin, being called a pile of scrap iron. Then, the british 8th armys taking of occupied africa in 1943, from the trouncing of tobruk to the triumph at tripoli, can be relived once more with the oscarwinning documentary desert victory.
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