British Boxes in the North African Desert -- World War II 

Good video! I hadn't heard of this concept, I figured the so - called " rat patrols" we're the main offence, not the boxes...but makes more sense, as you said, to have them closer and mutually supportive...this concept reminds me of the "boxes" used to break up Napoleon's cavalry attacks at Waterloo...thanks!

General Claude Auchinleck was a career officer of the Indian Army of which he became the Commander in Chief. His only experience of warfare was against the Turks in the Iraqi campaigns of WWI. He had neither experienced the theory of modern mechanised warfare nor experienced it. He was chosen for the position of C-in-C Middle East because of his linguistic and organisational skills, his popularity with both British and Colonial troops and his recognised capacity for good liaison with local inhabitants. In short, he was considered the senior officer most suitably 'acclimatised' for campaigning in the Middle East in a warfare as it had been experienced by the British previously in the region. Militarily against Rommel he was totally out of his depth and his appointment lasted barely one year. He was not alone. The Germans had been aggressively practising for Blitzkrieg well in advance of the commencement of conflict, whilst it took several years of experience and re-equipping the British Army (initially not very successfully) to challenge it. Auchinleck had replaced Generally Wavell who had successfully thrashed the Italians (who weren't accomplished in Blitzkrieg) in North Africa. However, his command was compromised by the necessity of organising an Iraqi campaign to prevent the succession of pro-Nazi government in Baghdad and by being required to send forces to Greece and Crete. Wounded in the Battle of Ypres, he had overseas experience of Palestine and was likewise considered suitably 'acclimatised'. He was also out of his depth against the Blitzkrieg strategies of Rommel. It was either Auchinleck or Wavell who famously acknowledged in an early 1960's BBC TV documentary, that they "didn't do very well." Frankly, your conclusion, "He and his senior commanders should have known better by now" is rather naive and misleading in consideration of the previous training and experience of such British officers. Your quote concerning Rommel's opinion of British tactics is irrelevant in consideration of the dismal quality of British tanks against superior German tanks and the versatile German 88mm flack / anti-tank gun. However, as you know, this changed immediately with the appointment of General Montgomery as Auckinleck's replacement. Also with overseas experience he had, in addition, been studying and practising against the German modes of attack in Europe and more than contained the German advantages in strategy and quality of equipment. This implies British leadership had learned quickly and did indeed "know better by now", they just had to await and find the right man with the right experience.

The photo at 1:43 is of Sgt Ian Thomas of 25th Battalion of the 2nd New Zealand Division. Taken in Egypt in 1942, the writing on the back says "Taken at 7.30 pm on start line of attack by 6 Brigade". Pretty cool

Great video,thanks

Beautifully and succinctly explained. A whole nonfiction book encapsulated in a few minutes.

Its crazy because box formations have been used for centuries to try and route re-route cavalry or defend against the charge. Just a bit different in this application.

@ 04:17 Supoer rare picture of a StuG IIIc/d Super rare, I believe only 6-7 were in North Africa. only 3 with the DAK.

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