Tobruk rats it was a miracle the enemy didnt break in. Horsemen is a more entertaining and better constructed film, fully deserving of its place in the australian pantheon. Beleaguered and battle weary the friends fight on, proving to be a. 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. Like stealthy shadows, they saw without being seen.
The rats of tobruk the fighting rats of tobruk 2015. Desert rats is a actionshooter game, byname of the seventh armoured division, a group of british soldiers who helped defeat the germans in north africa during world war ii. 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. Charles chauvel shooting australia 1944 hd stock video 245. Grant taylor is the squarejawed lead, chips rafferty adds character. Milo and english gent peter ship out to africa to fight in the siege of tobruk. Movies box great movies hd movies movies to watch movies online tank movie 2012 movie tiger tank movies now playing. 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. Three thousand australians were either injured or killed at tobruk, and a further 941 were taken prisoner. Rats of tobruk wwii your free weekly guide to whats. Tobruk patrols were of two types fighting and reconnaissance.
The rats of tobruk 1944 anzacs wage a long and courageous resistance to nazi invasion during world war ii. The fighting rats of tobruk is a 1944 australian film directed by charles chauvel. Their story is based on the siege of the libyan city of tobruk in north africa by rommels afrika korps. To play the downloadable video, you need quicktime 7. Grant taylor, peter finch, chips rafferty, pauline. 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 the siege started on 10 april 1941. Rats of tobruk is a twoplayer operationaltactical game that simulates rommels easter day attack on tobruk in april 1941.
Together they serve in north africa, fighting against the forces of rommel in what has now become one of australias greatest. Grant taylor, peter finch, chips rafferty, pauline garrick director. Thanks to the generosity of the rights holders, we are able to offer bang galore from the feature film the rats of tobruk as a high quality video download. Available on dvd through au following on the great tradition of forty thousand horsemen, charles chauvels 1944. The rats of tobruk is a 1944 australian film directed by charles chauvel. Fully restored and presented in a brand new transfer, the rats of tobruk is a.
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 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. The rats of tobruk simple english wikipedia, the free. Australian forces battle german tanks and infantry for an incredible 281 days in order to capture the libyan port tobruk, one of the crucial battles of wwii.
Grant taylor bluey donkin, peter finch peter linton, chips rafferty milo trent, pauline garrick kate carmody, mary gay sister mary ellis, george wallace barber of tobruk, joe valli northumberland fusilier. Destined to serve in the north africa campaign in the 9th division they become involved in the siege of tobruk, holding up the advance of pommels forces for months. I was reunited with my former co in 1944 in dekelia. Fighting bacterial infections in sick rats with the right. Military officer who fought as one of the rats of tobruk and went on to fly spitfires protecting lancaster bombers phil davison monday 28 april 2014 17. Celebrating prezis teacher community for teacher appreciation week. The job of the reconnaissance patrol was to gather information and, if possible, to secure prisoners for identification. An abridged version was released in the united states in 1951 as the fighting rats of tobruk. With grant taylor, peter finch, chips rafferty, pauline garrick. This battle primarily involved the australian 9th infantry division, as well as british artillery batteries. The desert rats, led by general allen francis harding, were especially noted for a hardfought, threemonth campaign against the more experienced german afrika korps, led by general. Hard cover without dust jacket 269 pages the most highly decorated unit of the second a.
Following on the great tradition of forty thousand horsemen, charles chauvels 1944 cinematic account of the battle of. Rats of tobruk memorial pipes and drums home facebook. This is the films first real encounter in the desert and chauvel emphasises the immediacy and very personal nature of the fighting, as well as the comradeship of. 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. Please feel free to submit an article for possible inclusion in a. Three australian friends end up fighting nazis in north africa in a clumsily executed action tale. Bbc ww2 peoples war i was a tobruk rat, and still am. The film follows three drover friends who enlist in the australian army together during world war ii. The siege started on 10 april 1941 and was finally relieved at the end of november. Newsflare boxing rats duke it out in indian kitchen. Thu 7 dec 1944 prev issue next issue browse issues page 2 prev page next. Australian troops of the australian 9th division and the 18th brigade of the australian 7th division under lieutenant general leslie morshead made up more than. Beleaguered and battle weary the friends fight on, proving to be a considerable challenge to the enemy and a boon to the allied war effort.
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. At pre sent they have collected over 10,000 names for the database. The rats of tobruk may not be charles chauvels best movie, but it deserves serious consideration as his best movie about war which is to argue that it is in some ways superior to his more famous and betterloved forty thousand horsemen 1940, made four years earlier. Peter finch, chips rafferty, grant taylor, and pauline garrick star in the rugged australian wwii adventure the fighting rats of tobruk. The fighting rats of tobruk desert victory on tcm shop. The collection contains all kinds of narrative, educational, documentary, advertising, instructional and government films and videos from all over the world. 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. Original us theatrical trailer for the fighting rats of tobruk a classic australian world war ii film.
Most of the fighting scenes were in the dark which did not translate well on my dvd version as. This short film features memorial historian dr karl james discussing the exhibition rats of tobruk 1941. Its members used all their bushcraft to avoid being discovered. Australian troops of the australian 9th division and the 18th brigade of the australian 7th division under lieutenant general leslie. Tobruk to tarakan the story of the australian 248th battalion 1st edition rats of tobruk author. The rats of tobruk 1944 clip 1 on aso australias audio and. The story follows a trio of characters as they head off to fight rommel on north africa. 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. Filming the rats of tobruk prev article next article browse articles. Corny, but its a fair enough way to open a movie made during wartime. 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.