This is a study of one of the major actions of World War II, Tobruk, the longest siege in British military history overseas. This reassessment describes the role of the Australians holding the siege, Rommel's part in creating the situation, and the part played by the 70th British Division, an often-overlooked action which broke the stalemate and invincibility of Rommel. The author, Frank Harrison, took part in the action, and in this mixture of personal memoir and historical analysis he offers new insights into the event and into the character of Rommel - was he master strategist, opportunist or self-promoter of the myth which surrounded him?