Summary Part of France at War week on WW2TV Our guest today is Cédric Mas, who is a French expert on WWII in the Mediterranean and North Africa. He has published many articles on subjects such as the Afrikakorps and El Alamein. He is also Président of the l'Institut Action Resilience, a Think Tank created in 2017 dedicated to the analysis of strategies to fight against violent extremism, terrorism as well as to promote the defense of republican and democratic values in France. The Battle of Bir Hakeim was fought near an oasis in the Libyan desert southwest of Tobruk, during the Battle of Gazala in May 1942. The 1st Free French Brigade under Général de brigade Marie-Pierre Koenig defended the position against determined attacks by the much larger forces of Rommel. The delay imposed on the Axis offensive at Bir Hakeim influenced the cancellation of Operation Herkules, the Axis invasion of Malta. Generalmajor Friedrich von Mellenthin wrote of the French stand: "In the whole course of the desert war, we never encountered a more heroic and well-sustained defence."

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