He launched an offensive in the Western Desert, Operation Crusader, in November 1941: despite some tactical reverses during the fighting which resulted in Auchinleck replacing the Eighth Army commander Alan Cunningham with Neil Ritchie, by the end of December the besieged garrison of Tobruk had been relieved and Rommel obliged to withdraw to El Agheila.
Dia melancarkan serangan di Gurun Barat, Operasi Crusader, di November 1941: meskipun beberapa membalikkan taktis selama pertempuran yang mengakibatkan Auchinleck menggantikan komandan Eighth Army Alan Cunningham dengan Neil Ritchie, pada akhir Desember garnisun mengepung dari Tobruk telah lega dan Rommel wajib menarik untuk El Agheila.