News from the past - World War II. Berlin overrun by Rats
  Image. Left: Soldiers, relieved by the 7th Armoured Division, finally return home from service in Germany.
A friendly rivalry has always existed between the "Yanks" and the "Poms". Throughout the war, both allies have jokingly
berated the effectiveness of the other. However, you'll hear no bad comments made, even in jest, about the division, assig-
ned to jointly watch over Berlin with American troops.
The British 7th Armoured Division, affectionately referred to as the Desert Rats, has earned a reputation with every soldier
in the war.
The Desert Rats established themselves early in the war when, vastly outnumbered they managed to capture more than
250 000 Italians in the first engagements of 1940. Their reputation, however, was forever built on their elimination of the
Italian retreating column. Realizing the importance of not allowing the Italians to rearm, the Rats abandoned their heavy
armor units and using only their jeeps, they drove for 30 solid hours before finally facing and annihilating the much larger
Italian 10th Army.
They and another set of Rats, the Australian "Rats of Tobruk", were instrumental in stopping the advance of Rommel's
undefeated Afrika Corps and eventually driving them back.
The Rats have not only distinguished themselves in North Africa, but continued on to fight in Italy and Northern Europe.
Their successes in World War II have given the Rats a respect among fellow soldiers rivaled only by America's E Company,
and it's with great pride that both Allies will stand side by side while ushering in this new era of peace to war-torn West -
Berlin. Sunday, September 2, 1945.
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