Approaching Tobruk, however, wishing to maintain his momentum, he ordered General Heinrich von Prittwitz und Gaffron—commander of the newly formed 15th "Panzer" Division (most of which had yet to arrive in North Africa)—to take the three battalions from his division then available to him (his reconnaissance, machine gun and anti-tank battalions) and to attack Tobruk directly from the west along the Derna road.
Sin embargo, con el deseo de mantener el impulso de acercarse a Tobruk, se ordenó al general Heinrich von Prittwitz und Gaffron, comandante de la recién formada 15.ª División Panzer, tomar los tres batallones de su división (su reconocimiento, ametralladoras y antitanques) y atacar Tobruk directamente desde el oeste a lo largo de la carretera de Derna.