Editing Operation Battleaxe (section)

===Operation Brevity===
{{Main|Operation Brevity}}
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-443-1589-07, Nordafrika, Rommel in Befehlsfahrzeug.jpg|right|thumb|[[Erwin Rommel]] in his command halftrack, [[Sd.Kfz. 250|Sd.Kfz. 250/3]].]]
Through [[Ultra (cryptography)|Ultra]] intercepts, the British also received the report by Paulus. Churchill, believing that one strong push would dislodge German forces, began to increase the pressure on Wavell to attack.<ref name="TSWW166"/> [[Operation Brevity]] was quickly planned as a limited operation to seize Sollum, [[Halfaya Pass]] and [[Fort Capuzzo]], then advance on Sidi Aziz and Tobruk. The operation was to continue as far as supply would allow but not risk the forces committed; the objective was to destroy as much Axis equipment as possible and secure a foothold for the larger Operation Battleaxe, once the new tanks were made available.<ref name="Playfair, p. 116">Playfair, p. 116</ref><ref name ="MedII163">Playfair, p. 163</ref> Brevity began on 15 May and Fort Capuzzo and Halfaya Pass were captured but next day [[William Gott]], concerned that his [[22nd Guards Brigade]] would be destroyed if caught in the open by Germans tanks, decided to pull almost the entire force back to Halfaya Pass. The operation ended on 17 May, with only the Halfaya Pass captured. The pass was retaken by a small German force on 27 May, in [[Operation Skorpion]].<ref>Playfair, p. 162</ref><ref>Rommel, p. 137</ref>