On 7 December , Rommel withdrew Escaping the Axis forces to the Gazala position and on 15 December ordered Request a withdrawal to El Agheila .

On 21 January , Rommel launched Process_start a surprise counter-attack Attack and drove Motion the Eighth Army back to Gazala , where both sides regrouped .

This was followed Motion by the Battle of Gazala at the end of May 1942 .