{"product_id":"2026-20c-wwii-campaigns-of-1941-north-africa-and-the-middle-east-uncirculated-coin","title":"2026 20C WWII CAMPAIGNS OF 1941 NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST UNCIRCULATED COIN","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"product-short-desc-wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eProduct overview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-short-desc\"\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCommemorates 85 years since the 1941 WWII campaigns in North Africa \u0026amp; Middle East\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes 20c \"envelope\" privy mark coloured uncirculated coin, struck by RAM and exclusive to Australia Post\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLimited mintage of 6000\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"hidden-xs\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"product-accordion-md\" class=\"product-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"panel panel-default\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"panel-heading\" id=\"product-accordion-md-description\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"product-accordion-md-panel1-data\" class=\"collapse in panel-data\" aria-labelledby=\"description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"panel-body\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing the conquest of France by Germany in June 1940, the Mandate for Syria and Lebanon came under the control of Vichy France, the puppet government set up by the Axis powers. The successful five-week-long Syria–Lebanon campaign, codenamed Operation Exporter, began on 8 June 1941. Australian troops, mostly from the recently established 7th Division, formed the bulk of the main advance. During the five-week battle, 416 men from the 7th Division were killed and 1,136 were badly wounded. From April 1941, up to 14,000 Australians defended the Libyan port of Tobruk against repeated German attacks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor eight long months, surrounded by German and Italian forces, the men of the Tobruk garrison, mostly Australians, withstood tank attacks, artillery barrages, and daily bombings. The brave defenders quickly became known as the Rats of Tobruk. The garrison consisted of the 9th Division and the 18th Brigade of the 7th Division, along with some British artillery and Indian troops. Australian casualties from the 9th Division from 8 April to 25 October numbered 749 killed, 1,996 wounded and 604 prisoners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 43c stamp was issued in 1991 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Siege of Tobruk. The 70c stamp is from the A Century of Service: War Animals issue of 2015. The limited-edition 20c coin has been minted with the envelope privy mark.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"The Gift Mart","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49060812456187,"sku":"9349766049948","price":27.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/3774\/0539\/files\/IMG_1379.jpg?v=1783663481","url":"https:\/\/thegiftmart.com.au\/products\/2026-20c-wwii-campaigns-of-1941-north-africa-and-the-middle-east-uncirculated-coin","provider":"The Gift Mart","version":"1.0","type":"link"}