In World War II, it was the anchor for the Axis positions, which opposed the Allied forces during Operation Battleaxe. The German commander of the position, Captain Wilhelm Bach, had set up artillery there (namely, 88mm anti-aircraft guns), which fired 22lb shells at the Allied troops, namely, the 11th Hussars. The first wave of units was cut down in a few minutes (11 out of 12 tanks were destroyed).