1941年2月6日行动的命令由德国国防军最高统帅部(Oberkommando der Wehrmacht)下达给陆军总司令部(Oberkommando des Heeres)和空军总司令部(Oberkommando der Luftwaffe)。两天后首个单位离开那不勒斯前往非洲并于2月11日到达,2月14日第5轻装师(后来更名第21装甲师)的首个单位到达利比亚的黎波里,这些单位包括第3侦察营和第39反戰車大队,它们立即被派往苏尔特的前线。
Jentz, Thomas L. Tank Combat In North Africa: The Opening Rounds, Operations Sonnenblume, Brevity, Skorpion and Battleaxe, February 1941 - June 1941. Schiffer Publishing Ltd. 1998. ISBN 0-76430-226-4.
Playfair, Major-General I.S.O.; with Flynn R.N., Captain F.C.; Molony, Brigadier C.J.C. & Toomer, Air Vice-Marshal S.E. Butler, J.R.M , 编. The Mediterranean and Middle East, Volume II The Germans come to the help of their Ally (1941). History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series. Naval & Military Press. 2004 [1st. pub. HMSO 1956]. ISBN 1-84574-066-1.