Rommel had been told on 5 December by the Italian Comando Supremo that supply could not improve until the end of the month when the airborne supply from Sicily would start.
Rommel havde den 5. december fået besked fra den italienske Comando Supremo at forsyningssituationen ikke ville blive bedre før slutningen af måneden, hvor luftbårne forsyninger ville begynde at ankomme fra Sicilien.