 A lull occurred on 3 December and next day, the cost of the fighting to the Germans was established by German staff officers and a German attack near Ed Duda was repulsed.A report that Bir el Gubi was under attack arrived in the afternoon and Rommel ordered the "Afrika Korps" to concentrate against the threat of attacks from the south.Amidst much confusion and indecision from both sides skirmished and during the night Rommel ordered the Axis forces to abandon the besieged forces on the Egyptian frontier and retreat to Gazala.