The battle of gazala is considered the greatest victory of rommels career. It was the site of a decisive british victory in world war ii see north africa, campaigns in north africa, campaigns in, series of military contests for control of north africa during world war ii. The battle was fought between the axis forces, led by general erwin rommel, and the allied forces, commanded by field marshal claude auchinleck. With the allies victorious, it marked a major turning point in the western desert campaign of the second world war. Despite their preparations, the german panzers were again unable to break through. German military leadership had to prepare for the expected british and american invasion of france germany withdrew more forces from the collapsing eastern front. This crucial eastwest corridor became a vital defensive line held by.
An account of the second battle of alamein, during ww2. Cote divoire, egypt, france, germany, hong kong, india, indonesia. As niall barr documents in pendulum of war, the whole story is a bit more complex. Rommel, short of fuel and against british air superiority, could not fight a mobile battle to balance montgomerys superiority in combat troops. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Rommel pursued the eighth army into egypt and forced it out of several defensive positions. The following contains only excerpts or highlights of a few of the battles. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading alamein to zem zem illustr ated edition. Much has been said and written about alamein and what role this battle in the desert played in the outcome of the second world war, but the battle of alamein also known by its alternative title war without hate by john bierman and colin smith is not merely another presentation of the well known story. The battle of alamein is more than a story of the major engagements so well known and oft told, it is also a story of little known elements that played important, if somewhat sidestage, roles in this first major tactical victory for the british army represented by the 8th army in this case.
Elalamein, coastal town in northwestern egypt, about 60 miles 100 km west of alexandria, that was the site of two major battles between british and axis forces in 1942 during world war ii. His plan, despite churchills constant call for action, was to build his strength up to a preponderant advantage over the axis and then to strike them. Nazi germany georg stumme nazi germany erwin rommel kingdom of italy. Chronically lacking fuel due to overstretched supply lines and allied control of mediterranean sea, the only thing germans and italians. Nov 24, 2016 unsubscribe from battlefield documentaries.
The danger to the eighth army had not diminished completely. The battle lasted from 23 october to 5 november 1942. As rommel swept toward the nile, the fall of egypt and the. Forces francaises du western desert, part of the british eighth army. How slight and unimpressive are often the initial causes which lead to great changes in the course of events. It was fought between two of the best commanders in world war ii, montgomery for the allies and rommel for the axis between 23 october 4 november 1942.
The axis army of italy and germany suffered a decisive defeat by the british eighth army. Its task, along with south african, australian and british divisions, was to break in through the enemy defences, which were now covered by deep minefields. A series of british counterattacks also achieved little, and the battle ended as a stalemate. The australian 9th division, led by lieutenant general leslie morshead, played a key role in two of these battles, enhancing its reputation earned defending tobruk during 1941.
He joined up with invading american forces and secured allied victory in north africa. The first battle ended in a stalemate but it succeeded in halting the german advance on alexandria and then cairo and suez canal. It was the site of a decisive british victory in world war ii. After the first battle of elalamein, egypt 150 miles west of cairo, ended in. Then moved on to europe, where he was sort of a righthandman for supreme allied commander eisenhower. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Its significance was feted, a touch inaccurately, by winston churchill. It marked the beginning of the end for the axis in north africa. Montgomerys 12day offensive was the allies first decisive triumph. Alamein to zem zem illustr ated edition kindle edition by douglas, keith. His name was bernard montgomery and he intended to win the war in north africa once and for all.
After two years of bad news, the british people had sound reason for hope. In the tumultuous year of 1942 and combined with the battle of. The british are characterized as cold unfeeling soldiers, no worse than american directors portray axis forces, though. With frederick stafford, george hilton, michael rennie, marco guglielmi. Battles of elalamein, 127 july 1942, 23 october11 november 1942. Elalamein is the seaward northern end of a 40milewide bottleneck that is flanked on the south by the impassable qattara depression. Ww2 battles, leaders, weapons, tanks, and aircraft. Although there was much fighting afterwards, in which many lives were lost, it proved an important step towards the final defeat of axis forces in north africa in may 1943. After the first battle of elalamein, egypt 150 miles west of cairo, ended in a stalemate, the second one was decisive.
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