What was the Battle of El Alamein and why was it important?
What was the Battle of El Alamein and why was it important?
The Battle of El Alamein was primarily fought between two of the outstanding commanders of World War Two, Montgomery, who succeeded the dismissed Auchinleck, and Rommel. The Allied victory at El Alamein lead to the retreat of the Afrika Korps and the German surrender in North Africa in May 1943.
Who fought in the Second Battle of El Alamein?
| Second Battle of El Alamein | |
|---|---|
| Germany Italy | United Kingdom India Ceylon Australia New Zealand South Africa Free France Greece United States |
| Commanders and leaders | |
| Erwin Rommel Georg Stumme † Ettore Bastico | Harold Alexander Bernard Montgomery |
| Strength |
Who started the Second Battle of El Alamein?
At 9.40pm on Friday 23 October 1942, the Battle of El Alamein began with a four-hour ground and air bombardment launched by Britain and its allies. As it subsided, the troops began their advance.
Why was the second battle of El Alamein significant?
The Second Battle of El Alamein was a turning point in the North African campaign. It ended the long fight for the Western Desert, and was the only great land battle won by the British and Commonwealth forces without direct American participation.
Why was the North African campaign important?
North Africa victory a watershed for Allies On the strategic level, the North African campaign was a watershed for the Western Allies. For the first time in the war, they had decisively defeated the Axis, and especially the Germans, on the ground. The psychological value of the victory cannot be minimized.
What was the Second Battle of El Alamein?
Second Battle of El Alamein Part of the Western Desert Campaign of t 24 October 1942: British soldiers in a p
What were the phases of the Battle of El Alamein?
The Battle of El Alamein is usually divided into five phases, consisting of the break-in (23–24 October), the crumbling (24–25 October), the counter (26–28 October), Operation Supercharge (1–2 November) and the break-out (3–7 November).
What is the best book on the Battle of El Alamein?
Pendulum of War: The Three Battles of El Alamein. Woodstock, NY: Overlook Press. ISBN 978-1-58567-738-2. Bauer, Eddy (2000) [1979]. Young, Peter (ed.). The History of World War II (2nd rev. ed.). London: Orbis. ISBN 1-85605-552-3. Bierman, John; Smith, Colin (2003) [2002]. War Without Hate: The Desert Campaign of 1940–1943.
How long was the El Alamein line?
A strong position, the El Alamein line ran 40 miles from the coast to the impassable Quattara Depression. While both sides paused to rebuild their forces, Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrived in Cairo and decided to make command changes.