Most people have heard of the battle of alamein, but actually three major battles were fought sporadically over four months across the plains and ridges of that parched landscape. Located on the arabs gulf, mediterranean sea, it lies 106 kilometres 66 mi west of alexandria and 240 kilometres 149 mi northwest of cairo. Rommel, however, knew that he had by this point lost the chance for a quick dash to the delta, and the high rates of attrition meant that he was reluctant to pursue further attacks. Second battle battle of alam halfa 30 august5 september 1942.
Italian and german advance units raced toward alexandria. Italian and german scouts sweep towards alexandria. The battle was fought between the axis forces, led by general erwin rommel, and the allied forces, commanded by field marshal claude auchinleck. The battle lasted from 23 october to 5 november 1942. If a fulllength restored print is ever released then go buy it. 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.
Nov 11, 2012 war history documentaries 831,665 views. It marked the beginning of the end for the axis in north africa. As rommel swept toward the nile, the fall of egypt and the capture. Battles of elalamein, 127 july 1942, 23 october11 november 1942, world war ii events. If a full length restored print is ever released then. With frederick stafford, george hilton, michael rennie, marco guglielmi. Chronically lacking fuel due to overstretched supply lines and allied control of mediterranean sea, the only thing germans and italians. As rommel swept toward the nile, the fall of egypt and the capture of the suez canal seemed inevitable. The bulk of the british 8th army retreated past mersa matruh and field marshal erwin rommels afrika korps occupied sollum, haifaya pass and sidi barrani. Success in the battle turned the tide in the north african campaign. Field marshal rommel orders italian troops to battle bravely to their death on a suicide mission while the germans retreat to.
It is from an unrestored, badlooking negative and runs only 80 minutes, rather than the 105 release time and the 92 minute length advertised. This article includes a list of related items that share the same name or similar names. After the first battle of elalamein, egypt 150 miles west of cairo, ended in a stalemate, the second one was decisive. Jun 17, 2017 1969 directed by giorgio ferroni cleverly disguised as calvin jackson padget starring frederick stafford, george hilton, michael rennie, marco guglielmi, ettore mani and a bunch of other italian. German and italian memorials stand a few kilometres further west along the coast road. 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. Though they mistrust one another, the german and italian troops are forced to work shoulder to shoulder to ward off the british.
Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The battle of gazala near the modern town of ayn al ghazalah. 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 axis army of italy and germany suffered a decisive defeat by the british eighth army. Axis troops of the panzerarmee afrika generaloberst erwin rommel consisting of german and italian units fought the british eighth army general sir claude auchinleck, also. Elalamein is the seaward northern end of a 40milewide bottleneck that is flanked on the south by the impassable qattara depression. It was part of the western desert campaign of world war 2 was fought between the british eighth army led by general claude auchinleck and the axis forces consisting of german and italian units of panzerarmee afrika panzer army africa led by field marshal erwin rommel.
This crucial eastwest corridor became a vital defensive line held by. On the night of the 23 rd of october, montgomery made his move. Shot from the axis point of view, this tale shows rommel working his strategies against montgomery. As artillery pounded the german positions, soldiers cleared enemy minefields by the light of the full moon.
Rommel, short of fuel and against british air superiority, could not fight a mobile battle to balance montgomerys superiority in combat troops. Having lost 55,000 men, 320 tanks, and approximately 1,000 guns, the italiangerman army was forced to abandon plans for offensive operations once and for all and to begin a general retreat. General montgomery, using battle plans prepared by gen auchinleck stopped rommel attempt to break through alam halfa towards river nile. Set during the titular desert battle of 1942, the film departs from expectation by concentrating on the axis point of view. Pursued by field marshal erwin rommel, the british constructed an elaborate array of defenses commencing attacks on july 1, axis forces. Montgomerys eighth army stops rommels afrika korps in 1942 egypt.
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