Who were the British commander and the German commander at the Battle of El Alamein?
| First Battle of El Alamein | |
|---|---|
| Italy Germany | United Kingdom India New Zealand Australia South Africa |
| Commanders and leaders | |
| Erwin Rommel Ettore Bastico | Claude Auchinleck |
| Strength |
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.
Was the Battle of El Alamein a turning point?
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.
What was the Battle of El Alamein WW2?
The First Battle of El Alamein (1–27 July 1942) was a battle of the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War, fought in Egypt between Axis forces (Germany and Italy) of the Panzer Army Africa (Panzerarmee Afrika, which included the Afrika Korps under Field Marshal (Generalfeldmarschall) Erwin Rommel and Allied (British Imperial and
What is Alamein?
Alamein itself was an inconsequential railway station on the coast. Some 10 mi (16 km) to the south lay the Ruweisat Ridge, a low stony prominence that gave excellent observation for many miles over the surrounding desert; 20 mi (32 km) to the south was the Qattara Depression.
How did Italy defend the Alamein in WW2?
An Italian division was to attack the Alamein box from the west and another was to follow the 90th Light Division. The Italian XX Corps was to follow the Afrika Korps and deal with the Qattara box while the 133rd Armoured Division “Littorio” and German reconnaissance units would protect the right flank.
Why didn’t the Axis ever defend El Alamein?
Only 40 mi (64 km) to the south of El Alamein, the steep slopes of the Qattara Depression ruled out the possibility of Axis armour moving around the southern flank of his defences and limited the width of the front he had to defend.