El Alamein, Battles of

A Dictionary of Contemporary World History | 2004 | 700+ words | Copyright

El Alamein, Battles of (World War II) (1942) In June 1942 the British under General Auchinleck took up a defensive position on the Mediterranean at El Alamein, some 50 miles (80 km) from Alexandria, in an effort to stop the advance of the German Afrika Korps. During the first battle (30 June–25 July 1942) Rommel's forces were effectively halted. A front was established between the sea and the salt marshes of the Qattara Depression. General Montgomery, who had been appointed to command the 8th Army in August, launched an offensive on 23 October. After heavy artillery preparation, about 1,200 tanks advanced. Rommel was handicapped by a fuel shortage and had only about 500 tanks in effective use. He never regained the initiative. On 4 November he ordered a retreat, withdrawing back into Libya. This battle marked the beginning of the end of Germany's North African campaign.

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JAN PALMOWSKI. "El Alamein, Battles of." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JAN PALMOWSKI. "El Alamein, Battles of." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-ElAlameinBattlesof.html

JAN PALMOWSKI. "El Alamein, Battles of." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-ElAlameinBattlesof.html

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