Alamein

It also changed the way the British Army fought, using concentrated artillery on a scale not seen since 1918 to break through Axis defences built in depth."--BOOK JACKET.

From the author of The Most Dangerous Enemy, a study of the history, strategy, and logistics of the pivotal World War II battles at El Alamein. El Alamein was the Second World War land battle Britain had to win. By the summer of 1942 Rommel’s German forces were threatening to sweep through the Western Desert and drive on to the Suez Canal, and Britain desperately needed a victory. In July, Rommel was halted. Then, in October, after twelve days of attritional fighting, Montgomery’s Eighth Army broke through the German and Italian lines at El Alamein. It was a turning-point in the war after which, in Churchill’s words, “we never had a defeat.” Stephen Bungay’s superbly readable narrative complements his definitive study of the Battle of Britain, The Most Dangerous Enemy, illuminating every aspect of this most famous episode of the Desert War, from the crucial logistics of keeping the distant armies supplied to the terror of battle in tormenting heat that was the soldier’s war. Praise for Alamein “Terse and brilliantly written by a thorough master of his subject.” —John Lukacs, Los Angeles Times “A brilliant balance between lucid analysis and piquant detail . . . masterly chapters.” —Lawrence James, Daily Mail (UK) “A broad and pacy overview in a short compass.” —Hew Strachan, Times Literary Supplement (UK)

El Alamein was one of the pivotal battles of the Second World War, fought by armies and air forces on the cutting edge of military technology. Yet Alamein has always had a patchy reputation - with many commentators willing to knock its importance. This book explains just why El Alamein is such a controversial battle. Based on an intensive reading of the contemporary sources, in particular the extensive and recently declassified British bugging of Axis prisoners of war, military historian Simon Ball turns Alamein on its head, explaining it as a cultural defeat for Britain. Alamein is a military history of the battle - showing how different it looks stripped of later cultural excrescences. But it also shows how 'Alamein culture' saturated the post-war world, when archival sources mingled with film, novels, magazines, popular histories, and the rest of Alamein's footprint. Whether you are interested in the battle itself or its cultural afterlife, if you have an opinion about Alamein, you'll question it after reading this book.

"Majdalany recounts the battle with the clarity of full comprehension."--

Desert War; Ørkenkrigsførelse; Cairo; Alam el Halfa; Stumme; Kidney Ridge; Allierede Styrker; Bir Khalda; 10th Armoured Divisions; New Zealand Division; 9th Australian Division; 7th Armoured Division; 10th Corps; 24 Australian Brigade; 8th Armoured Brigade; 21st Panzer Division; Galal; Fuka; Tel el Aqqaqir; Briggs, R.; Currie, J.; Lumsden, H.; Harding, A.F.; Freyberg, B.C.

The story of one of the most important battles of the Second World War between two of its greatest generals is expertly related and explained by a leading historian, with detailed illustrations and supplementary facts.

The Battle of El Alamein is well established as a pivotal moment of the Second World War. Following the wildly fluctuating fortunes of the opposing sides, there was a real risk that Rommels Afrika Korps and his Italian allies would break through and seize Cairo with catastrophic strategic and political implications for the Allies. That this never happened is, of course, well known but, as this highly readable yet authoritative work reveals, there were moments of extreme peril and anxiety.Churchills bold, nay desperate, decisions concerning key appointments, Montgomerys stubborn refusal to be rushed, Rommels chronic logistic problems and critical air superiority are all examined in expert detail. The authors description of the actual fighting is brought to life by personal accounts as well as his complete grasp of the plan and tactics involved.The result, seventy-five years on, is a delightfully fresh and fascinating account of one of the iconic battles, not just of the War but in military history.

The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. El Alamein saw tow of the greatest generals of the war pitted against each other: Rommel and Montgomery. Through key profiles and a chapter devoted to 'The Armies' Battle Story: El Alamein explores what made these men inspired leaders and what led to their respective defeat and victory. Montgomery's success ensured that the Axis army was unable to occupy Egypt and therefore gain control of the Suez Canal or the Middle Eastern oil fields, thereby preventing a major source of income and power for them. The background and impact of the battle are explored in separate chapters, so offering the reader a clear insight into why what happened in this remote part of Egypt was so central to the Allied cause. Through quotes and maps the text explore the unfolding action of the battle and puts the reader on the frontline. If you truly want to understand what happened and why - read Battle Story.