Labour History Lancs.

Student History

With great thanks to our Young Historian:

Gustav Falk

"Those who know nothing about history are doomed forever to repeat it. — Will Durant, 1885-1981"

Second Battle of El Alamein

Many people consider the Second Battle of El Alamein, which took place between October 23 and November 4, 1942, to be one of the war's turning points. This fight, which took place in the North African theatre, was a pivotal turning point in the war because it shifted the tide in favour of the Allied troops, particularly the British Eighth Army under General Bernard Montgomery's command. This essay will explore the Second Battle of El Alamein's strategic significance, the major characters engaged, how the battle developed, and its enormous effects on the trajectory of World War II

Background

Before delving into the details of the Second Battle of El Alamein, it is essential to understand the overall background of the North African theatre of World War II. From its base in Libya, Benito Mussolini oversaw Italy's invasion of Egypt in 1940. The British forces in North Africa, led by General Archibald Wavell, were able to halt the Italian advance and even start a counteroffensive into Libya despite initial difficulties.

Adolf Hitler's Germany, on the other hand, made the decision to intervene in North Africa to defend their ally Italy in the early months of 1941. The "Desert Fox," Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, was assigned to lead the German and Italian forces in North Africa. Rommel immediately distinguished himself as a brilliant tactician and launched a number of effective offensives that drove the British soldiers back to Egypt.

By the middle of 1942, Rommel's Afrika Korps was prepared to take control of Alexandria, a significant port, and possibly pose a threat to the Suez Canal, which served as a vital lifeline for the British Empire. The Second Battle of El Alamein served as the Allies' response to the crisis in North Africa, which had gotten out of hand.

Why North Africa Was So Important

Both the Allies and the Axis powers placed a great deal of strategic emphasis on the Second Battle of El Alamein. Several factors made maintaining control over North Africa necessary.

Access to the Suez Canal: For the British Empire, the Suez Canal served as the quickest marine route between Britain and its possessions in Asia and the Pacific. For the Allies, losing control of the canal would have had serious strategic and logistical repercussions.
Oil Resources: Both sides valued North Africa's vast oil deposits, which made it a vital asset. The Allies wanted to deny the Axis powers access to these resources, while the Axis sought to secure them.
Control of the Mediterranean Sea, a critical theatre for naval and aviation operations, came with control of North Africa. To establish a presence in the Mediterranean and exert pressure on Axis-held southern Europe, the Allies needed to take control of North Africa.
The North African theatre had enormous propaganda value, which had an effect on people's minds. A resounding victory in this area would raise spirits and show the respective belligerents' will and power to their home fronts and the rest of the globe.

The Armies

Rommel first appeared poised to join the German forces moving forward in the Caucasus and take over the entire Middle East. Although the British force was damaged during their disorganised retreat into Egypt, they rallied and made a stand in the First Battle of El Alamein. Unlike other positions in the desert, this one could not be turned by a flanking operation. The Qattara Depression, a sea of quicksand inaccessible to mechanised forces, and the Mediterranean both flanked it. The final attempts by Rommel to invade Egypt were thwarted in the summer of 1942. The British held the initiative at this time. To finally eliminate the Axis menace to the Middle East, they prepared yet another offensive.

One of the most talented and divisive British generals was Lieutenant-General Bernard Law Montgomery. He was named the Eighth Army's commander in August 1942, and he set out to change the fighting spirit of the army right away. He oversaw 190,000 soldiers from the British Empire, Greece, Poland, and France at Alamein. They had 1,400 anti-tank guns, 900 artillery pieces, and more than 1,000 tanks.

On the Axis side there was Erwin Rommel, a field marshal, who was already well-known for his outstanding leadership during the battles for France and North Africa. Rommel was an expert at fighting in the desert, gaining the moniker "Desert Fox." He motivated his men to outstanding acts of bravery and endurance by exuding a frenzied energy and leading from the front. The 'Afrikakorps' routinely outperformed the Allies, frequently against overwhelming odds, thanks to his aptitude for controlling armoured formations and the superiority of German forces in terms of quality. He oversaw 490 anti-tank weapons, 540 tanks, 116,000 German and Italian forces, and 500 pieces of artillery at Alamein.

The Battle Begins

Once more, the Axis forces were in a precarious supply situation. Instead of fighting a mobile combat because he lacked the fuel and mechanised forces to do so, Rommel built strong defensive positions surrounded by extensive minefields, which he dubbed the "devil's gardens." Montgomery rebuffed the impatient calls for an immediate attack from British Prime Minister Winston Churchill because he was aware of the strength of the Axis defenders. Instead, he started bolstering his forces, enhancing the training and morale of his soldiers, and making sure he had more men, tanks, weapons, and aircraft.

Despite the challenges, Montgomery maintained his composure. He emphasised the opposing forces' attrition while mounting a diversionary offensive to entice the limited Axis reserves. Then, on the night of November 1-2, he took a break and gathered his forces before unleashing his final assault, known as Operation Supercharge. On November 4th, after several more days of fierce battle, the British made a critical breakthrough. Montgomery's caution allowed the motorised Axis troops to escape and live to fight another day while the British managed to capture the majority of the Axis infantry. But the British had nonetheless achieved a tremendous victory, and Montgomery started chasing his vanquished adversary back into Libya and Tunisia.

The Aftermath

The British Army's first decisive and unassailable victory over the Axis came at El Alamein. This was a boost to British spirits after years of discouraging setbacks. The victory demonstrated that the Army's long-standing issues had been resolved and that the Axis could not outmatch the Army's equipment, tactics, generalship, or fighting spirit. Before America demoted Britain to the position of junior partner in the western alliance, Churchill believed that the win was essential for restoring British dignity. He had been eager to commence the battle before Operation Torch, the Allied landings on the coasts of Algeria and Morocco, began for this reason.

El Alamein has been immortalised in British folklore as a major strategic turning point of the war, helped by Churchill's rhetoric that hailed it as "the end of the beginning" of the war. Given that the fierce battles fought on the Eastern and Western Fronts were far more significant, this may be overstating the case. North Africa was really a sideshow. The battle, however, raised national spirits and turned into one of the most lauded wins of the conflict. Alamein also contributed to Montgomery's reputation. He made the most of his gift for self-promotion by taking full ownership of the win. As a result, he became well-known and was given prominent commands in Italy and North-West Europe. Although he was able to solidify his status as a national hero, there is still controversy around Montgomery's actions during the conflict.