Alamein, El, battles of

Two decisive battles of World War II in the western desert of northern Egypt. In the first (1–22 July 1942), the British 8th Army under Auchinleck held off the German and Italian forces under Rommel; in the second (23 October–4 November 1942), Montgomery defeated Rommel.

The first battle was inconclusive but strategically vital: Rommel attacked the British line in a series of engagements, but Auchinleck kept him at bay. Neither side can be said to have won, but the British had the strategic advantage of short supply lines and so could reinforce more quickly than the Germans.

Montgomery began the second battle with a diversionary attack in the south to draw Axis forces into the area so that the main attack in the north could create a gap for the British armoured divisions to pass through German minefields. Progress was slow however, and Montgomery changed tactics, constantly switching the main emphasis of his attack to wear down Rommel's front line. The decisive phase of the battle came with an Australian attack along the coastal road on 26 October which diverted Axis forces while Montgomery launched a fresh attack further south which developed into a major tank battle. By 3 November Rommel had only about 30 serviceable tanks in action and little fuel reserves; on the following day he began organizing his withdrawal. He was able to escape, as the British were hampered by heavy rain and a shortage of fuel, but this was a crushing blow for the Axis campaign in North Africa.