Depending on where/what you read the numbers of battles that took place at El Alamein during 1942 are either two or three ... probably a very easy question for N. Africa gurus but can anyone provide decisive clarity? Cheers Skip
Skip Most people say only TWO battles - first when 8th retreated from Gazala to the Alamein line in July 42 - then the big one on Oct 23rd '42 HOWEVER - I tend to say THREE as after Monty took over in the August - he fought Rommel to a standstill in the September at Wadi El Halfa giving Rommel a bloody nose- and his first defeat - Rommel never recovered and was fired after Medenine- but try telling that to the "experts " Cheers Wadi Alam Halfa was on the SOUTH of the Alamein line ...
Roger that and many thanks to you both. Three seems to be the expert opinion, the middle one being Alam Halfa as pointed out by TTH - cheers. Appreciate the replies
Skip may be the way I write things but I did point out that there were three battles - the FIRST one in July at El Alamein Station line of Gen Aukinleck- the SECOND in September at Wadi Alam el Halfa with Monty - a bit further South of the Alamein Station - and the THIRD back at the El Alamein station in the October- again with Monty… Cheers
Skip Clarification is one thing - understanding is an altogether different ball game - why did Monty win at Alam Halfa when no one else could beat Rommel..? Very simple as he KNEW from Ultra that Rommel was planning to cut through the Kiwis and rip up the rear of the defence line to the coast - killing off the British Armour on the way - as he usually did- and that would have been the end of the Desert campaign… Monty had done his homework and noted that Rommel sent a few panzers to tease the British armour into chasing them back to their own lines- and as they got near - the panzers went off and exposed the British Tanks to the Batteries of 88mm guns - end of the British Armour… SO Monty told the British to sit tight and he would bomb and shell the S*** out of Rommel's panzers and not allow the 88mm's to operate - which he did for two days and Rommel got his first defeat- he never recovered and was wide open to Monty's October - offensive battle… Cheers
Tom I would argue that Rommel clearly had been defeated outside Tobruk during CRUSADER. So Auchinleck had beaten him before Monty. Shame on the follow-through though. All the best Andreas
Monty took the credit for the Alam Halfa victory but the planning for the battle had taken place under the 'Auk' before Monty took over.
Have not we been here before? Monty's battle plan was rather different to the one planned by Dorman-Smith and Aukinlech.
Andreas - Peccavi - two dogs- TTH- et al who want to argue - it could be said that Rommel was beaten at Gazala when he went off to El Agheila - again at Tobruk and other areas BUT - he came again- after Wadi el Halfa - he NEVER won another battle……and was fired as you may recall at Medenine- and I understand he lost his last Battle in Normandy Cheers
