Second Battle of El Alamein
El Alamein, Egypt
What happened
General Bernard Montgomery led the British Eighth Army, with troops from Britain, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, Free France and Greece, against the German and Italian army of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. German and Italian forces had pushed deep into Egypt, threatening the Suez Canal and the oil of the Middle East. On the night of 23 October 1942, Montgomery's army began a huge artillery barrage and pushed through the enemy minefields, which the Germans called 'devil's gardens'. After almost two weeks of hard fighting, a final attack broke through, and Rommel ordered a retreat.
Why it matters
Result: Allied victory. Why it matters: The victory ended the Axis threat to Egypt and the Middle East. Churchill said it was not the end of the war, but 'perhaps the end of the beginning'.
What came next
Days later, American and British forces landed in French North Africa in Operation Torch. Montgomery later commanded the Allied ground forces on D-Day.
Did you know?
Montgomery, nicknamed 'Monty', was later given the title Viscount Montgomery of Alamein after this victory.
Timeline
- August 1942Montgomery takes command of the Eighth Army.
- 23 October 1942The Allied attack begins with a night barrage.
- 4 November 1942The Axis line breaks and Rommel retreats.
- 8 November 1942Operation Torch lands Allied troops in North Africa.