DK - World War II Map by Map

143

J

e

b

e

l^

A

l^

A

k

hd

ar

Libyan

Plateau

CYRENAICA

Gulf of

Sirte

M e d i t e r r a

n e

a n

S e a

Derna

Al Marj

Tmimi

Gazala

Tobruk

El Adem

El Duda

Sidi

Rezegh

Gambut

Sidi Barrani

Bir Bir el Gubi

Hakeim

Mechili

Msus

Soluch

Agedabia

El Haseiat

El Agheila

Mersa

Brega

Mersa Matruh

Maktila

El Daba

Fuka

Alam Halfa

Alexandria

Sollum

Bardia

Benghazi

Halfaya

Pass

Sidra

Ridge

E G Y P T Q

a

tt

ar

a^

D

ep

re

ss

ion

L

I

B

Y

Panzer Group A

Africa

Italian

21st Corps

German Afrika

Korps

Italian Ariete

Division

British

8th Army

9th Australian

Division

2nd New Zealand

Division

British

8th Army

El Alamein

Jul 1–22, 1942

Axis advance to El Alamein

British retreat to El Alamein

Battle

THE AXIS ADVANCE

JUNE 23–28, 1942

After the loss of Tobruk, the British 8th Army

began to withdraw east into Egypt on June 23.

They stopped and established defensive positions

at Mersa Matruh. The Germans attacked on June

26 and soon captured the port, taking 6,000

prisoners. They failed to completely contain the

British, who broke out and, in small parties, fell

back to El Alamein.

4

◁ Battle instructions

Erwin Rommel (on the right),

the commander of the

German and Italian forces

in North Africa, gives

directions to his officers.

the coast at Gazala to Bir Hakeim about 60 miles (95 km) to the

south. Despite fierce resistance—particularly from the Free French

forces at Bir Hakeim—and heavy losses on both sides, Rommel

prevailed at the Battle of Gazala and forced the Allies to abandon

their defensive line and retreat toward the Egyptian border.

By the middle of June, Axis forces had captured Tobruk and the

Allies had fallen back to Mersa Matruh, which was itself overcome

by the end of the month. The two sides confronted one another

in Egypt in two inconclusive battles—El Alamein in July and Alam

Halfa in August. Although Rommel had achieved his most

impressive victories to date in North Africa, he had ultimately failed

to break through Allied lines. His advance had been checked.

5 THE FIRST BATTLE OF EL ALAMEIN

JULY 1–22, 1942

Rommel attacked the Allied line at El Alamein

on July 1. Allied general Auchinleck held back the

German advance for two days. An assault to

the south by the Ariete Division was turned back

by New Zealand forces, and a potential Axis

breakthrough was frustrated by Australian units.

Two further British attacks along the defensive

line on July 14–16 and 21–22 caused Rommel to

abandon his attack and withdraw.

Allied defensive

line

First battle

of El Alamein

Jul 14–22 Fierce fighting on

Ruweisat Ridge causes Rommel

to withdraw from El Alamein.

Aug 30 The front line

stabilizes south-west

of El Alamein.

Aug 30 –Sep 5 A major battle

is fought around Alam Halfa

Ridge as Rommel tries again to

break through British lines.

Jun 26 The Germans attack

British defensive positions

at Mersa Matruh.

Aug 30 Axis troops

launch feint attacks

against British lines.

See panel

6

Alam

Nayil

Ridge

Deir el

Shein

Metairie

Ridge

Deir el

Munassib

Ruweisat

Ridge Alam Halfa

Ridge

Tel el Eisa

Qat

(^) D tara
epr
essi
on
M
ed
iter
ranean^
Se
a
El Alamein
El Imayid
Tel el Aqqakir
German
Afrika Korps
8th Army
BATTLE OF ALAM HALFA
AUGUST 30–SEPTEMBER 5, 1942
On August 30, Rommel tried to break through
Allied lines at El Alamein once again. He launched a
feint attack to the north and his main attack to the
south, but Allied forces, now under the command
of Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery, held
firm and forced Rommel to swing north sooner
than planned, toward the Alam Halfa Ridge.
Rommel’s forces were soon running out of fuel and
vehicles and so withdrew to a defensive position.
They dug in and prepared to fight a defensive
campaign to hold ground against British attacks.
Aug 30 Allied medium
tanks are entrenched
on the defensive
Alam Halfa ridge.
Sep 1 An attempt
by German panzers
to outflank the British
is halted.
Aug 30 German Panzer
divisions and Italian
Motorized Corps launch
the main attack at 11 pm.
German attacks
Allied counterattacks
Alam Halfa Ridge
ROMMEL HELD BACK
After the Battle of Alam Halfa, Rommel
withdrew to a defensive position between
the sea west of El Alamein and the Qattara
Depression to the south.
US_142-143_Rommels_final_advance.indd 143 22/03/19 2:39 PM