The Axis advance threatened British control of the Suez Canal, the Middle East and its oil resources. Panzer Army Africa ( Panzerarmee Afrika/ Armata Corazzata Africa, Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel), composed of German and Italian tank and infantry units, had advanced into Egypt after its success at the Battle of Gazala (26 May – 21 June 1942). The battle coincided with the Allied invasion of French North Africa in Operation Torch on 8 November, the Battle of Stalingrad and the Guadalcanal Campaign.Įrwin Rommel (left) in his Sd.Kfz. The battle revived the morale of the Allies, being the first big success against the Axis since Operation Crusader in late 1941. The British victory was the beginning of the end, of the Western Desert Campaign, eliminating the Axis threat to Egypt, the Suez Canal and the Middle Eastern and Persian oil fields. Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery was appointed and led the Eighth Army offensive. In August 1942, General Claude Auchinleck had been relieved as Commander-in-Chief Middle East Command and his successor, Lieutenant-General William Gott was killed on his way to replace him as commander of the Eighth Army. The First Battle of El Alamein and the Battle of Alam el Halfa had prevented the Axis from advancing further into Egypt. The Second Battle of El Alamein (23 October – 11 November 1942) was a battle of the Second World War that took place near the Egyptian railway halt of El Alamein.
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