The British Army in Egypt recognised this before the war and had the Eighth Army begin construction of several "boxes" (localities with dug-outs and surrounded by minefields and barbed wire) the most developed being around the railway station at Alamein. On the right, the attacking battalion broke into the Deir el Shein position but was driven back in hand-to-hand fighting. At daybreak on 22 July, Nehring's 5th and 8th Panzer Regiments responded with a rapid counter-attack which quickly overran the New Zealand infantry in the open, inflicting more than 900 casualties on the New Zealanders. The First Battle of El Alamein and the Battle of Alam el Halfa had prevented the Axis from advancing further into Egypt. Battle of El-Alamein synonyms, Battle of El-Alamein pronunciation, Battle of El-Alamein translation, English dictionary definition of Battle of El-Alamein. The British reinforced Ruweisat on the night of 2 July. On the other hand, for Rommel the situation continued to be grave as, despite successful defensive operations, his infantry had suffered heavy losses and he reported that "the situation is critical in the extreme". El Alamein Was Unusual in The Context of The North African Campaign [c] He decided instead to employ delaying tactics while withdrawing a further 100 mi (160 km) or more east to a more defensible position near El Alamein on the Mediterranean coast. His supply position was not improving; the British were tightening their control of the Mediterranean and, for Germany, the priority was now the Russian front. [102][106] Rommel launched an immediate counter-attack and the German armoured battlegroups overran the two forward battalions of 69th Brigade. German Panzer tanks were severely hit by these and the rest were held up and became sitting targets for Allied fighter planes that could easily pick off tank after tank. There is no doubt that the achievement of every Italian unit, especially of the motorised forces, far surpassed anything that the Italian Army had done for a hundred years. [39] The day ended once again with the Afrika Korps and Ariete coming off second best to the superior numbers of the British 22nd Armoured and 4th Armoured Brigades,[e] frustrating Rommel's attempts to resume his advance. Axis positions near El Alamein, only 66 mi (106 km) from Alexandria, were dangerously close to the ports and cities of Egypt, the base facilities of the Commonwealth forces and the Suez Canal. At the end of June, Axis forces made a second attempt to break through the Allied defences at El Alamein at Alam Halfa, but were unsuccessful. [101], On 26/27 July, Auchinleck launched Operation Manhood in the northern sector in a final attempt to break the Axis forces. [19] The Axis, too, believed that the capture of Egypt was imminent; Italian leader Benito Mussolini—sensing a historic moment—flew to Libya to prepare for his triumphal entry into Cairo. [33] They drove back repeated attacks by the Axis armour, who then withdrew before dusk. First Battle of El Alamein: 1–27 July 1942. [35], To the south, on 5 July the New Zealand group resumed its advance northwards towards El Mreir intending to cut the rear of the Ariete Division. The initial night attack went well, with 736 prisoners taken, mostly from the Italian Trento and Trieste motorised divisions. At 06:00 on 22 July, Australian 26th Brigade attacked Tel el Eisa and Australian 24th Brigade attacked Tel el Makh Khad toward Miteirya (Ruin Ridge). The British prevented a second advance by the Axis forces into Egypt. [13], Auchinleck had planned a second delaying position at Fuka, some 30 mi (48 km) east of Matruh, and at 21:20 he issued the orders for a withdrawal to Fuka. This Italian failure frequently prevented the realisation of my plans. Persia and Iraq were to be split from Middle East Command as a separate Persia and Iraq Command and Auchinleck was offered the post of C-in-C (which he refused). A small column of armour, motorised infantry, and guns then set off to raid Deir el Abyad and caused a battalion of Italian infantry to surrender. About 350 New Zealanders were taken prisoner. After the First Battle of El-Alamein, Egypt (150 miles west of Cairo), ended in a stalemate, the second one was decisive. The Eighth Army had suffered over 13,000 casualties in July, including 4,000 in the 2nd New Zealand Division, 3,000 in the 5th Indian Infantry Division and 2,552 battle casualties in the 9th Australian Division but had taken 7,000 prisoners and inflicted heavy damage on Axis men and machines. They were then counter-attacked by 21st Panzer at 11:00 and forced to withdraw. Georg Stumme (29 July 1886 – 24 October 1942) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during the Second World War who briefly commanded the Axis forces at the beginning of the Second The Italian XX Corps was to follow the Afrika Korps and deal with the Qattara box while the 133rd Armoured Division Littorio and German reconnaissance units would protect the right flank. The First Battle of el Alamein was fought from July 1 to 27, 1942 ending in a stalemate but a strategic victory for the British: the Axis advance in North Africa was stopped and the vital positions of Alexandria, Cairo, and most importantly, the Suez Canal, remained in British hands. Synonyms, Battle of El Alamein on the way to take up command! Open with no alternative but to surrender ( 55 German and 15 Italian )! Through and the Battle had originally expected a pause of six weeks after capture. Armour, who then withdrew before dusk the 1st Armoured Division and the Australians 400 no! 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