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The Battle of Alhamael: Why did this battle change the tide of war in North Africa?
The Battle of Alamel Harfa was fought from August 30 to September 5, 1942, south of El Alamin, Egypt, and became an important key point in the Western Desert Campaign of World War II. This battle had a significant impact on the war situation for both the German Afrika Korps (commanded by Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel) and the British Eighth Army (commanded by Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery).
In this battle, Rommel attempted to encircle the British and prevent the arrival of reinforcements, but the British used their intelligence advantage to set an ambush.
Although the Western Allied defenses at El Alamin were strong, due to the German success in Gaza, Rommel decided to launch a final attack in the hope of destroying the British before reinforcements arrived. The British army learned of the German plan through the code decoding system and deliberately left a gap to lure Rommel into launching an attack.
Montgomery's plan was to deploy British heavy equipment troops on the Alamel Hafa Ridge and use the terrain advantage to meet the German army.
In the process of laying out the overall strategy, the two armies carried out careful preparations and deployments. The German army hoped to gain an advantage by quickly breaking through the British defenses on the south flank, but they underestimated the British defense and mobilization capabilities. British commander Montgomery made wise decisions throughout the battle. He ordered heavy tanks to be used as anti-tank weapons, which enabled the British army to hold its ground.
The battle began on the night of August 30, under the bright full moon, and the German offensive began. However, interference from the British Air Force quickly weakened the German advantage, and while the German fleet failed in its attack plan, the British defense remained stable and strong. The combination of the soldiers’ morale and firepower turned the tide, preventing the Germans from launching a full attack.
After the battle, the German army's resources continued to be depleted, and it lost the initiative in North Africa, and was forced to change its strategic goals.
As September approached, the Germans realized that their offensive had failed and, lacking fuel and supplies, they were forced to retreat, paving the way for the British to follow up. Although the British suffered losses in the battle, it marked the first time in the war that they gained an advantage over the Germans.
After the war, the loss data of the two armies showed that the British had 1,750 soldiers killed or wounded, while the Germans had 2,930 killed, which shows that although the British army had some losses in tank command, overall their tactics were better. Still has the upper hand. The outcome of this battle not only changed the war situation in North Africa, but also foreshadowed the coming autumn campaign.
Some commentators pointed out that although Montgomery chose to act cautiously to preserve his strength, this did not allow the British army to take advantage when the German army failed to counterattack effectively.
The Battle of El Alamin was a watershed in the North African Campaign, confirming the German defeat in North Africa and paving the way for the British victory in the subsequent Second Battle of El Alamin. As Germany's security becomes increasingly tense, both sides need to reconsider their strategic arrangements in light of the impending consequences. The strategic turning point of this war will continue to affect subsequent military plans.
After this battle, what new situation will emerge in the war in North Africa?
