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Second Battle of El Alamein facts for kids

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Second Battle of El Alamein
Part of Western Desert Campaign
El Alamein 1942 - British infantry.jpg
24 October 1942: British soldiers on the attack.
Date 23 October – 5 November 1942
Location
El Alamein, Egypt
Result Decisive Allied victory
Belligerents
Allies:
 United Kingdom
 Australia
 New Zealand
 South Africa
 British India
 Free French Forces
 Greece		 Axis:
 Nazi Germany
 Italy
Commanders and leaders
United Kingdom Harold Alexander
United Kingdom Bernard Montgomery		 Nazi Germany Erwin Rommel
Nazi Germany Georg Stumme  †
Kingdom of Italy Ettore Bastico
Strength

195,000 men
1,029 tanks
435 armoured cars
730 – 750 aircraft (530 serviceable)
892 – 908 artillery pieces

1,451 Anti Tank guns

116,000 men
547 tanks
192 armoured cars

770 – 900 aircraft (480 serviceable)
552 artillery pieces
496 Anti Tank Guns – 1,063
Casualties and losses
13,560 casualties
332 – ~500 tanks
111 guns
97 aircraft		 30,542 casualties
~500 tanks
254 guns
84 aircraft

The Second Battle of El Alamein was a great turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle lasted from 23 October to 5 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stopped the Axis from attacking deep into Egypt further. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery took command of the British Eighth Army in August 1942.

The Allied victory turned the tide in the North African Campaign. It ended Axis's hopes of occupying Egypt, taking control of the Suez Canal, and reaching the Middle Eastern oil fields.

The battle forced Erwin Rommel and his Afrika Corps to retreat back to the former French fortifications in the Mareth Line in the border between Tunisia and Libya.

Images for kids

  • Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-443-1589-07, Nordafrika, Rommel in Befehlsfahrzeug

    Erwin Rommel (left) in his Sd.Kfz. 250/3 command halftrack.

  • 2 Battle of El Alamein 001

    Deployment of forces on the eve of battle

  • Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1980-009-34, Georg Stumme

    Georg Stumme in 1940

  • Ettore Bastico

    Marshal Ettore Bastico

  • The Campaign in North Africa 1940-1943 E18469

    British night artillery barrage which opened the second Battle of El Alamein

  • 250 Squadron RAF Kittyhawk Egypt 1942 IWM CM 3756

    Kittyhawk Mark III, of No. 250 Squadron RAF taxiing at LG 91, Egypt, during Operation Lightfoot

  • Paracadutista El Alamein14

    Original military uniform of an Italian paratrooper of the division Folgore in 1942

  • A mine explodes close to a British truck as it carries infantry through enemy minefields and wire to the new front lines

    A mine explodes close to a British artillery tractor as it advances through enemy minefields and wire to the new front line

  • El Alamein 1942 - British tanks

    British tanks advance to engage German armour after infantry had opened gaps in the Axis minefield at El Alamein, 24 October 1942

  • Italian reinforcements in final battle El Alamein

    Italian reinforcements in final battle of El Alamein

  • RAF Baltimore bombing El Daba airfield

    RAF Baltimore of No. 223 Squadron bombing El Daba airfield in support of the Alamein offensive

  • A British soldier gives a V-for-Victory sign to German prisoners captured at El Alamein, 26 October 1942. E18522

    A British soldier puts his fingers up at German prisoners captured at El Alamein, 26 October 1942

  • Second battle of El Alamein

    Italian troops assembling before the battle

  • The British Army in North Africa 1942 E18531

    Tanks of 8th Armoured Brigade waiting just behind the forward positions near El Alamein before being called to join the battle, 27 October 1942

  • Valentine tank Mk3 desert

    A Valentine tank in North Africa, carrying Scottish infantry

  • The British Army in North Africa 1942 E18684

    British Grant tank moving up to the front, 29 October 1942

  • Priest of 1st Armoured Division in North Africa, 2 November 1942 (E 18869)

    A Priest 105 mm self-propelled gun of the 1st Armoured Division preparing for action, 2 November 1942

  • The Campaign in North Africa 1940-1943 E18485

    German prisoners brought in from the battle

  • Sherman tanks of the Eighth Army move across the desert

    Sherman tanks of the Eighth Army move across the desert

  • 88 mm Flak 36 near El Aqqaqir 1942

    A captured 88 mm Flak 36 near El Aqqaqir, November 1942

  • Churchill III tanks of 'Kingforce', 1st Armoured Division, in the Western Desert, 5 November 1942. E18991

    Churchill tanks of Kingforce of the 1st Armoured Division during the battle, 5 November 1942

  • The British Army in North Africa 1942 E19174

    A German 88 mm gun abandoned near the coast road, west of El Alamein, 7 November 1942

  • El Alamein Aussie 9th edited

    Memorial to the 9th Australian Division at the El Alamein Cemetery

  • 2 Battle of El Alamein 002

    British Forces attack: 10:00 p.m. 23 October

  • 2 Battle of El Alamein 003

    Axis Armoured Divisions counter-attack: 6:00 p.m. 24 October

  • 2 Battle of El Alamein 004

    Allies attempt to break through: night of 25 October

  • 2 Battle of El Alamein 005

    Axis counter-attack and attack by 9th Australian Division: afternoon, 25 October

  • 2 Battle of El Alamein 006

    Folgore Division attacked from three directions: 10:30 p.m. 25 October to 3:00 a.m. 26 October

  • 2 Battle of El Alamein 007

    Allies advance: 51st Highland Division takes Kidney Ridge, Littorio Armoured Division counter-attacks: 5:00 p.m. 26 October

  • 2 Battle of El Alamein 008

    Both sides redeploy: night of 26 to 27 October

  • 2 Battle of El Alamein 009

    Axis fails to retake Kidney Ridge: 8:00 a.m. 27 October

  • 2 Battle of El Alamein 010

    Allies attempt to push back Trento Division: 28 October

  • 2 Battle of El Alamein 011

    Rommel redeploys forces: 29 October

  • 2 Battle of El Alamein 012

    Operation Supercharge begins, 9th Australian fails to break through: 11:00 p.m. 31 October 1942

  • 2 Battle of El Alamein 013

    Tank Battle of Tell el Aqqaqir: 9:00 a.m. 2 November; Axis forces begin retreat: 10:00 p.m. 2 November

  • 2 Battle of El Alamein 014

    Axis forces prepare to fall back: 3 November

  • 2 Battle of El Alamein 015

    Axis forces halt their retreat: 3 November

  • 2 Battle of El Alamein 016

    British forces break through: 7:00 a.m. 4 November; Trento, Bologna and Ariete Divisions destroyed, Axis forces flee

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Segunda Batalla de El Alamein para niños

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