What if el alamein

El Alamein was the first clear-cut and irreversible victory inflicted by the British Army upon the Axis. Coming after years of frustrating setbacks, this was a boost to British morale.

Victory proved that the problems that had plagued the Army for years had at last been overcome and that its equipment, tactics, generalship and fighting spirit were a match for the Axis.

For Churchill, the victory was vital for re-establishing British prestige before America reduced Britain to the role of junior partner in the western alliance. This was why he had been so anxious to instigate the battle before Operation Torch, the Allied landings on the coast of Algeria and Morocco, began.

The landings began on 8 November and forced the Axis to fight on two fronts. With the Allies also prevailing in the naval and air wars raging in the Mediterranean, the Axis position in North Africa was now untenable. Despite this, Hitler belatedly ordered a massive re-enforcement, which enabled the Axis to fight a defensive campaign in Tunisia into Although they fought a tenacious rearguard, the Axis forces were in an impossible position and in May were forced to surrender, with the loss of around , prisoners.

This may be an overstatement given that North Africa was only a sideshow compared to the titanic battles waged on the Eastern and Western Fronts. However, the battle boosted national morale and became one of the most celebrated victories of the war.

Alamein also established the reputation of Montgomery. Using his talent for self-publicity, he claimed all the credit for the victory. This made him a household name and secured him prestigious commands in Italy and North-West Europe. The grim struggle that rolled back and forth across the North African desert from to resulted in the first major Allied victory of the Second World War.

Arrogant, unlikeable, but ultimately successful, Field Marshal Montgomery was one of the most prominent British commanders of the Second World War. From to , the Allies fought an attritional campaign in Italy against a resolute and skilful enemy.

In the Axis powers invaded Yugoslavia and Greece. British and Commonwealth intervention and evacuation followed before a vicious partisan conflict began. During , the Allies endured months of fighting against a determined enemy. This bloody struggle eventually ended in the final defeat of Nazi Germany. France's defeat in the summer of left Britain threatened with invasion.

Find out how the Home Front was mobilised to resist enemy attack. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Be the first to hear about our latest events, exhibitions and offers. Simply enter your email address below to start receiving our monthly email newsletter. To find out more about how we collect, store and use your personal information, read our Privacy Policy. National Army Museum 10am - 5. Toggle navigation. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. A few thousand Hong Kongers protested the It was cheap, it was reliable and it was portable, but it could never even approximate the sound quality of a record being played on a home stereo.

It was, however, The initial rating categories were G appropriate for all ages , M for mature audiences, but all ages admitted , R persons Sign up now to learn about This Day in History straight from your inbox.

A female employee at a Colorado resort goes to police to file sexual misconduct charges against basketball star Kobe Bryant on July 1, A few days later, an arrest warrant was issued for Bryant, and the ensuing case generated a media frenzy. On the night of June 30, , One of the largest military conflicts in North American history begins on July 1, , when Union and Confederate forces collide at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

The epic battle lasted three days and resulted in a retreat to Virginia by Robert E. Ford began its development of the Thunderbird in the years following World War II, during which American servicemen had the opportunity to observe sleek Hitler also tried to take Leningrad. He failed in all three of these campaigns. He also failed in North Africa, a consequence of the decision to attack the Soviets as he had.

A significant increase in German forces would have taken Alexandria, Cairo and the canal. A subsequent attack north toward Turkey might well have brought the Turks into the war.

It might have convinced Spain to take Gibraltar. It might also have forced Britain to sue for peace. Redirecting German resources could have made the difference. At that point, a simultaneous drive on Baku from the southwest, with an all-hands thrust through southern Russia, would have cut Soviet oil supply and brought its industry grinding to a halt. In other words, North Africa was not only key for knocking Britain out of the war, but also a significant element of getting the Soviets to capitulate.

Why did Hitler not see this? He had terrible intelligence on the Soviets and was stunned by the reserves they produced.

He also had terrible intelligence on Britain. He could have been fed false intelligence, misinterpreted good intelligence, or simply never received the intelligence needed to make war.

Interestingly, his head of eastern intelligence, Reinhard Gehlen, wound up working for the Americans immediately after the war while the Soviets were consolidating their control in the east.

Rommel could not reach Suez for logistical reasons. The farther east he went from Tobruk, Libya, the scanter supplies were. The farther British forces were from Alexandria, the scanter their supplies were. As configured, there was no way either side could win.

But Hitler still had a chance to reconfigure his strategy. That option ended on Nov. This battle made it clear that Rommel had no future in North Africa.

He had little time to worry about the heart of the matter, the Suez Canal. The U. But the war in North Africa was effectively over. And the Third Reich was essentially finished, even though many more still had to die before the war was officially over. If Rommel had reached Cairo and the Suez Canal, history would have been different. El Alamein, a miserable place covering an area of 50 miles between the sea and an impassable depression in the desert, was the last moment the British waged a major campaign in this war or any other war by themselves except for the Falklands.

From then on, the British fought with the Americans and in many cases under their command. Their former colony had become the elder brother, and with that, the empire melted away. El Alamein was the last hurrah for Britain as a country able to wage war on its own, and it was a great last hurrah.