Background and Geography British controlled Egypt with Suez Canal Italy already positioned in parts of North Africa and wants to take over Egypt but struggle to do so Germans want to obtain oil fields in Middle East Tanks + Airplanes (Blitzkrieg) need oil Stalin wanted to open a second front to relieve forces in Stalingrad (Keylor 179) (Daniel) This battle took place in North Africa in the Mediterranean town of El-Alamein in North Egypt. Before the battle, Italy had previously controlled various parts of North Africa. Can anyone tell me which North African countries Italy controlled? (Libya and Ethiopia). The Italians desired to take over British-controlled Egypt, but they struggle to do so and call for help from Hitler and Nazi Germany. Because Hitler wanted to obtain the rich oil fields in the Middle East in order to supply their tanks and airplanes, he decided to help the Italians. Stalin, meanwhile, was trying to relieve forces in Stalingrad, calling for a second front in North Africa in order to receive aid from the Allies. (Which is back from Operation Barbarossa) In the end, both the Allies and the Axis wanted to control North Africa for varying war purposes.

Thesis Due to Hitler’s intervention in Mussolini’s political desires in North Africa, the allies rallied reinforcements to push back Rommel’s overextended forces at El-Alamein and executed the landings of Operation Torch in order to ultimately flush the Axis out of North Africa and set up the invasion of Sicily. (Daniel)

Africa Campaign in a Nutshell First Battle: July 1, 1942 – July 27, 1942, Second Battle: Oct 23, 1942 – Nov 11, 1942 Operation Torch: Nov 8, 1942 – Nov 10, 1942 Axis powers aggress against Allies to get to Suez Canal but fail Allies take advantage of rough terrain to win at El-Alamein Operation Torch: Allied troops invade French Morocco and Algeria Axis troops surrounded and surrendered on May 13, 1943, giving the Allies control of the Mediterranean The First Battle of El - Alamein took place from July 1st - July 27th of 1942. The second battle occurred from October 23rd to N0vember 11 of 1942, simultaneously with Operation Torch. On operation El alamein, the axis powers charge through the sahara desert to reach the oil fields in egypt, eventually being stopped by the Allies who take advantage of the rough terrain. In operation Torch, the allied troop invade french morocco and Algeria eventually cornering the retreating german forces. On may 13th of 1943, The axis forces are surrounded and give in to the allied forces, who now successfully have control of the mediterranean. SHREYAS

Important Figures Ettore Bastico - Leader of Italian Army Sir Claude Auchinleck - Leader of British Army Erwin Rommel - Leader of German Army in North Africa; known as “Desert Fox” Churchill and Roosevelt - Plan out Operation Torch Dwight D. Eisenhower - Leads and carries out Operation Torch George Patton - tank commander and leads seventh army in Operation Torch (Varun) Here are some key figures in the Battle of El-Alamein and Operation Torch. Bastico was the leader of the Italian Army and he is portrayed in the top left. Auchinleck was the leader of the British Army, and he took over command of the Eighth Army in order to ultimately defeat Rommel’s forces at El-Alamein. Meanwhile, Rommel (bottom right) was the leader of the German Army stationed in North Africa. His army was sent to help the Italians with kicking the British out of North Africa. However, this did not happen and he would eventually suffer serious losses. Later on, after the immense Allied success in the Battle of El-Alamein, Winston Churchill and US President Roosevelt gathered together to plan out Operation Torch. They assigned this operation to Dwight D. Eisenhower (bottom left) and George Patton (top right), who successfully carried out the operation and finally forced the Axis to flee out of North Africa.

Mussolini’s Empire Building Thesis: ...Hitler’s intervention in Mussolini’s political desires Mussolini’s Empire Building Mussolini finally liberated Ethiopia in 1941 Mussolini wanted Egypt and Sudan so he attacked (Ethiopia) Went horribly and were defeated quickly and were being pushed out of their territories (Ethiopia) Hitler decides to intervene Italy’s Army = Varun

Hitler’s Gamble Hitler deploys Rommel with limited resources Thesis: ...Hitler’s intervention in Mussolini’s political desires, Hitler deploys Rommel with limited resources Rommel launches counter-attack on March 30 (Afrika Korps) Pushes British back to Egypt by May Rommel constantly outflanked the enemy (The Mediterranean and North Africa) Hitler never adequately supplied him (Afrika Korps) Arvind Hitler deploys Rommel with one Panzer division and one light infantry division + armored regiment (Afrika Korps)

First Battle of El-Alamein Germans want to push all the way the Suez Canal Then they can go past into Iran, a pro-Nazi nation for oil (Afrika Korps) Rommel ravages through Benghazi and Tobruk Bernard Montgomery, sets up successful defensive positions at El-Alamein (Battle of El Alamein) Rommel had to re-gather his limited supplies Shreyas First Battle of El ALamein, the German army charge across the sahara desert to egypt. The german italian armies mission is to seize the middle east oilfield. Durin there push towards El - Alamein, the German are at a disadvantage due to only having 228 tanks, while the british have over 400 tanks. But the German force still charge even with this disadvantage. The leader of the German force, Rommel successfully ravages through Benghazi and Tobruk, and 5 months later the german army reaches El-Alamein. Once arriving, The British army lead by Bernard Montgomery set up a defensive leading to a long decisive battle. The battle ends in a stalemate with both sides being depleted of resources.

Second Battle of El-Alamein Thesis: … rallied reinforcements to push back Rommel’s overextended forces ... Second Battle of El-Alamein Rommel launches an attack on Alam Halfa and was repulsed, proceeded to make minefield (Battles) British resources were stacked so they launched an artillery bombardment on Oct. 23 (Afrika Korps) Followed up with tanks and engineers to disable mine-field Montgomery’s stated to his troops: “Our troops must not think that, because we have a good tank and very powerful artillery support, the enemy will surrender. The enemy will NOT surrender and their will be bitter fighting” (Keegan 337). Rommel has to take sick leave and replacememnt dies

Second Battle Continued Rommel wants to retreat but Hitler denies (The Mediterranean) Germans tried to counterattack but are destroyed by the allies British finally broke through the minefields on Nov. 2 (The Mediterranean) Rommel starts to retreat on Nov. 4 Montgomery criticized for not finishing them off immediately (Keegan 337) Also delays his attack on Russia by 6 weeks (Keylor 175)

Meanwhile...Operation Torch Thesis: … flush the Axis out of North Africa and set up the invasion of Sicily. Meanwhile...Operation Torch Campaign lead goes to Dwight Eisenhower, called by Churchill and Roosevelt at Casablanca conference (Isserman) Hitler thought Vichy French would defend their colonies so he did not occupy them (Miller 100-101) However the coast of Oran was defended particularly well, as coast guard correspondent, Leo Disher described (Haugen 58) Other landings at Algiers and Casablanca (Axelrod) US was prepared for the terrain due to their spy network. Constantly fed Germans false information using many formms of trickery. Varun

Hitler’s Last Ditch Attempt Rommel considered North Africa a loss and wanted to withdraw, Hitler of course said ______________ (Isserman) The US first taste of the Nazi’s is a major loss at Kasserine Pass (The Mediterranean) General Patton, under Eisenhower, iconic tank commander (Isserman) Germans were surrounded on all sides and issued the final surrender on May 13, 1943 (Isserman) Germans had big tiger tanks. Varun

Timeline End of the First Battle of El-Alamein July 27, 1942 End of the Second Battle El-Alamein November 10, 1942 Start of Operation Torch November 8, 1942 Axis Troops surrender May 13, 1943 Battle Of Stalingrad 1942 Start of the First Battle of El-Alamein July 1, 1942 Start of the Second Battle of El-Alamein October 23, 1942 End of Operation Torch November 10, 1942 Invasion of Sicily July 9, 1943 Arvun]]\\\

Significance in Context Allies completely controlled the Mediterranean They were able to supply themselves through the sea They could open the second frontier that Stalin wanted Significantly weakened German Army Allies gained access to Sicily, able to attack the “underbelly” of Nazi Germany Beginning of the end for Axis Varun