The Battle of El-Alamein and Operation Torch Aaron Correya, Harel Mizrahi, Emmett Gruber, Evan Minicucci, and John Leitch

Thesis The Battle of El-Alamein and Operation Torch both expelled the Germans from North Africa, and sprouted Allied dominance in the Mediterranean Sea to create another front, of Southern Europe, for the Allies to attack from.

The Battle of El-Alamein

Objectives of El-Alamein Axis: Capture the Suez Canal and the Middle Eastern Oil Fields Without the Suez it would be very hard for the Allies to supply themselves Allies: Stop Germans from reaching the Suez Churchill wanted a victory to improve moral Wanted to relieve pressure off the Red Army in the East

It was fought between one of the two of the best commanders in WWII… Quick Overview It was fought between one of the two of the best commanders in WWII… Bernard Montgomery -- British general Erwin Rommel -- German general In the summer of 1942, the Allies were getting spanked by the Axis forces in Europe If the Afrika Korps got to the Suez Canal, the Allies would have lost an extremely important supply route, and Germany would have access to tons of oil from the Middle East

El-Alamein Timeline October 25th- Four Allied brigades breakthrough the German Defense lines October 25th- Montgomery enacts “Operation Supercharge” September 2nd- Rommels assault is thwarted, his tank forces suffering high losses and pushed back to Bab el Qattara July 1st- General Erwin Rommel attempts to breakthrough the Allied defense First battle of Al-Alamein 1942 July 1- July 22 August 1-30 German forces get support by another Italian division October 23rd- Allies start break through with “Operation Lightfoot” November 4th- Allies defeat Rommel's troops by making them retreat throughout North Africa

Switch to Evan’s fancy presentation

The Battle El-Alamein was a bottleneck between the Mediterranean and the Qattara Depression Montgomery got ahold of Rommel’s plans and supply lines August 1942 Germans are low on fuel so Rommel attacks quickly He attempts to attack in the South but there are a lot of land mines and he is forced to retreat

The Battle (cont.) Rommel retreats and the British decide not to follow him This angers Chihill as he thought Montgomery was giving up the win Decide to enact “Operation Bertram” Set up dummy tanks in south to convince Germans they will attack there Execute Operation Lightfoot in the North

Operation Lightfoot oct. 23 1942 An Allied attack in the north were infantry would attack first They cleared out mines and made a path wide enough for tanks to get through This attack eventually failed as the tanks and infantry were not able to get as far as they initially thought Caused a large backup in the Tank line Infantry was forced to dig in

Operation LF Operation LF Dummy tanks

Operation Supercharge oct. 25 1942 Starts after Germans are occupied with Australians near the Mediterranean British then flank Rommel and attack him south of his troops Heavy losses by the Germans and they are forced to retreat back to the east

Germ Aus Brit

Operation Torch Timeline Nov 17-18 1942 Allies capture Beja and Sidi Nsir Nov 8 1942 Allies reach African shores Nov 26 --> on Allies Move East Nov 26 1942 Medjez el Bab is taken by the Allies Nov 12 1942 British Paratroopers land in airfield near Bone

Operation Torch British-American invasion of French North Africa during the African campaign. Started on November 8, 1942. Goals: Clear the Axis powers from North Africa Attack Vichy France (seen as allied with Nazis) Gain control of Mediterranean to attack South Eu. Vichy France & Germany vs. U.S, U.K, Free France

The Operation 2nd Major attack of North Africa designed to expel Axis troops Multiple areas that the Allies to attacked Vichy French troops were more of a nuisance to the Allies (Allies take the areas quickly) Once they held the land, they pushed further east (right towards retreating Afrika Korps from El-Alamein)

Effects of Operation Torch and El-Alamein By January 1943, Egypt was saved and 8th Mediterranean army (Allies) won back the gates of Tripoli. Rommel’s group got the absolute crap kicked out of them and the Axis forces were forced out of North Africa Allies gain more control over the Mediterranean “Soft Underbelly” of Europe exposed to the Allies Turning point in war that also increased morale for the Allies who hadn’t been doing so hot before. “Unconditional Surrender” idea created

Works cited http://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/battle-of-el-alamein.asp http://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/operation-torch-the-allied-invasion-of-north-africa.asp www.huffingtonpost.co.uk570 www.fortcampbellcourier.com http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_el_alamein.htm http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/operation_torch.htm http://www.thehistoryreader.com/modern-history/unconditional-surrender-questioning-fdrs-prerequisite-peace/ http://www.flamesofwar.com/hobby.aspx?art_id=249 http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/art-120701/American-troops-land-near-Algiers-on-Nov? http://themellowjihadi.com/tag/operation-torch/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_El_Alamein http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Torch http://www.39-45war.com/el_alamein.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-two/9620305/El-Alamein-veterans-gather-in-Egypt-for-70th-anniversary-of-battle.html http://www.ww2incolor.com/britain/SPIT-EL-ALAMEIN.html http://www.oldpicz.com/operation-torch/