War History Summary 11 - WWII 11 North African Campaign and El Alamein

In North Africa, the German Afrika Korps and British forces continued to clash over Egypt and Libya. By mid-1942, Rommel's German forces had advanced deep into Egypt, threatening the Suez Canal. However, the British forces strengthened their defenses under the command of Bernard Montgomery. In the Second Battle of El Alamein, which began in October 1942, the British forces concentrated their artillery and tanks to attack the German and Italian armies. The Allies exploited the German army's supply problems, gradually pushing the front line westward, and Rommel's forces retreated towards Libya. Meanwhile, in November 1942, US and British forces launched Operation Torch, landing in western North Africa. German and Italian forces came under pressure from both east and west, eventually being pushed back to Tunisia. In May 1943, the Axis forces in North Africa surrendered, ending the fighting in the region. The Allies secured a foothold for advancing into Southern Europe via the Mediterranean.