Product Description

In early 1942, the Axis powers dominated the Allied forces. Tobruk fell to Rommell in June and the Allies prepared to retreat to the Suez Canal. Disaster seemed immininent. But then began the battles that turned the tide against the Germans, the battles at El Almein. This text tells the story.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #758942 in Books
• Published on: 2000-02-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 200 pages

Customer Reviews

A fine description seen from the British side
This is a fine book, well paced and concise.

The vantage point is that of a high ranking British army officer, with detailed discussions of unit strengths, positions, movements, objectives, and losses. Unfortunately the voice of the regular British and Commonwealth soldier is seldom heard, that of the German or Italian soldier not at all.

A few more maps would have helped the reader follow the text. In fact to get the best out of the book it would be useful to have a map at hand to plot the movements of units through different stages of the battle.

El Alamein was a turning point in the struggle against the Axis forces during the Second World War. For the British it was the first major land success against the Germans, and it showed the long suffering people of Britain that not only could the Germans be resisted, but also defeated. The battle, essentially one of attrition, was a ferocious, confused slog which wore both sides down. It was an early indication that Hitler's willpower against all the odds would not be a match for the mounting material superiority of the Western Allies.

The first part of Lord Carver's book is a concise summary of the see-saw conflict in the Western Desert up until August 1942. This ends with a detailed account of the battle of Alam El-Halfa, Rommel's attempted breakthrough into Egypt before the British and Commonwealth buildup could be brought to bear. After failing in this he had little choice but to fall back to the west of El Alamein to await the inevitable British attack.

One chapter is devoted to the preparations of the British and Commonwealth forces, and a second much shorter chapter to the preparations of the Axis forces.

The next chapters give a detailed account of the main stages of the El Alamein battle itself. The massive artillery bombardment and initial assault on the 23rd of October, loss of momentum and stalemate on the 24-25th, Rommels desperate counterattacks and reassessment by Montgomery on 26-28th, reorganisation and the breakout on 29-2nd November, and finally the follow through on November 3rd-7th.

Rather heavy going, more for the true regimental historian
Unlike some other books in the Wordsworth (for example, the trilogy by Cornelius Ryan), which draw on eye witness testimony from all sides and ranks, Field Marshall Lord Carver's account focusses more on the order of battle, based on military records and limited recollections by high ranking officers. The result is a rather heavy read, all too easy to lose track of where each named and numbered division is located on the battlefield. Recommended only for the die hard miltary historian

Blow by Blow Account of El Alamein
An excellent blow by blow account of the battle of El Alamein, of which Winston Churchill said before El Alamein, we never had a victory, but afterwards, we never had a loss.

If you like accurate, battle accounts with in-depth analysis of what went on during one of the most famous of World War II battles, then this is the box for you. This book is not for the faint hearted though.

Lord Carver displays a level of detail, which shows his deep understanding and passion for his subject. The research for this book is immense, and it comes together in a thrilling sonsuming way, which would lead you to believe you were reading a Novel.

The book in itself, studies the conditions which brought Field Marshall Montgomery into the command of the Desert Rats, and how his influence turned the tide of a possible loss against one of the most brilliant of German commanders, General Rommel, into a decisive rout which ended a run of losses which the allies were finding hard to accept.

The battle took place between July and November 1942 and was the major turning point of WW11. Prior to El Alamein the Axis powers had advanced through North Africa and were positioning themselves for a final thrust on Alexandria itself, which would have been catastrophic for the Royal Navy, and for the Allies if the Suez Canal had been lost.

Rommel's break out was repulsed by the newly created defence around El Alamein, which had been established by a force led by the Bristish Army, resulting in a victory at Alam El Halfa Ridge in August. This led Monty to in October/November to break out and eventually take the entirety of North Africa.

An excellent, accurate, compulsive book, for the historian and amateur alike.