This Day in African History – Second Battle of El Alamein

Rommel's forces had been brought to a standstill by an equally exhausted Eighth Army at El Alamein in July 1942. Rommel had made an attempt to cut through Allied lines at the end of August (the Battle of Alam Halfa) but the newly installed commander of the Eighth Army, Lieutenant-General Bernard Law Montgommery, caught Rommel's troops in a well prepared killing ground and Rommel was forced to withdraw.

It was now the Allies turn, after intensive preparation, Operation Lightfoot was launched on 23 October 1942, the first part of a comprehensive plan to push Rommel out of Egypt. To the South, close to the Qattara Depression (which blocked any flanking movements) the 44th and 50th Divisions mounted a diversionary attack. To the north, after an intense artillery barrage, the 1st South African, 2nd New Zealand, 9th Australian, and 51st (Highland) Divisions attacked German and Italian lines.

It would take more than a week of continuous fighting before Rommel's defenses were weakened enough for a breakthrough and the second part of the Allied plan, Operation Supercharge, could be put into effect.