WW2/Battles of WW2/Date-by-Date/North Africa & Mediterranean • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
The battle in which Auchinleck's Eighth Army stopped Rommel's advance just short of Alexandria, stabilizing the front at El Alamein. (1–27 July 1942)
Chronological Storyline (15 Milestones)
Jul 1, 1942 CE
Axis assault on the Alamein Box
The Italian Ariete Armoured Division and German 15th Panzer Division attacked the Alamein Box held by the South African 3rd Brigade. The defenders repulsed the assault, inflicting heavy losses and temporarily halting the Axis momentum. Source — Wikipedia:
IWM caption : THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942. Infantry manning a sandbagged defensive position near El Alamein. By Fox (Sgt), No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit - This photograph E 14575 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-32), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2353047
Jul 1, 1942 CE
Rommel reaches the Alamein position
Rommel's Panzer Army Africa, exhausted and overextended after pursuing Eighth Army from Gazala, reached the El Alamein line. British forces occupied prepared defensive positions anchored on the Qattara Depression, preventing any southern flanking move. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_El_Alamein
IWM caption : THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942. Infantry manning a sandbagged defensive position near El Alamein. By Fox (Sgt), No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit - This photograph E 14575 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-32), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2353047
Jul 2, 1942 CE
Rommel breaks the northern front
Axis forces broke through the British northern sector, forcing the withdrawal of 18th Indian Infantry Brigade. Rommel sought to exploit this gap and continue his eastward drive toward Alexandria. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_El_Alamein
IWM caption : THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942. Infantry manning a sandbagged defensive position near El Alamein. By Fox (Sgt), No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit - This photograph E 14575 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-32), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2353047
Jul 3, 1942 CE
Eighth Army stabilizes the line
Auchinleck reorganized his forces and established a coherent defensive line. The Axis advance stalled as Panzer Army Africa, critically short of fuel and supplies, could not sustain offensive operations against stiffening resistance. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_El_Alamein
IWM caption : THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942. Infantry manning a sandbagged defensive position near El Alamein. By Fox (Sgt), No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit - This photograph E 14575 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-32), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2353047
Jul 4, 1942 CE
Auchinleck plans counteroffensive
With the front temporarily stabilized, Auchinleck prepared to seize the initiative. He concentrated forces for a counterattack aimed at destroying Axis armoured units and relieving pressure on the Alamein position. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_El_Alamein
IWM caption : THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942. Infantry manning a sandbagged defensive position near El Alamein. By Fox (Sgt), No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit - This photograph E 14575 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-32), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2353047
Jul 10, 1942 CE
British attack at Tel el Eisa
Auchinleck launched a major counterattack on the northern flank near Tel el Eisa, employing Australian 9th Division troops. The assault captured key ground and over 1,000 Italian prisoners, disrupting Rommel's northern sector. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_El_Alamein
IWM caption : THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942. Infantry manning a sandbagged defensive position near El Alamein. By Fox (Sgt), No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit - This photograph E 14575 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-32), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2353047
Jul 11, 1942 CE
Australians consolidate Tel el Eisa
The Australian 9th Division continued to press forward at Tel el Eisa against the Italian Sabratha Division. The attack severely damaged Axis infantry in the north and forced Rommel to divert reserves to shore up the sector. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_El_Alamein
IWM caption : THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942. Infantry manning a sandbagged defensive position near El Alamein. By Fox (Sgt), No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit - This photograph E 14575 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-32), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2353047
Jul 14, 1942 CE
Rommel counterattacks in the north
Rommel launched a counterattack using 15th Panzer Division to retake lost ground near Tel el Eisa. British anti-tank defences held firm, and the German attack was repulsed with significant armoured losses. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_El_Alamein
IWM caption : THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942. Infantry manning a sandbagged defensive position near El Alamein. By Fox (Sgt), No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit - This photograph E 14575 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-32), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2353047
Jul 15, 1942 CE
New Zealanders raid the south
The New Zealand Division launched a diversionary raid against Italian positions in the southern sector at El Mreir. The operation drew Axis attention and reserves away from the main British effort in the north. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_El_Alamein
IWM caption : THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942. Infantry manning a sandbagged defensive position near El Alamein. By Fox (Sgt), No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit - This photograph E 14575 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-32), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2353047
Jul 16, 1942 CE
Axis repositions forces northward
Rommel, under pressure from the Australian and New Zealand attacks, shifted elements of his armoured reserve northward. This redeployment weakened the central and southern sectors of the Axis line. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_El_Alamein
IWM caption : THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942. Infantry manning a sandbagged defensive position near El Alamein. By Fox (Sgt), No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit - This photograph E 14575 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-32), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2353047
Jul 21, 1942 CE
British assault on Ruweisat Ridge
Auchinleck launched a major two-brigade assault on Ruweisat Ridge in the centre, a key Axis position. The attack achieved initial surprise but supporting armour failed to arrive, leaving exposed infantry vulnerable to counterattack. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_El_Alamein
IWM caption : THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942. Infantry manning a sandbagged defensive position near El Alamein. By Fox (Sgt), No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit - This photograph E 14575 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-32), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2353047
Jul 22, 1942 CE
Armour fails to support infantry
British armour from 1st Armoured Division failed to reach the infantry on Ruweisat Ridge in time. Axis tanks counterattacked the exposed New Zealand and Indian infantry, inflicting heavy casualties and recapturing portions of the ridge. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_El_Alamein
IWM caption : THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942. Infantry manning a sandbagged defensive position near El Alamein. By Fox (Sgt), No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit - This photograph E 14575 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-32), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2353047
Jul 23, 1942 CE
Rommel regroups at Ruweisat
Rommel consolidated his hold on Ruweisat Ridge after repelling the British assault. Both sides were now heavily attrited, with Panzer Army Africa's tank strength reduced to dangerously low levels. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_El_Alamein
IWM caption : THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942. Infantry manning a sandbagged defensive position near El Alamein. By Fox (Sgt), No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit - This photograph E 14575 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-32), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2353047
Jul 26, 1942 CE
Australians attack at Miteiriya
The Australian 9th Division launched a night attack on the northern flank near Miteiriya Ridge. The assault gained ground but encountered fierce resistance, and the position could not be fully exploited. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_El_Alamein
IWM caption : THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942. Infantry manning a sandbagged defensive position near El Alamein. By Fox (Sgt), No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit - This photograph E 14575 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-32), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2353047
Jul 27, 1942 CE
Battle ends in stalemate
Both exhausted armies ceased major offensive operations. The front stabilized along the Alamein line, ending Rommel's advance on Alexandria and setting the stage for the decisive Second Battle of El Alamein in October. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_El_Alamein
IWM caption : THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942. Infantry manning a sandbagged defensive position near El Alamein. By Fox (Sgt), No 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit - This photograph E 14575 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-32), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2353047
