Transcript Battle of El-Alamein and Operation Torch

Battle of El-Alamein and
Operation Torch
1942
Thesis
The turning point of the Allies’ expulsion of
the Axis in North Africa at the battle of ElAlamein during Operation Torch allowed the
Allies to penetrate Nazi Germany via southern
Italy and begin the liberation of Europe.
Who’s Who
Allies
● Great Britain
● United States
● Australia/New
Zealand
Axis
● Nazi Germany
● Franco-Germans
● Kingdom of Italy
(Fought for their
territory)
Key Roles
●
●
●
●
●
●
Bernard Montgomery
Erwin Rommel
George Patton
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Winston Churchill
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Background
● The U.S military was extremely untested and had seen very little combat
unlike the very seasoned German Wehrmacht
● Majority of Northeast Africa was in Allied control, allowing for a land and
sea invasion
● The U.S and the British knew they could not invade mainland Europe at
this point
● The Axis had many air bases in the Mediterranean region making it
difficult to invade the eastern parts of North Africa
Timeline
July 3: Allies
repel Rommel’s
offensive
September 3:
Montgomery
stockpiles supplies
to overwhelm
Germans
July 1: Rommel
tries to break
August 1:
through British
-German forces
lines
strengthened with
Italy
-Churchill appoints
Montgomery
October 26: Both
sides redeploy
their forces
October 23:
Allies attack, Axis
counterattacks;
Allies advance
November 8:
British/American
troops land in
Casablanca
(Morocco) and
Oran/Algiers
(Algeria)
November 2: Axis
retreats, Allies
finally break
through
Map
Map of Battle of El-Alamein
Braveheart analogy
Both the Allies and the Scottish are going up against a
experienced and formidable army
Like the Allies fear a strong Axis counter attack to their
landings, William Wallace (Mel Gibson's character) and
his army fear they will be crushed by the English
http://cli.ps/TE7V
Battle Strategy
● Stalin pressured the Allies to start a new front near western Europe, so
Great Britain and other Allies invaded Axis-occupied north Africa.
● Eisenhower wanted to get the 60,000 Franco-German troops to join the
allies
● Allies performed a pincer movement with the U.S’s central and Eastern
task forces invading northern Algeria while George S. Patton and 2nd
armored division invaded western Morocco
● The U.S had landings in Safi, Mehndia, Oran and Algiers
Strategic Map
Why did the Allies win?
Rommel’s health was failing
Rommel wasn’t getting new troops or equipment
Germany was focusing on Eastern Front
Germans ran out of food, fuel, ammunition, and medical
supplies
● Montgomery had a larger troop force; Allies outnumbered
Axis on ground and air
● Montgomery had American supplies and weapons
●
●
●
●
Importance
● Battle of El Alamein
o
o
o
o
o
Turning point in North Africa in favor of Allies
Removed Axis powers from Africa
Brought the fight for the Western Desert to an end
The combined Allied powers were capable of defeating a Nazi army
Defeat of Germans → WWII propaganda for Allies (boosted morale and
support for the war)
o US and Britain gained experience and more confidence against the
formidable German army
Importance
● Operation Torch
Contained German expansion to Europe
Blocked off shipping lanes in the Mediterranean
Gave Allies a point to launch into Italy
Capture of Italy was crucial for Britain and the US because it gave
them a foothold for the future liberalization of Europe
o Encouraged Franco-Germans to gradually remove themselves from
the Axis side and side with Allies
o Also served as practice for when they would invade Italy and France;
higher chance of success (after integrating national armies and
generals together)
o
o
o
o
Aftermath
It may almost be said, “Before Alamein we never had a victory.
After Alamein we never had a defeat.”
--Winston Churchill
Casualties
● Rommel
o 2,349 killed, 5,486 wounded, and 30,121 captured
o Almost all tanks/artillery lost
● Montgomery
o 2,350 killed, 8,950 wounded, and 2,260 missing
o 400 tanks lost
Works Cited
"Allies Win at El Alamein." WW2 History. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2014.
Meyer, Leo J. "Decision To Invade North Africa." Decision To Invade North Africa. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2014.
Moody, Sidney C. War in Europe. Novato, CA: Presidio, 1993. Print.
"Operation Torch (Algeria-Morocco Campaign)." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. United States Holocaust
Memorial
Council, 10 June 2013. Web. 14 May 2014.
“Operation Torch - the Allied Invasion of Africa Timeline.” Second World War History. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2014.
"The Battle of Al-Alamein." TourEgypt.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2014.
Tucker, Spencer, and Roberts Priscilla Mary. Encyclopedia of World War II: A Political, Social, and Military History.
Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2005. Print.