Mediterranean & North Africa · 23 Oct 1942 – 11 Nov 1942

Second Battle of El Alamein

The Eighth Army broke through the Axis minefield-and-infantry line after days of attritional fighting, then pursued the retreating forces west. The final phase shows the pursuit through 11 November.

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The Second Battle of El Alamein began on the night of 23 October 1942, when an Allied artillery and air bombardment opened the Eighth Army’s offensive. The Axis had prepared a defensive line protected by extensive minefields, and the impassable Qattara Depression constrained movement in the south. Montgomery’s main attack fell in the north, while XIII Corps made a subsidiary attack farther south. Engineers and infantry opened routes through the mines, but the armoured formations did not achieve the intended breakthrough in the opening phase. [National Army Museum](https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/battle-alamein) [Imperial War Museums](https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/a-5-minute-history-of-the-battle-of-el-alamein)

From 26 to 31 October, the battle became a series of limited attacks and counter-attacks within the Axis positions. Montgomery’s forces tried to wear down the defenders while German armoured forces counter-attacked. The British armour remained constrained by minefield corridors and anti-tank fire, and the fighting did not yet produce a clear route into the open desert. The Eighth Army’s northern and southern corps remained engaged across the front. [Imperial War Museums](https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/a-5-minute-history-of-the-battle-of-el-alamein) [National Army Museum](https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/battle-alamein)

The final offensive, Operation Supercharge, began on the night of 1–2 November. By 3 November, Rommel was preparing to withdraw, though the Axis forces were short of fuel. On 4 November, the 5th Indian Brigade drove a wedge through the Axis front; the 1st and 7th Armoured Divisions and 2nd New Zealand Division then moved against forces in retreat. The breakthrough turned the engagement from close fighting along a fortified line into a pursuit westward. [National Army Museum](https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/battle-alamein) [Imperial War Museums](https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/a-5-minute-history-of-the-battle-of-el-alamein)

Accounts differ on the battle’s end date. One account dated the battle itself from 23 October to 4 November, another gave 23 October to 5 November, while other references extended the period to 11 November as the pursuit continued. The map shows the breakthrough and the westward retreat through 11 November; the fighting along the fortified line ended on 4 November. [Second Battle of El Alamein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_El_Alamein) [Second Battle of El Alamein order of battle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_El_Alamein_order_of_battle) [Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/event/battles-of-El-Alamein)

The Allied victory ended the Axis advance into Egypt and forced the German and Italian forces to retreat west. Allied casualties were 13,560. Axis casualty estimates differed substantially: one account gave 41,800–73,000, while another cited 30,542; the figures were not directly reconciled. Allied armoured formations pursued the withdrawing Axis forces after the breakthrough, but the motorised portion escaped the immediate destruction of the infantry positions and continued west. [Second Battle of El Alamein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_El_Alamein) [Second Battle of El Alamein - Simple English Wikipedia](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_El_Alamein) [National Army Museum](https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/battle-alamein)

Sources

  1. The battle opened on 23 October; the Allied attack used northern and southern corps and faced Axis minefields and fortified positions. — www.iwm.org.uk
  2. The order of battle identified the formations, their commanders, and the Eighth Army corps and divisions. — en.wikipedia.org
  3. The battle included the Dogfight and Break-out phases; 5th Indian Brigade opened the line on 4 November and Allied formations pursued. — www.iwm.org.uk
  4. The National Army Museum described the minefield defences, Operation Supercharge, the 4 November breakthrough, and the pursuit. — www.nam.ac.uk
  5. The casualty estimate and the 23 October–4 November date range were reported in the battle account. — en.wikipedia.org
  6. A second casualty figure and the 23 October–5 November date range were reported in the Simple English account. — simple.wikipedia.org
  7. Britannica gave the wider date range through 11 November. — www.britannica.com
  8. Maughan's official history maps the start line, the XXX Corps break-in of 24 October, the Australian salient of 1 November and Operation Supercharge. — www.awm.gov.au
  9. Maughan's chapter 15 describes the dogfight, Trig 29, the Australian thrust north, the 4 November breakout and Rommel's order to withdraw to Fuka. — www.awm.gov.au
  10. Outpost Snipe lay 1.5 miles south-west of Kidney Ridge, and Rommel's 27 October counter-attack aimed at the line from El Wishka to Point 29. — en.wikipedia.org
  11. The West Point atlas map of the pursuit dates Mersa Matruh, Sidi Barrani, Halfaya and Bardia. — dhc.westpoint.edu