ABSTRACT
The first battle of Alamein began on 1 July 1942, and lasted until 17 July. The thwarting of Rommel at the first battle of Alamein in July 1942 was thus a turning-point, parallel to the successful thwarting of the Germans by the Russians at Stalingrad during the succeeding six months. Montgomery held an attempted offensive by Rommel at Alam Halfa at the beginning of September and then devoted the next weeks to absorbing great reinforcements of men and material. He did not launch the second battle of Alamein until 23 October so that, in fact, Churchill got an offensive out of Montgomery later, rather than sooner, than he would have done out of Auchinleck. The purpose of Churchill's exasperating proddings during 1942 became apparent when the Allied plan for landing troops in French North Africa, was put into effect on 8 November, only five days after the German defeat at Alamein.
