The modest village of El-Alamein gained a place in history during the Second World War, when, in the late summer and autumn of 1942, the advance of Rommel's Afrika Korps was halted by British forces in a series of bloody battles in which some 80,000 men on both sides were killed or wounded. El-Alamein now attracts many visitors to its military
cemetery and war memorials.
In 1966 promising reserves of oil were found in the vicinity, and extraction began in 1968, giving a considerable boost to the economy of the area.
History
During the German-Italian offensive in North Africa, which had been ordered by Hitler and Mussolini, a German and Italian armored force commanded by General Erwin Rommel (1891-1944) advanced from Tobruk (Libya) and on June 30,1942, in the First Battle of El-Alamein, captured Hill 26 and occupied positions at El-Alamein. Their further advance towards Cairo, however, was thwarted by the resistance of British forces, who had established a defensive line between El-Alamein and the Qattara Depression. Then on October 23, 1942 the British Eighth Army commanded by Generals Montgomery and Alexander launched a major offensive and in the Second Battle of El-Alamein compelled Rommel to retreat on November 4, in spite of Hitler's order to hold the position at any cost. British military superiority in North Africa was thus assured, and the way was clear for the advance into Italy.
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