El-Alamein Attractions
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.
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.
Sidi Abd el-Rahman - Beach
Here there is an excellent beach in a beautiful setting and a modern luxury hotel.
Facilities
Beach
On-site accomodations
On-site accomodations
British Military Cemetery
At km 105 (65mi) on the road from Alexandria, in an extensive depression below the road on the left, is the British Military Cemetery, containing 7,500 graves. In the middle of the cemetery stands a huge stone cross. On the opposite side of the road is a rest house (accommodation).
Facilities
On-site accomodations
German Memorial
Some 6mi/10km farther west of the British Military Cemetery, at km 115 (71mi), the German Memorial stands on a hill near the sea. Erected in 1959, this is an octagonal structure of light-colored stone modeled on the Castel del Monte in Apulia. Here are buried 4,280 of the 4,500 Germans who died in the fighting. In the central courtyard stands a basalt obelisk 38ft/ 11.5m high.
Hill 33
Beyond Italian Memorial is Tell el-Eissa, where the fate of the Afrika Korps was decided. The German-Italian military cemetery which was laid out on the southeast side of the hill after the war had to be abandoned on account of unfavorable climatic and geological conditions, and the remains of the fallen were removed to the new memorials, where they were sheltered from the invading sand.
Italian Memorial
Some 2.5mi/4km farther west is the Italian Memorial, built of white marble with a high central tower.
Sidi Abd el-Rahman
14mi/23km west is the little resort of Sidi Abd el-Rahman, named after a holy man revered by the bedouin as a prophet; the local mosque also bears his name.
It is planned to lay a pipeline from the El Alamein oil field to Sidi Abd el-Rahman, which will be developed into a modern oil terminal. From Sidi Abd el-Rahman the road continues west via El-Dabaa, the ancient Zephirium, to Mersa Matruh (80mi/128km).
It is planned to lay a pipeline from the El Alamein oil field to Sidi Abd el-Rahman, which will be developed into a modern oil terminal. From Sidi Abd el-Rahman the road continues west via El-Dabaa, the ancient Zephirium, to Mersa Matruh (80mi/128km).
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