Alamein

In this compelling account of the decisive World War II battle of El Alamein, Jon Latimer brings to life the harsh desert conflict in North Africa. In October 1942, after a two-year seesaw campaign across the wasteland of western Egypt and eastern Libya, the British Eighth Army not only achieved a significant military victory over the combined German-Italian Panzer Army but also provided an enormous psychological boost for the Allies.

This is the story of two of the most intriguing commanders of the war. Latimer offers remarkably balanced portraits of Bernard Law Montgomery, whose real achievement was overshadowed by his prickly ego, and Erwin Rommel, whose tactical brilliance could not overcome his disdain for the administrative side of war. Alamein, Latimer notes, was a victory for modern armaments, with concentrated artillery used on a scale not seen since 1918. Equally important were the critical contributions of naval and air forces in cutting off the German supply lines and supporting the ground troops, roles largely overlooked in standard accounts.

But Alamein is at heart the story of the infantry soldiers who fought in a scorched wilderness. Often using their own words, Latimer vividly describes the experiences of the gunners, sappers, cavalrymen, and airmen—Britons, Canadians, Australians, Indians, Germans, Italians, and others—who struggled in the heat, sand, and dust of this brutal environment.

With their success at El Alamein, the British forces would drive Rommel's army into Tunisia—and ultimate destruction in the North African Campaign of 1943.

This military history recounts the 1942 desert battle between the forces of the British Eighth Army and the German-Italian Panzer divisions that resulted in a significant victory for Allied forces. Although primarily a land battle, the contributions of air and naval forces in the conflict are given somewhat greater treatment by Latimer (Joint Services Staff College, UK) than in previous studies. Annotation c. Book News, Inc.,Portland, OR

Publishers Weekly

An exhaustively researched and comprehensive academic book, Latimer's excellent account may be too finely focused for nonspecialists, yet the inclusion of veterans' recollections and memoirs will grab the interest of generalists looking for something more than simple war stories. Latimer's critical but balanced view of Rommel, British general Montgomery and others is welcome; the inclusion of their opinions of, and dealings with, each other are in keeping with the best professional military history. A former officer in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Latimer (Deception in War) examines the tactics used by both sides in detail, something that will appeal greatly to military historians. All aspects of the battle are covered: the effect of Operation Ultra (Allied intercepts of encrypted Axis signals) and other intelligence on Allied strategy and the conduct of the battle; operations designed to deceive the Axis about details of the coming attack; accounts of small unit actions within the battle-all well presented in a carefully crafted and exciting style. Also included are 16 halftones, 14 maps and a 20-page order of battle for the forces engaged on both sides. Painstaking yet gripping, this should be the definitive account of the battle itself for years to come. (Nov.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Jon Latimer lectured at the University of Wales, Swansea and served in the Territorial Army. He is the author of 1812: War with America and Alamein (both from Harvard).