World War II… In Egypt?

It might be surprising to hear that what is now home to beach resorts and mega projects was once a World War II battle ground. El Alamein, a city along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast, approximately 100 km west of Alexandria. Today it is flocked to by holidayers, concert goers, government officials and businessmen,  Egyptians and foreigners alike. But it has not always been this way, it was once a World War II battleground, the furthest thing from what it is today.

The newly developed city is where the Battle of El Alamein occurred. The Battle of Alamein is one of the most notable battles of World War II. It consisted of a series of two battles between the Axis and Allied powers. The first ended without a decisive victory for either side; the second was a victory for the Allied powers. 

But why Egypt? Why El Alamein? How did the Italians, Germans, and British end up in the Egyptian Desert?

Why Alamein?

Benito Mussolini, Prime Minister of Italy, had ambitions of building a second Roman Empire, not by retrieving territory that once belonged to the empire but by creating an Italian Empire with the same strength and imperial ambitions as the Roman one. He set out to do this by expanding Italian territories, specifically in Africa. Italian territories included Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia. He hoped that by doing this, he would control the Mediterranean, seize control of the Suez Canal, and dominate Middle Eastern oil resources. And so, the Western Desert campaign kicked off on the 13th of September 1940.

With help from the German Africa Corps, Italy and Germany had steady success in the Western Desert campaign. The German troops, led by General Rommel, supported their Italian allies. Immediately before the Battle of El Alamein, they won the Battle of Gazala in Libya, which took place from May 26 to June 21, 1942. On June 30, 1942, Axis forces entered Egypt and advanced as far as El Alamein. At the time, Egypt was controlled by the British. They, along with Commonwealth forces, fought the Axis powers to stop their advance.

What Took Place?

The First Battle of El Alamein happened in July 1942. About 13,500 Axis soldiers were lost. This battle stopped the Axis from advancing into Egypt. It also kept them from taking the Suez Canal. The Second Battle of El Alamein took place from October 23 to November 11, 1942. It caused about 30,000 Axis casualties and marked a key victory for British forces.

The Italian forces faced a serious lack of resources during the campaign. Their supply lines stretched over thousands of kilometers. They reached from Italy to Libya and crossed the Sahara Desert into Egypt. Limited transport vehicles caused logistical issues. This led to a supply bottleneck. As a result, frontline units faced shortages in fuel, ammunition, food, and spare parts. This area was nicknamed the Devil’s Garden, and it is estimated to have contained 17 million landmines and spanned 50 kilometers.

Win the Battle, Win the War? 

Winning a battle doesn’t mean winning a war, but the Battle of Alamein was a key turning point for the Allies.  The battle was the first major defeat for the Axis powers after a series of successes in North Africa. It represented a shift in momentum, boosting Allied morale and marking the beginning of Axis retreat across the continent. So much so that Winston Churchill is reported to have said of the significance of the Battle, ‘ Before El Alamein, we never had a victory, after El Alamein, we never had a defeat. 

El Alamein was crucial. Not just for its military effects but also for the overall course of World War II. It ended Axis ambitions in North Africa, maintaining Allied powers’ access to the Suez Canal and Middle Eastern Oil supplies. The victory also increased international confidence in the Allied coalition.

How Is It Remembered Today?

To the Axis powers and Italian history, the Battle of El Alamein is remembered as a symbol of bravery and sacrifice. Italian troops, though poorly equipped and outnumbered by British forces, held their ground. They gained respect for their endurance and commitment. The Italian Ministry of Defence has even praised the soldiers for sacrificing their lives in the North African campaign, though such commemorations have sometimes been controversial due to the association with Mussolini’s fascist regime.

To the Allied powers, it is celebrated as a story of victory and a decisive moment when the tides of World War II began to shift in their favor. British and Commonwealth forces were led by General Bernard Law Montgomery, who took command in August 1942 and has been widely praised in historical accounts and commemorations of the battle for his planning, inspirational leadership, and success in executing the Second Battle of El Alamein. 

You will also find the battle referenced in popular media, featuring in video games like Call of Duty and the 1969 war film The Battle of El Alamein.

As for Egypt, the battle left behind kilometres of landmines and barbed wire. These have caused harm and injury to Egyptians for decades after the war.  So, in recent decades, efforts began to clear these landmines. This was done to keep civilians safe and to get the area ready for the modern city of El Alamein.

Today, a cemetery for both British Commonwealth and Axis troops who died in the campaign can be found near the city. The El Alamein War Museum, also located nearby, commemorates the battle and houses collections including weapons, military vehicles, uniforms, maps, and photographs.

References

Imam, Rania, et al. “Meo.” The Middle East Observer, 24 Nov. 2016, meobserver.org/middle-east/egypt/2016/11/23/alamein/#:~:text=Egypt%20has%2022%25%20of%20the,mostly%20over%2018%20years%20old.

Loftus, Alex. “Italian Government’s Praise for El Alamein Troops Sparks Fascism Row.” BBC News, BBC, 25 Oct. 2024, www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp3n50qnw99o.

“The Struggle for North Africa, 1940-43.” National Army Museum, www.nam.ac.uk/explore/struggle-north-africa-1940-43. Accessed 29 July 2025.

Sumrall, Alan  K., et al. “North African Campaign: WWII’s Ultimate War of Logistics.” Warfare History Network, 1 Aug. 2025, warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/north-african-campaign-wwiis-ultimate-war-of-logistics/.