north africa and sicily r e n ai c (from casablanca in the...

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North Africa and Sicily (from Casablanca in the West to Cairo in the East) N S E W AUSTRIA I T A L Y TUNISIA (Vichy) SPANISH MOROCCO ALGERIA (Vichy) LIBYA (Italy) GREECE ALBANIA YUGOSLAVIA TURKEY (neutral) MOROCCO (Vichy) SPAIN (neutral) PORTUGAL (neutral) HUNGARY (Axis ally) ROMANIA (Axis ally) BULGARIA (Axis ally) FRANCE GERMANY SOVIET UNION POLAND BLACK SEA Strait of Gibraltar Sicily Sardinia (Italy) Corsica (Vichy) Balearic Islands (Spain) Crete Rhodes Cyprus (Britain) Suez Canal Malta (Britain) Cape Matapan SWITZ. (neutral) EGYPT 0 0 200 miles 200 km VICHY FRANCE (German military occupation Nov. 1942) C Z E C H O S L O V A K I A C y r e n a i c a J e b e l A k d a r W E S T E R N D E S E R T MEDITERRANEAN SEA ATLANTIC OCEAN Sofia Tripoli El Agheila Benghazi Mareth Salûm Gazala Tobruk Alexandria El Alamein Rome Ankara Istanbul Cairo Athens Naples Tunis Bizerte Algiers Casablanca Lisbon Madrid Gibraltar Oran

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North Africa and Sicily(from Casablanca in the West

to Cairo in the East)

N

S

EW

A U S T R I A

I T A L Y

T U N I S I A(Vichy)

SPANISHMOROCCO

A L G E R I A(Vichy)

L I B Y A(Italy)

G R E E C E

ALBANIA

Y U G O S L AV I A

T U R K E Y(neutral)

M O R O C C O(Vichy)

S P A I N(neutral)

P O R T U G A L(neutral)

H U N G A R Y(Axis ally)

R O M A N I A(Axis ally)

B U L G A R I A(Axis ally)

F R A N C E

G E R M A N Y

S O V I E TU N I O N

P O L A N D

B L A C K S E A

Strait ofGibraltar

Sicily

Sardinia(Italy)

Corsica(Vichy)

Balearic Islands(Spain)

CreteRhodes

Cyprus(Britain)

SuezCanal

Malta(Britain)

CapeMatapan

SWITZ.(neutral)

E G Y P T0

0

200 miles

200 km

V I C H YF R A N C E

(German militaryoccupation Nov. 1942)

C Z E C H O S L O VA K I A

Cyrenaica

Jebel

Akdar

W E S T E R N D E S E R T

M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A

A T L A N T I C O C E A N

Sofia

Tripoli

El Agheila

Benghazi

Mareth

Salûm

GazalaTobruk

Alexandria

El Alamein

Rome

AnkaraIstanbul

Cairo

Athens

Naples

Tunis

BizerteAlgiers

Casablanca

Lisbon Madrid

Gibraltar

Oran

Shaa_0739326694_1p_all_r1.qxp 9/25/06 9:45 AM Page xxiii

PD

F

MaoriMaori

NoceraNocera

AmalfiAmalfi

BattipagliaBattipaglia

VesuvioVesuvio

SorrentoSorrento

CastellammareCastellammare SalernoSalerno

PaestumPaestum

AvellinoAvellino

NaplesNaples

Gulf of NaplesGulf of Naples

Gulf of SalernoGulf of Salerno

CLARKCLARK

PompeiiPompeiiN

S

EW

00

00

200 miles200 miles

200 km200 km

Maori

Nocera

Amalfi

Battipaglia

Vesuvio

Sorrento

Castellammare Salerno

Paestum

Avellino

Naples

Gulf of Naples

Gulf of Salerno

CLARK

U.S. 36th DIVISION

PompeiiN

S

EW

0

0

200 miles

200 km

BRITISH

U.S.COMMANDOS

U.S. RANGERS

Operation Avalanche—Clark’s Invasion at Salerno

ParatroopDrops

German Response

AlliedBeachheads

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PD

F

BRADLEYBRADLEY

AMPHIBIOUSAMPHIBIOUSASSAULTSASSAULTS

PATTONPATTON

MONTGOMERYMONTGOMERY

CataniaCatania

BroloBrolo

EnnaEnna

MessinaMessina

I TA L YI TA LY

NicosiaNicosia

St. StefanoSt. Stefano

TroinaTroina

StraitsStraitsofof

MessinaMessina

S I C I L YS I C I L Y

Mt. EtnaMt. Etna

N

S

EW

00

00

10 miles10 miles

10 km10 kmA

ug. 8A

ug. 8

Aug. 2

Aug. 2

Aug. 11

Aug. 11

Aug

. 13

Aug

. 13

Aug. 14

Aug. 14

Aug. 15Aug. 15

Aug. 14Aug. 14

Aug. 15Aug. 15

Aug. 13Aug. 13

Aug. 11Aug. 11

Aug. 8Aug. 8

Aug. 2Aug. 2

BRADLEY

AMPHIBIOUSASSAULTS

PATTON

MONTGOMERY

Catania

Brolo

Enna

Messina

I TA L Y

Nicosia

St. Stefano

Troina

T Y R R H E N I A N S E A T Y R R H E N I A N S E A T Y R R H E N I A N S E A

Straitsof

Messina

S I C I L Y

Mt. Etna

N

S

EW

0

0

10 miles

10 kmA

ug. 8

Aug. 2

Aug. 11

Aug

. 13

Aug. 14

Aug. 15

Aug. 14

Aug. 15

Aug. 13

Aug. 11

Aug. 8

Aug. 2

The Race for MessinaBritish German Retreat

German Line (date) Aug. 15

American

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F

BRADLEYBRADLEY

KEYESKEYES

PATTONPATTON

PATTONPATTON

MONTGOMERYMONTGOMERY

CataniaCatania

MarsalaMarsala

TrapaniTrapani

CaltanisettaCaltanisetta EnnaEnna

MessinaMessina

ITALYITALY

SyracuseSyracuseGelaGela

LicataLicata

AgrigentoAgrigento

NicosiaNicosiaTroinaTroina

PalermoPalermo

Straits ofStraits ofMessinaMessina

S I C I L YS I C I L YMt. EtnaMt. Etna

N

S

EW00

00

20 miles20 miles

20 km20 km

BRADLEY

KEYES

PATTON

MONTGOMERY

Catania

Marsala

Trapani

Caltanisetta Enna

Messina

ITALY

SyracuseGela

Licata

Agrigento

NicosiaTroina

Palermo

Straits ofMessina

S I C I L YMt. Etna

N

S

EW0

0

20 miles

20 km

T Y R R H E N I A N S E A T Y R R H E N I A N S E A T Y R R H E N I A N S E A

Montgomery’s Plan for Sicily—Patton’s Response

Montgomery’s Plan

Patton’s Advance

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PD

F

CataniaCatania

MarsalaMarsala

TrapaniTrapani

CaltanisettaCaltanisettaEnnaEnna

NiscemiNiscemi

ScoglittiScoglitti

MessinaMessina

ITALYITALY

SyracuseSyracuseGelaGela

LicataLicata

AgrigentoAgrigento

NicosiaNicosiaTroinaTroina

PalermoPalermo

Straits ofStraits ofMessinaMessina

S I C I L YS I C I L Y

Mt. EtnaMt. Etna

N

S

EW00

00

20 miles20 miles

20 km20 km

Catania

Marsala

Trapani

CaltanisettaEnna

Niscemi

Scoglitti

Messina

ITALY

SyracuseGela

Licata

Agrigento

NicosiaTroina

Palermo

Straits ofMessina

S I C I L Y

Mt. Etna

N

S

EW0

0

20 miles

20 km

T Y R R H E N I A N S E A T Y R R H E N I A N S E A T Y R R H E N I A N S E A

Allied Position on July 14—Actual Paratroop Drop Positions

Demarkation LineAllied Forces

German/Italian Forces Actual ParatroopDrops

AlliedBeachheads

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F

off from the various fields around Kairouan, buthe knew the men, knew that thirty-four hundredparatroopers had gone aloft in the skies aroundhim, every one with the same job, the same infor-mation, and every one carried the same piece ofpaper, the final message passed out to them fromColonel Gavin.

Soldiers of the 505th Combat TeamTonight you embark upon a combat

mission for which our people and the freepeople of the world have been waiting fortwo years.

You will spearhead the landing of an

THE RISING TIDE 697

ScoglittiScoglitti

BiscariBiscari

GelaGela

NiscemiNiscemi

VittóriaVittória

PianoPianoLupoLupo

M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A

S I C I L YS I C I L Y

PATTONPATTON

N

S

EW

00

00

4 miles4 miles

4 km4 km

TheThe“Y”“Y”

Scoglitti

Biscari

Gela

Niscemi

Vittória

The“Y”

PianoLupo

M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A

S I C I L Y

U.S. 1st Division

U.S. 45th Division

PATTON

N

S

EW

0

0

4 miles

4 km

Plan for 82nd AirborneParatroop Drop

Paratroop Drop Zones

American Troop Landings

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PDF

PATTONPATTON

MONTGOMERYMONTGOMERY

CataniaCatania

MessinaMessina

T U N I S I AT U N I S I A

SyracuseSyracuseGelaGela

LicataLicata

AgrigentoAgrigento

PalermoPalermo

M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A

Straits ofStraits ofMessinaMessina

MALTAMALTA

S I C I L YS I C I L Y

Mt. EtnaMt. Etna

N

S

EW

00

00

40 miles40 miles

40 km40 km

PATTON

MONTGOMERY

Catania

Messina

T U N I S I A

I TA LY

SyracuseGela

Licata

Agrigento

Palermo

M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A

Straits ofMessina

MALTA

S I C I L Y

Mt. Etna

N

S

EW

0

0

40 miles

40 km

Plan of Attack for Sicily“Operation Husky”

Route of ParatroopAircraft & Gliders

Allied Troop Landings

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PD

F

N

S

EW

FaidFaid

FondoukFondouk

SousseSousse

KasserineKasserine

Le KefLe Kef

BizerteBizerte

EnfidavilleEnfidaville

SfaxSfax

KairouanKairouan

TunisTunis

Sidi Bou ZidSidi Bou Zid

Souk elSouk elKhemisKhemis

FrenchFrench19th Corps19th Corps

British 8th ArmyBritish 8th Army

MONTGOMERYMONTGOMERY

BRADLEYBRADLEY

ANDERSONANDERSON

JUINJUIN

MEDITERRANEAN SEAMEDITERRANEAN SEA

0

0

200 miles200 miles

200 km200 km

SbeïtlaSbeïtla

U.S. 2nd CorpsU.S. 2nd Corps

British British 1st Armyst Army

N

S

EW

Faid

Fondouk

Sousse

Kasserine

Sbeïtla

Le Kef

Bizerte

Enfidaville

Sfax

Kairouan

Tunis

Sidi Bou Zid

Souk elKhemis

U.S. 2nd Corps

British 1st Army

French19th Corps

British 8th Army

MONTGOMERY

BRADLEY

ANDERSON

JUIN

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

0

0

200 miles

200 km

VON ARNIM

Position for FinalAttack in Tunisia

AlliedGerman

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PDF

N

S

EW

0

0

200 miles

200 km

Faid

Sousse

Kasserine

Médenine

Gafsa

Mareth

Le Kef

Thala

Gabes

Bizerte

Bone

Enfidaville

Sfax

Tunis

MONTGOMERY

VON ARNIM

ANDERSON

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Sidi Bou Zid

AL

GE R I A

T

UN

I S I A

Souk elKhemis

SbeïtlaSbeïtla

TébessaTébessa

N

S

EW

0

0

200 miles

200 km

Faid

Sousse

Kasserine

Feriana

Médenine

Gafsa

Sbeïtla

Mareth

Le Kef

Thala

Gabes

Tébessa

Bizerte

Bone

Enfidaville

Sfax

Kairouan

Tunis

MONTGOMERY

VON ARNIM

ANDERSON

PATTON

MESSE

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Sidi Bou Zid

AL

GE R I A

T

UN

I S I A

Souk elKhemis

Patton and MontgomeryOffensives (Spring 1943)

Allied AdvanceGerman Retreat

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PDF

MédenineMédenine

MarethMareth

ToujaneToujane

GabesGabes

ROMMELROMMEL

MONTGOMERYMONTGOMERY

N

S

EW00

00

100 miles100 miles

100 km100 km

Médenine

Mareth

Toujane

Gabes

ROMMEL

MONTGOMERY

N

S

EW0

0

100 miles

100 km

The Battle ofMédenine

British

German

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N

S

EW0

0

200 miles

200 km

Faid

Kasserine

Gafsa

Le Kef

Thala

Gabes

ROMMEL

FREDENHALL

Sidi Bou Zid

AL

GE R I A

T

UN

I S I A

Souk elKhemis

FondoukFondouk

SbeïtlaSbeïtla

TébessaTébessa

N

S

EW0

0

200 miles

200 km

Faid

Fondouk

Kasserine

Feriana

Gafsa

Sbeïtla

Le Kef

Thala

Gabes

Tébessa

Kairouan

ROMMEL

FREDENHALL

Sidi Bou Zid

AL

GE R I A

T

UN

I S I A

Souk elKhemis

Final German Positionat KasserineAmerican /Allied

German

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N

S

EW0

0

200 miles

200 km

FaidKasserine

Gafsa

Le Kef

Thala

Gabes

ROMMEL

FREDENHALL

Sidi Bou Zid

AL

GE R I A

T

UN

I S I A

Souk elKhemis

FondoukFondouk

SbeïtlaSbeïtla

TébessaTébessa

N

S

EW0

0

200 miles

200 km

Faid

Fondouk

Kasserine

Feriana

Gafsa

Sbeïtla

Le Kef

Thala

Gabes

Tébessa

Kairouan

ROMMEL

FREDENHALL

Sidi Bou Zid

AL

GE R I A

T

UN

I S I A

Souk elKhemis

Rommel’sActual Attack

AmericanGerman

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N

S

EW0

0

200 miles

200 km

FaidKasserine

Gafsa

Le Kef

Thala

Gabes

ROMMEL

FREDENHALL

Sidi Bou Zid

AL

GE R I A

T

UN

I S I A

Souk elKhemis

FondoukFondoukVON ARNIM

SbeïtlaSbeïtla

TébessaTébessa

N

S

EW0

0

200 miles

200 km

Faid

Fondouk

Kasserine

Feriana

Gafsa

Sbeïtla

Le Kef

Thala

Gabes

Tébessa

Kairouan

ROMMEL

FREDENHALL

Sidi Bou Zid

AL

GE R I A

T

UN

I S I A

Souk elKhemis

VON ARNIM

Rommel’s Plan toAttack Tébessa

AmericanGerman

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N

S

EW

0

0

200 miles

200 km

Faid

Kasserine

Gafsa

Le Kef

Thala

Gabes

ROMMEL

FREDENHALL

Sidi Bou Zid

AL

GE R I A

T

UN

I S I A

Souk elKhemis

FondoukFondouk

SbeïtlaSbeïtla

TébessaTébessa

N

S

EW

0

0

200 miles

200 km

Faid

Fondouk

Kasserine

Feriana

Gafsa

Sbeïtla

Le Kef

Thala

Gabes

Tébessa

Kairouan

ROMMEL

FREDENHALL

Sidi Bou Zid

AL

GE R I A

T

UN

I S I A

Souk elKhemis

American Retreatfrom Sbeïtla

AmericanGerman

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N

S

EW

0

0

200 miles

200 km

Faid

Kasserine

Gafsa

Le Kef

Thala

Gabes

ROMMEL

VON ARNIM

FREDENHALL

Sidi Bou Zid

AL

GE R I A

T

UN

I S I A

Souk elKhemis

FondoukFondouk

SbeïtlaSbeïtla

TébessaTébessa

N

S

EW

0

0

200 miles

200 km

Faid

Fondouk

Kasserine

Feriana

Gafsa

Sbeïtla

Le Kef

Thala

Gabes

Tébessa

Kairouan

ROMMEL

VON ARNIM

FREDENHALL

Sidi Bou Zid

AL

GE R I A

T

UN

I S I A

Souk elKhemis

German Attack atSidi Bou Zid

AmericanGerman

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N

S

EW

0

0

200 miles

200 km

Faid

Sousse

Kasserine

Médenine

Gafsa

Mareth

Le Kef

Thala

Gabes

Bizerte

Bone

Enfidaville

Sfax

Tunis

ROMMEL

MONTGOMERY

VON ARNIM

ANDERSON

JUIN

FREDENHALL

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Sidi Bou Zid

AL

GE R I A

T

UN

I S I A

Souk elKhemis

SbeïtlaSbeïtlaTébessaTébessa

N

S

EW

0

0

200 miles

200 km

Faid

Sousse

Kasserine

Feriana

Médenine

Gafsa

Sbeïtla

Mareth

Le Kef

Thala

Gabes

Tébessa

Bizerte

Bone

Enfidaville

Sfax

Kairouan

Tunis

ROMMEL

MONTGOMERY

VON ARNIM

ANDERSON

JUIN

FREDENHALL

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Sidi Bou Zid

AL

GE R I A

T

UN

I S I A

Souk elKhemis

Rommel’s Plan toAttack the Americans

Allied PositionGerman Position

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N

S

EW

0

0

200 miles

200 km

Faid

Sousse

Kasserine

Médenine

Gafsa

Mareth

Le Kef

Thala

Gabes

Bizerte

Bone

Enfidaville

Sfax

Tunis

EISENHOWER

ROMMEL

KESSELRING

MONTGOMERY

VON ARNIM

ANDERSON

JUIN

FREDENHALL

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Sidi Bou Zid

AL

GE R I A

T

UN

I S I A

Souk elKhemis

SbeïtlaSbeïtlaTébessaTébessa

N

S

EW

0

0

200 miles

200 km

Faid

Sousse

Kasserine

Médenine

Gafsa

Sbeïtla

Mareth

Le Kef

Thala

Gabes

Tébessa

Bizerte

Bone

Enfidaville

Sfax

Tunis

EISENHOWER

ROMMEL

KESSELRING

MONTGOMERY

VON ARNIM

ANDERSON

JUIN

FREDENHALL

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Sidi Bou Zid

AL

GE R I A

T

UN

I S I A

Souk elKhemis

Positions in Tunisia(christmas 1942)

Allied Territory

German Territory

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Mareth

Homs

Sirte

Mersa elBregha

Gabes

Tripoli

Benghazi

Tunis

M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A

N

S

EW

0

0

40 miles

40 km

L I B Y A

T U N I S I A

A L G E R I A

Allied Line,Dec. 25

Nov. 20

Dec. 21

Jan. 23

Feb. 16

Rommel RetreatsToward Tunisia

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M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E AM E D I T E R R A N E A N S E AN

S

EW

00

00

20 miles20 miles

20 km20 km

El AlameinEl AlameinMersa elMersa elBreghaBregha

TobrukTobruk

MersaMersaMatruhMatruh

BenghaziBenghazi

L I B Y AL I B Y A

E G Y P TE G Y P T

Nov. 20Nov. 20

Nov. 4Nov. 4

Nov. 12Nov. 12

M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E AN

S

EW

0

0

20 miles

20 km

El AlameinMersa elBregha

Tobruk

MersaMatruh

Benghazi

L I B Y A

E G Y P T

Nov. 20

Nov. 4

Nov. 12

Rommel’s Retreat across Libyato Mersa el Bregha

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00

00

4 miles4 miles

4 km4 km

MisserhinMisserhin

OranOran

Sebkra d’OranSebkra d’Oran

TafaraouiTafaraouiAirfieldAirfield

La SéniaLa SéniaAirfieldAirfield

N

S

EW

M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A

0

0

4 miles

4 km

Misserhin

Oran

N

S

EW

M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A

Sebkra d’Oran

TafaraouiAirfield

La SéniaAirfield

The Final Fightfor Oran

American Forces

French Forces

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F

00

00

10 miles10 miles

10 km10 km

LourmelLourmel

MisserhinMisserhin

OranOran

N

S

EW

M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A

Sebkra d’OranSebkra d’Oran

Beach “Z”Beach “Z”

TafaraouiTafaraouiAirfieldAirfield

La SéniaLa SéniaAirfieldAirfield

Beach “Y”Beach “Y”

Beach “X”Beach “X”

U.S. ARMOR

U.S. INFANTRYBRITISH SHIPS

U.S. COMMANDOS

U.S. RANGERS& ARMOR

0

0

10 miles

10 km

Lourmel

Misserhin

Oran

N

S

EW

M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A

Sebkra d’Oran

Beach “Z”

TafaraouiAirfield

La SéniaAirfield

Beach “Y”

Beach “X”

U.S. PARATROOPERS

U.S. PARATROOPERS

Operation Torch—Center Task Force Landings

at Oran, Algeria

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Montgomery had not held still for long, the re-newed thrust pounding straight into the tanksand heavy guns that Rommel had hoped woulddrive the British back. No matter how muchBritish armor was destroyed, there was more toreplace it.

WEST OF HILL 28, SOUTHWEST OF

EL ALAMEIN—NOVEMBER 3, 1942

Rommel had driven along the coast road, hadfound a small hill, a perch that allowed him to seeacross toward the British position, the lines thathad once been his, where now the enemy contin-ued to gather its vastly superior strength. Von

THE RISING TIDE 165

N

S

EW

El AlameinEl Alamein

El Daba

Alam Halfa

Alam Halfa

RidgeRidge

Ruweisat RidgeRuweisat Ridge

M E D I T E R R A N E A NM E D I T E R R A N E A NS E AS E A

00

00

2 miles2 miles

2 km2 kmQ A T T A R A D E P R E S S I O N

ROMMELROMMEL

MONTGOMERYMONTGOMERY

Coast Road

Hill 28Hill 28Tel el AqqaqirTel el Aqqaqir

El Dab‘aEl Dab‘aN

S

EW

El AlameinTel el Aqqaqir

El Dab‘a

Alam Halfa

Ridge

Ruweisat Ridge

M E D I T E R R A N E A NS E A

E G Y P T

0

0

2 miles

2 kmQ A T T A R A D E P R E S S I O N

ROMMEL

MONTGOMERY

Coast Road

Hill 28

The Battle ofEl Alamein—

Montgomery’sBreakthrough

German LineBritish Line

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The second call came from Hitler, several hoursafter the first news from Keitel. Hitler had askedthe same question Keitel had: Are you wellenough to return to command? Rommel was sur-prised that Hitler himself seemed genuinely con-cerned, that should Rommel feel unfit, therewould be no order. But the urgency was clear, andRommel would never have refused. He was goingback to Africa.

The first sign of Montgomery’s attack hadcome from the British artillery, wave upon waveof shelling that poured over the German andItalian positions, followed by massive night andearly-morning bombing from unstoppable swarmsof British bombers. The combined assaults had

THE RISING TIDE 155

N

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ElElAlameinAlamein

Tel el AqqaqirTel el Aqqaqir

El Dab‘aEl Dab‘a

Alam Halfa

Alam Halfa

RidgeRidge

Ruweisat RidgeRuweisat Ridge

M E D I T E R R A N E A NM E D I T E R R A N E A NS E AS E A

E G Y P TE G Y P T

00

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2 km2 km

Q A T T A R A D E P R E S S I O N

ROMMELROMMELMONTGOMERYMONTGOMERY

Coast Road

Hill 28Hill 28

N

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ElAlamein

Tel el Aqqaqir

El Dab‘a

Alam Halfa

Ridge

Ruweisat Ridge

M E D I T E R R A N E A NS E A

E G Y P T

0

0

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2 km

Q A T T A R A D E P R E S S I O N

ROMMELMONTGOMERY

Coast Road

Hill 28

El Alamein—Position on

October 26, 1942German LineBritish Line

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Operation Torch—Allied Landings in

North Africa

FREDENHALLFREDENHALL RYDERRYDERPATTONPATTON

N

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EW

I T A L YI T A L Y

T U N I S I AT U N I S I A

SPANISHSPANISHMOROCCOMOROCCO

A L G E R I AA L G E R I A

L I B Y AL I B Y A

M O R O C C OM O R O C C O

S P A I NS P A I N

PORTUGALPORTUGAL

Strait of GibraltarStrait of Gibraltar

SicilySicily

SardiniaSardinia

MaltaMalta

CorsicaCorsica

Balearic IslandsBalearic Islands

00

00

200 miles200 miles

200 km200 km

ATLANTICATLANTICOCEANOCEAN

TripoliTripoli

GabesGabes

RomeRome

TunisTunis

BizerteBizerteAlgiersAlgiers

CasablancaCasablanca

GibraltarGibraltar

OranOran

FREDENHALL RYDERPATTON

N

S

EW

I T A L Y

T U N I S I A

SPANISHMOROCCO

A L G E R I A

L I B Y A

M O R O C C O

S P A I N

PORTUGAL

Strait of Gibraltar

Sicily

Sardinia

Malta

Corsica

Balearic Islands

0

0

200 miles

200 km

ATLANTICOCEAN

Tripoli

Gabes

Rome

Tunis

BizerteAlgiers

Casablanca

Gibraltar

Oran

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SOUTH OF ALAM HALFA RIDGE—AUGUST 31, 1942

“There is no fuel, sir! We are halted!”The man’s voice cut through him like a hot ra-

zor, and Rommel fought the instinct to shout.“General von Vaerst, you will exercise restraint

in my presence.”Von Vaerst now commanded the Afrika Korps,

and Rommel saw the anguish on the man’s face,the same twisting pain that was cutting throughRommel’s gut. They stood in the open, the ar-mored cars gathered in an uneven row besidethem, silent, the drivers conserving their gasoline.

Von Vaerst stared down toward his feet, said,

96 JEFF SHAARA

N

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El AlameinEl AlameinTel El AqqaqirTel El Aqqaqir

Alam Halfa

Alam Halfa

RidgeRidge

Ruweisat RidgeRuweisat Ridge

M E D I T E R R A N E A NM E D I T E R R A N E A NS E AS E A

E G Y P TE G Y P T

00

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2 miles2 miles

2 km2 km

QATTARA DEPRESSION

ROMMELROMMEL

MONTGOMERYMONTGOMERY

El Dab‘aEl Dab‘aN

S

EW

El AlameinTel el Aqqaqir

El Dab‘a

Alam Halfa

Ridge

Ruweisat Ridge

M E D I T E R R A N E A NS E A

E G Y P T

0

0

2 miles

2 km

QATTARA DEPRESSION

ROMMEL

MONTGOMERY

Rommel’s Defeat atAlam Halfa Ridge

German Minefields

German Advance

British Minefields

British Positions

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Though Rommel had driven within sixty-fivemiles of Alexandria, the first great Egyptian prize,he was forced to order his exhausted army topause. The British responded by launching acounterattack that accomplished little more thanadding to the casualty and prisoner lists on bothsides. Neither side was, for now, in any positionto do much damage to the other.

In any army, failure leads to change, and theBritish commander in chief, Sir Claude Auchin-leck, now removed the British Eighth Army’s fieldcommander, General Neil Ritchie. But, as theman in overall command of the theater, Auchin-leck himself was just as responsible for the fateof his army. On August 4, with activity along

THE RISING TIDE 65

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MersaMersaMatruhMatruh

El AlameinEl Alamein

FukaFuka

Alam HalfaAlam Halfa

RidgeRidgeRuweisat RidgeRuweisat Ridge

M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E AM E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A

E G Y P TE G Y P T

00

00

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4 km4 km

Q A T T A R A D E P R E S S I O N

ROMMELROMMEL

AUCHINLECKAUCHINLECK

Tel elTel elAqqaqirAqqaqir

El Dab‘aEl Dab‘a

N

S

EW

MersaMatruh

El AlameinTel elAqqaqir

El Dab‘aFuka

Alam Halfa

RidgeRuweisat Ridge

M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A

E G Y P T

0

0

4 miles

4 km

Q A T T A R A D E P R E S S I O N

ROMMEL

AUCHINLECK

The British Withdrawalto El Alamein

German Advance

British Retreat

British Line

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ROMMELROMMEL

RITCHIERITCHIE

N

S

EWGazalaGazala

BenghaziBenghazi TobrukTobruk

L I B Y AL I B Y A

E G Y P TE G Y P T

00

00

10 miles10 miles

10 km10 km

Sıdı Barranıdı Barranı¯ ¯ ¯ ¯SalûmSalûm

ROMMEL

RITCHIE

N

S

EWGazala

Sıdı Barranı¯ ¯ ¯ ¯Salûm

Benghazi Tobruk

L I B Y A

E G Y P T

0

0

10 miles

10 km

Rommel’s BreakthroughAt Gazala (“The Cauldron”)

GermanAdvance

BritishPositions

BritishMinefields

GazalaGazala

Bir HakeimBir Hakeim

TobrukTobruk

“The Cauldron”“The Cauldron”

ROMMELROMMEL RITCHIERITCHIE

Gazala

Bir Hakeim

Tobruk

“The Cauldron”

ROMMEL RITCHIE

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