The film is basically one long trek across the desert, focusing on the. Italian and german scouts sweep towards alexandria. As rommel swept toward the nile, the fall of egypt and the capture of the suez canal seemed inevitable. Slow and pondering at times but decent italian ww ii pic. The following contains only excerpts or highlights of a few of the battles.
At 80 pages, it needed to be focused tightly on the battle. It was part of the western desert campaign of world war 2 was fought between the british eighth army led by general claude auchinleck and the axis forces consisting of german and italian units of panzerarmee afrika panzer army africa led by field marshal erwin rommel. This article includes a list of related items that share the same name or similar names. Also, there is a cottage industry of war films about this particular battle. Pursued by field marshal erwin rommel, the british constructed an elaborate array of defenses commencing attacks on july. The battle lasted from 23 october to 5 november 1942.
How slight and unimpressive are often the initial causes which lead to great changes in the course of events. Mussolini has given explicit orders that italys forces were to reach the city first. Egypt 1st alamein is lou coatneys 1997designed free, printandplay 2player game about the opening battle for alamein, in july 1942, which was rommels best chance to break through and take naval base alexandria, cairo, and the suez. Another consequence of the battle was the changes it had on the 8th army, most specifically the change in commanders that was a result of the battle. Enjoy a rich lineup of tv shows and movies included with your prime membership. The italian troops that had preceded rommels german forces in north africa, only to be beaten back by the british, then saved from complete defeat by the arrival. The line of fire is concerned with the life of italian soldiers. The battle was fought between the axis forces, led by general erwin rommel, and the allied forces, commanded by field marshal claude auchinleck. One of michael rennies last films, as general montgomery takes over the british forces and collides with axis forces in north africa. It was the site of a decisive british victory in world war ii see north africa, campaigns in north africa, campaigns in, series of military contests for. The first battle proved inconclusive although it did prevent the axis marching into egypt placing the strategic. In this dramatization of a key battle from world war ii, the story is told from the point of view of the axis forces. A film marinated in rommel myth and italian produced, you get to see what the other side feels. With frederick stafford, george hilton, michael rennie, marco guglielmi.
The axis army of italy and germany suffered a decisive defeat by the british eighth army. Italian and german advance units raced toward alexandria. Lieutenant fiore emilio solfrizzi leads a group of soldiers stationed in egypt. Decision in the desert is only going to get 2 stars. Having lost 55,000 men, 320 tanks, and approximately 1,000 guns, the italiangerman army was forced to abandon plans for offensive operations once and for all and to begin a general retreat. On the positive side, it was free for my kindle app. Set during the titular desert battle of 1942, the film departs from expectation by concentrating on the axis point of view.
By 4 november the motorized elements of the axis were in full retreat, and because of the sluggish british followup they were allowed to escape. In the 2nd battle, the germanitalian forces in africa suffered such losses that they lost the offensive capacity details of the main battle may be found in this source. The film begins in the days when field marchal rommels afrika korps. Shot from the axis point of view, this tale shows rommel working his strategies against montgomery. The story of a marine grunt in the first battle of khe sanh april 1967 duration. Auchinleck had lost all credibility with churchill due to the loss of tobruk and galaza and what the prime minister perceived as a fondness for retreats. Montgomerys eighth army stops rommels afrika korps in 1942 egypt. Oct 22, 2008 shot from the axis point of view, this tale shows rommel working his strategies against montgomery. Despite their preparations, the german panzers were again unable to break through. As rommel swept toward the nile, the fall of egypt and the capture. It was fought between two of the best commanders in world war ii, montgomery for the allies and rommel for the axis between 23 october 4 november 1942. An account of the second battle of alamein, during ww2. The italian army paid a heavy price for mussolini throwing them into a war probably twothree years earlier than it was actually ready for it it performed poorly and lost. Though they mistrust one another, the german and italian troops are forced to work shoulder to shoulder to ward off the british.