The battles of El Alamein are considered to be the turning point for the Allies in the North African campaign in World War Two. These epic battles took place in the latter half of 1942 and were considered the last stand before the Axis Powers, consisting of German and Italian troops, seized the Suez Canal, as the Allies had lost considerable ground at the battle of Gazala. Change Slides. The Suez Canal played a pivotal role in the supply of Allied forces in North Africa and Europe, and if this precious resource was lost to the Axis powers, the Allies would have to rely on longer, more dangerous supply routes through South Africa. Losing the battles of El Alamein was not a risk the Allied forces were willing to take. Change Slides.
After the …show more content…
The 9th Division of the Australian Imperial Forces were involved in a number of these counter-attacks, but the determination of the Axis resistance prevented any real gains for the Allied forces. Change Slides. Due to the failure to remove the Axis forces from their positions, by the end of July the Allied offensive was brought to a halt and both sides reinforced their positions and resupplied their forces. Change Slides. The first battle of El Alamein had come to a close and the Allied forces, despite having failed to push Rommel’s forces back, had successfully defended Egypt and Suez Canal, and had stopped the Axis …show more content…
The broader Australian community also most likely would have wanted the victorious 9th division to return to defend Australia in the Pacific, as they were experienced and battle-hardened soldiers. Change Slides. In early 1943, the Australian 9th division did return to Australia to fight Japanese forces in the pacific, most notably in the Huon Peninsula campaign in New Guinea and the battles of North Borneo. Change