Outline Table of ContentsIntroduction and Setting the Scene * 'The Race to Egypt' and the initial manoeuvre for position* Placing the battle in the context of the war in general and specifically the Desert War situation in July 1942; * A description of the British and Dominion forces in full retreat and of the Germans and Italians in hard pursuit.* The importance of a stand on a defensive line near the railway halt of El Alamein and the construction of several defensive "boxes" (localities with slit trenches and dugouts and surrounded by minefields and barbed wire) although most of the "line" was just open, empty desert;* The last opportunity to stop Rommel's drive into Egypt with its potentially fatal consequences for British power and influence in Middle East.The Armies at Alamein* How Eighth Army turned to confront its pursuers.* The battle of Alam Halfa* How order was brought from chaos, and where chaos was never overcome.* This chapter would introduce many of the main characters, places, military units and terminology that will appear throughout the rest of the book.* An explanation of the land and air forces available to both sides and the problems the opposing commanders faced.First Alamein - The first clash of battle* The German advance stalls for lack of fuel, etc.* Auchinleck's counter-attacks begin;* The attacks are not adequately co-ordinated.

There are some spectacular successes and some appalling failures.* In-fighting amongst the allied generals but courage on the battlefield;The Little Man with White Knobbly Knees - Montgomery and Alexander take charge * Churchill and Alanbrooke visit the Middle East* The dismissal of Auchinleck, the death of Gott and the arrival of Montgomery* What the ordinary men thought about these changes, and how they affected these men.* Reorganisation, reinforcements - the thoughts of new arrivals in the desert and the response of those already thereAlam el Halfa* Eighth Army's defence against Rommel's renewed attack.* The experiences of those involved.* How this attack was defeated* How close did Rommel really come to victory?* Rommel's logistical problems * The growing importance of the Desert Air Force* Montgomery's first offensive operationsPlanning for Breakthrough* How Eighth Army prepared for the breakthrough and what the men knew of the plans* What Montgomery planned to do and how he prepared his troops for this.* What were the problems to be overcome? How did the units train to do this?* New equipment: what the men thought of the Sherman, the 6-pounder, the 5.5-inch gunOperation Lightfoot* The enormous artillery bombardment * The infantry advance* Clearing gaps in the minefields* Attempts to get the armour through the minefields* Why these attempts failedThe Failure of 'Crumbling' - The wearing-out fight* How Montgomery's original plans to 'crumble' the Axis defences were not working* Why and how the plans were changed.* The attacks by 9th Australian Division in particular * Greater risks taken by the armoured units produces greater casualties* How German and Italian strength and morale was being sappedBreakthrough: Operation Supercharge - The decisive blow* The new bombardment* How the Germans and Italians were finally broken* The breakthrough by the armour* Pursuit of the motorized and armoured formations, capture of the infantry* 'Operation Torch' - the landings in French North Africa* How the Germans and Italians were finally defeated in North AfricaAnalysis and Conclusion* 'Desert Victory'* The significance of the victory to the men of Eighth Army and to the Germans and Italians - was this a 'turning point' in the Second World War* The 'Celebrity General': Montgomery and Rommel* The raging battle: How the events surrounding Alamein were (and remain) the subject of dispute between participants and historians* How is 'Alamein' remembered today* The true nature of the battles at Alamein.