Summary: On the 25th anniversary of the battle of El Alamein, Field Marshal Bernard L Montgomery revisits specific sites in the Egyptian desert and talks about the battle and allied topics, his words illustrated by authentic film, maps, reconstruction, and scenes of present day Egypt.
Description: Bourg el Arab: Montgomery's arrival in August 1942, Churchill's visit, conception of battle tactics. Ruweisat Ridge: Rommel's attack of August 30. Miteiriya Ridge: deployment of Commonwealth divisions, national and personal tastes in fighting (eg. Australians like a "solid killing match"). The start of the battle. General Siegfried Westphal describes the effect of the initial barrage on the Germans. Crisis of October 25, withdrawal of two divisions to rest, consternation in London, Churchill's anxiety "not to lose this battle", the general as managing director, "the human factor". Tel El Aggagir: Operation "Supercharge", tank losses, Rommel's retreat in spite of Hitler's directive, effect of victory on protagonists, Montgomery's attitude to casualty minimisation.
Alternative Title:
Colour:B&W
Digitised:
Object_Number:PMM 16
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:
Featured Period:1946-1975
Production Date:1967-10-19
Production Country: GB
Production Details: BBC Television (Production company)
Colley, Ray (Production individual)
Colley, Ray (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Montgomery, Bernard Law (person)
Keywords: Egypt (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Technical Details: Format: 16mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 1848 ft; Running time: 55 mins
