General Auchinleck, British C-in-C Middle East and commander of the 8th Army, chose to stop Rommel's advance into Egypt in 1942. The first battle of El Alamein halted Rommel's advance cold, and his attempt to resume the advance was defeated by Montgomery, forcing Rommel to wait for the Allied offensive. On 23 October, a 1,000-gun barrage launched the third battle of El Alamein. Although Rommel tried to hold the Alamein line, he had to retreat westwards when his forces were in danger of being surrounded. Never again did the Afrika Korps threaten Egypt. This book provides an in-depth analysis of the battle that turned the tide in favour of the Allies in Africa.