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אל עלמיין
אל-עלמיין הוא סיפור מרתק של אחד הקרבות המכריעים במלחמת העולם השנייה, שהיה לנקודת-מפנה היסטורית בתולדותיה של מלחמת העולם השנייה ובחיי היישוב העברי בארץ ישראל. בשנים הראשונות של מלחמת העולם השנייה היה מצבה של בריטניה קשה בחזיתות רבות, בין השאר גם בזירת הלחימה בצפון אפריקה. בקיץ 1942 החלה המפקדה הבריטית בקהיר לשרוף מסמכים, מחשש פן יצליח הגנרל הגרמני רב-המוניטין ארווין רומל למוטט את הקווים הבריטיים במדבר המערבי, להדוף את הארמייה השמינית ולכבוש בתנופה סוחפת את מצרים ואת תעלת סואץ, השער אל הודו ואל אימפריה הבריטית במזרח הרחוק. ביישוב העברי בארץ ישראל השתררה באותם ימים אווירה של חרדה: אילו כבש "קורפוס אפריקה" הגרמני את מצרים, הייתה הדרך פתוחה בפניו אל חצי-האי סיני ואל ארץ ישראל. באוקטובר 1942 פתח צבא בריטניה, בפיקודו של גנרל ברנרד מונטגומרי, במערכה המכרעת נגד צבאות גרמניה ואיטליה במדבר המערבי והביס אותם באל-עלמיין. הייתה זו מכה מוחצת שרומל לא התאושש ממנה, מפלה שווינסטון צ'רצ'יל, ראש ממשלת בריטניה, הכתיר אותה בתואר "סוף ההתחלה". תבוסתו של רומל, "שועל המדבר" הגרמני רב התחבולות, הביאה גם הקלה רבה ליישוב בארץ ישראל, משום שהסירה מעליו את סכנת הכיבוש הגרמני. אל-עלמיין הוא תיאור כובש לב של כל אחד מהיבטי מלחמת המדבר, החל במהלכים האסטרטגיים הגדולים של המאבק על השליטה באגן הים התיכון, דרך הקרבות הקשים של שריון בשירון וקרבות "פנים על פנים", וכלה בלחימה האפורה, היומיומית, ובמנת חלקו של החייל הפשוט – מטחי התותחים, החום הקופח, סופות החול והזבובים המציקים.
295 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 12, 2025
I really enjoyed this book; Bungay is refreshingly fair and loves debunking myths. He confirms a lot of things I’ve been thinking about, there were plenty of blunders made, but the important things were structural. The Italian military was a mess, the soldiers did as well as they could, in a war they never supported. The British side was better, but still riddled by class considerations and badly organized. They had some massive advantages too, good logistics, plenty of “good enough” equipment, ultra and other intelligence, and air superiority. They could have gained air superiority quicker if Leigh-Mallory and Sholto Douglas were not hoarding Spitfires in Europe, these were desperately needed in Malta and Africa.
Bungay effectively debunks the myth of the Luftwaffe aces, they were indeed incredibly good, but it was to the detriment of the German forces in general, while half a dozen aces shot down Hurricanes and Kittyhawks en masse, it left the field free for the RAF bombers. German trucks and logistics were devastated by the RAF. As soon as the Spitfires started trickling in, the Luftwaffe was finished; they hadn’t enough fuel, due to RAF air superiority.
The Germans had advantages too, a superb military organization, not due to discipline, but by letting the middle-level officer do their jobs, and thinking independently. This got them all the way to October 1942 before it all fell apart.
They won battles but lost the war.
Bungay effectively debunks the myth of the Luftwaffe aces, they were indeed incredibly good, but it was to the detriment of the German forces in general, while half a dozen aces shot down Hurricanes and Kittyhawks en masse, it left the field free for the RAF bombers. German trucks and logistics were devastated by the RAF. As soon as the Spitfires started trickling in, the Luftwaffe was finished; they hadn’t enough fuel, due to RAF air superiority.
The Germans had advantages too, a superb military organization, not due to discipline, but by letting the middle-level officer do their jobs, and thinking independently. This got them all the way to October 1942 before it all fell apart.
They won battles but lost the war.
June 7, 2022
Bungay's history of the Battles of El Alamein (yes, that pluralisation is correct) is a masterful and highly engaging study and one that deserves its rating. Whilst not as beholden to the minutiae of the combat in and around the Egyptian site as other more focused texts may be, 'Alamein' is superlative at capturing the historical aspects of almost all key participants, the lead up to the battles, and perhaps most importantly, the reception and interpretation of the events and personalities engaged therein. Part strategic study, part tactical analysis, part biography, part historiography, 'Alamein' will satisfy all bar the most demanding reader.
One key element of the book's success is that Bungay positions the battles of El Alamein in a wider strategic context, whilst also keeping a focus on the more narrow front line experiences of the men who fought in the Egyptian desert, on both the Axis and Allied sides. The North African campaigns are positioned in the wider context of an Italian-German Axis which was in many ways dysfunctional, with shifting agendas and the deployment of two armies in different ways for, at the end, doomed reasons. The importance of Malta and supply lines from Italy to Libya are given suitable attention, as is the problematic nature of the command structure and politics that governed the operations of the Axis forces in the desert.
On the other side of the coin the author is also acutely aware of the faults and mistakes that plagued those that led the Allied forces against Rommel's Axis forces, as well as how those same forces remedied many of these weaknesses and successfully launched the offensive at El Alamein in October-November 1942. Bungay is extremely fair on all the key British and Commonwealth leaders that played a role in the campaigns from 1940 onwards, including most importantly General Claude Auchinleck. Bungay is right to both recognise his achievements as well as his failures, and then goes on to do much the same for perhaps the most controversial British general of WW2, Bernard Montgomery. He even does his best to give Churchill a balanced consideration, neither damning him for the way he treated his generals nor praising him too effusively.
This book is not just a study of the generals and politicians; it is also a story of weapons, of men, and the ground upon which they fought. Similar to that other great British military historian Antony Beevor, Bungay writes of the experiences of the men in the battles with their own words. Whether the source be German, Italian, British, Commonwealth or other he gives the participants their own voice. This adds to the already high readability of his book, ensuring that 'Alamein' will be engaged with avidly by the reader.
Bungay's prose is straightforward, his narrative clear, his arguments complex but clearly put. He does not ascribe to the mythologising of Rommel nor of Montgomery. He is aware of the relative strategic importance of the campaign in the desert for the wider war, with a consciousness of how vital it was for the Commonwealth and to a similar extent the Italians. He draws conclusions that are valid historically and militarily, and he also does something that is extremely valuable. He looks at the historiography of the battles of El Alamein and makes some important points as to how the history has been shaped by those writing about them since 1942. It is one thing for an account such as this to try and provide a definitive narrative about the events and personalities; it's another to try and deconstruct the popular perceptions of the history as it has been shaped by those with or without a vested interest.
If there was one issue with 'Alamein' that I could find fault with it would be the lesser focus on the experiences of the Italian forces engaged in the Desert campaigns once Rommel's DAK arrived. Bungay does give attention to specific units and aspects of the equipment of the Regio Esercito, however considering that the Italians constituted approximately half of the Axis forces deployed there is far less emphasis given to the Italian contribution that might be expected. Their commanders are rarely spoken of and the Regia Aeronautica is also given scant coverage.
Aside from this aspect of 'Alamein' I have nothing but praise for the text and for its author Stpephen Bungay. It may not be the definitive nor the most fulsome book on the subject, however it is the most readable, clear and engaging study that one would hope to encounter. I have no reservations recommending it to any potential reader.
One key element of the book's success is that Bungay positions the battles of El Alamein in a wider strategic context, whilst also keeping a focus on the more narrow front line experiences of the men who fought in the Egyptian desert, on both the Axis and Allied sides. The North African campaigns are positioned in the wider context of an Italian-German Axis which was in many ways dysfunctional, with shifting agendas and the deployment of two armies in different ways for, at the end, doomed reasons. The importance of Malta and supply lines from Italy to Libya are given suitable attention, as is the problematic nature of the command structure and politics that governed the operations of the Axis forces in the desert.
On the other side of the coin the author is also acutely aware of the faults and mistakes that plagued those that led the Allied forces against Rommel's Axis forces, as well as how those same forces remedied many of these weaknesses and successfully launched the offensive at El Alamein in October-November 1942. Bungay is extremely fair on all the key British and Commonwealth leaders that played a role in the campaigns from 1940 onwards, including most importantly General Claude Auchinleck. Bungay is right to both recognise his achievements as well as his failures, and then goes on to do much the same for perhaps the most controversial British general of WW2, Bernard Montgomery. He even does his best to give Churchill a balanced consideration, neither damning him for the way he treated his generals nor praising him too effusively.
This book is not just a study of the generals and politicians; it is also a story of weapons, of men, and the ground upon which they fought. Similar to that other great British military historian Antony Beevor, Bungay writes of the experiences of the men in the battles with their own words. Whether the source be German, Italian, British, Commonwealth or other he gives the participants their own voice. This adds to the already high readability of his book, ensuring that 'Alamein' will be engaged with avidly by the reader.
Bungay's prose is straightforward, his narrative clear, his arguments complex but clearly put. He does not ascribe to the mythologising of Rommel nor of Montgomery. He is aware of the relative strategic importance of the campaign in the desert for the wider war, with a consciousness of how vital it was for the Commonwealth and to a similar extent the Italians. He draws conclusions that are valid historically and militarily, and he also does something that is extremely valuable. He looks at the historiography of the battles of El Alamein and makes some important points as to how the history has been shaped by those writing about them since 1942. It is one thing for an account such as this to try and provide a definitive narrative about the events and personalities; it's another to try and deconstruct the popular perceptions of the history as it has been shaped by those with or without a vested interest.
If there was one issue with 'Alamein' that I could find fault with it would be the lesser focus on the experiences of the Italian forces engaged in the Desert campaigns once Rommel's DAK arrived. Bungay does give attention to specific units and aspects of the equipment of the Regio Esercito, however considering that the Italians constituted approximately half of the Axis forces deployed there is far less emphasis given to the Italian contribution that might be expected. Their commanders are rarely spoken of and the Regia Aeronautica is also given scant coverage.
Aside from this aspect of 'Alamein' I have nothing but praise for the text and for its author Stpephen Bungay. It may not be the definitive nor the most fulsome book on the subject, however it is the most readable, clear and engaging study that one would hope to encounter. I have no reservations recommending it to any potential reader.
May 17, 2020
An account of the key battle of the Desert War, including a summary of the earlier battles and the impact of Montgomery on the Eighth Army - this was the victory Churchill described as ‘the end of the beginning’
June 18, 2008
Clear exposition and good follow-through with post-battle strategic analysis. Bungay isn't afraid to break from the chronological flow of events (unlike Mitcham's Rommel book) to better illuminate things. He has good command of the material. Lots of detail of everyday life and graphically depicted horrors of war on the ground and the discomforts of desert hardship are balanced with well presented overall strategic moves. Bungay approaches Montgomery from all sides and perspectives for nice balance. Maybe not the best book on this subject, but a worthwhile one.
February 29, 2008
The unfortunately-named but rather clever Stephen Bungay is a former management consultant, which might lead you to think he'd be about as useless as consultants generally are. You'd be wrong, though. His background makes him uniquely suited to examining the command structures of the three very different armies fighting in the Western Desert: British Imperial Forces, the Nazi Afrika Korps, and the hapless Italians. Bungay is a a scrupulous historian and an engaging writer, two gifts sadly not often found in tandem. He also posesses a wry wit, which is of course entirely enjoyed.
April 4, 2018
Stephen Bungay has written an excellent analysis and look inside the battle of El Alamein that marked the turning point in the Second World War for British forces fighting against the Germans and Italians, so successfully led by Erwin Rommel. There are numerous books and studies of the military campaigns in North Africa during the Second World War. What allows Stephen Bungay's book to stand out from so many others is his thoughtful examination of the complexity of issues that bedeviled both the Allies and Axes forces fighting in the desert. Bungay's revealing and thoughtful examination of the challenges of supplies and logistics, combined with critical importance of air supremacy, and coordinated artillery, turned the tide against the Germans. What makes the book a tutorial in effective leadership is the author's insightful and detailed examination of General Montgomery's superb efforts and success at retraining the British Eighth Army to be a more effective and efficient fighting force. Stephen Bungay has a very engaging and easy to read writing style. this adds to the joy of reading this fine military history book. I recommend it to anyone interested in the challenges and leadership complexities that became the creative forge of successful allied military leadership during World War Two.
August 15, 2018
After a slow start getting into it a good book. Not just a history but it does this it has good sections on the background to the days. The soldiers, the politics, the main players are all disused. The incites as to the whys and afters are all interesting!
I have just read this book with six months to go on Brexit, cannot help feeling if we had approached Africa in the early 1940's like we are approaching Brexit now Brexit would have never happend as we would all be speaking German now!
I have just read this book with six months to go on Brexit, cannot help feeling if we had approached Africa in the early 1940's like we are approaching Brexit now Brexit would have never happend as we would all be speaking German now!
October 22, 2024
Very clear and readable, with interesting views into the background national politics of the day and the impact the battle for North Africa had on them. Also, very honest views into both sides' failings and the personalities of the major figures (Especially Monty!).
September 18, 2018
An incisive overview of the war in the desert in general and the Alamein battles in particular
June 19, 2019
Superb
Stephen Bungay writes with passion and honesty, such detail and depth, a story so vividly written and explained, what drama!
Stephen Bungay writes with passion and honesty, such detail and depth, a story so vividly written and explained, what drama!
January 27, 2023
Informative, well researched.
January 24, 2016
Bungay has written a short, but insightful and very readable account of one of the most important battles in British military mythology.
Three characteristics of the book make it stand out. First, Bungay places Alamein in its proper context within the Desert War as a whole, exploring the events that led up to the timing and location of the battle and showing how Auchinleck had laid much of the foundation for Montgomery's success. Second, he puts the land battle in the context of the air and sea war, showing how the Axis failure to recognise these as key factors of the campaign meant that Rommel was always at a disadvantage and was ultimately in an untenable poisition. Third, Bungay seeks to move away from looking at the battle as largely a duel between two generals, an approach that can reduce the actual armies to almost non-human machines, and instead considers the clash between two very different military systems (three if we include the Italians). Through this means, he highlights how the cultures of the armies led to completely different command and tactical performance, of which Rommel and Montgomery were as much the products and servants as the driving spirits.
These strengths perhaps lead to the deficiencies within the book. Possibly due to limitations of space, the analysis of the main battle of Alamein itself occupies less than 30 pages (less than 15% of the book). This leads to something of a focus on Rommel and Montgomery, with relatively limited examination of their subordinates, especially on the Axis side (though Bungay does spend some time examining Montgomery's struggles with his corps and some divisional commanders). In addition, while Bungay's consideration of the armies as systems offers a fascinating glimpse at the inner workings of the military machine, this could have been developed further into a deeper analysis of the mechanism.
Yet this is to criticise the book for not being more than it aimed to be. In writing an accessible introduction to a key point in British history, Bungay has served his readers well and taken them several steps further in understanding than might have been expected from a standard popular history.
Three characteristics of the book make it stand out. First, Bungay places Alamein in its proper context within the Desert War as a whole, exploring the events that led up to the timing and location of the battle and showing how Auchinleck had laid much of the foundation for Montgomery's success. Second, he puts the land battle in the context of the air and sea war, showing how the Axis failure to recognise these as key factors of the campaign meant that Rommel was always at a disadvantage and was ultimately in an untenable poisition. Third, Bungay seeks to move away from looking at the battle as largely a duel between two generals, an approach that can reduce the actual armies to almost non-human machines, and instead considers the clash between two very different military systems (three if we include the Italians). Through this means, he highlights how the cultures of the armies led to completely different command and tactical performance, of which Rommel and Montgomery were as much the products and servants as the driving spirits.
These strengths perhaps lead to the deficiencies within the book. Possibly due to limitations of space, the analysis of the main battle of Alamein itself occupies less than 30 pages (less than 15% of the book). This leads to something of a focus on Rommel and Montgomery, with relatively limited examination of their subordinates, especially on the Axis side (though Bungay does spend some time examining Montgomery's struggles with his corps and some divisional commanders). In addition, while Bungay's consideration of the armies as systems offers a fascinating glimpse at the inner workings of the military machine, this could have been developed further into a deeper analysis of the mechanism.
Yet this is to criticise the book for not being more than it aimed to be. In writing an accessible introduction to a key point in British history, Bungay has served his readers well and taken them several steps further in understanding than might have been expected from a standard popular history.
November 2, 2009
Stephen Bungay's book is about the Second Battle of El Alamein, which he feels, turns around the British psyche from that of defeat to one of victory and enables them to later go on to victory in WWII. The actual battle takes up only a short portion of the book. The earlier chapters deal with the greater Mediterranean campaign, the North African supply situation, training of the various armies involved, the relationships of the leaders (military and political). The book sets it up that all that was needed at the end was a competant, determined leader to push the British Army the last bit to gain victory. I expected a sort of dry reading, but it stayed engaging until just before the end.
February 10, 2015
For a history book, it is actually very entertaining.
January 15, 2017
This should be required reading in Highschool.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews