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El Alamein 1942 The Turning of the Tide
El Alamein 1942 The Turning of the Tide
Author: Ken Ford
Condition: New
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El Alamein 1942: The Turning of the Tide by Ken Ford is a concise, operational-level study of the three engagements fought between July and November 1942 that halted Rommel’s drive toward the Suez Canal and shifted the balance in the North African campaign. Drawing on phase-by-phase battle narrative, the book examines the origins of the 1942 campaign, opposing armies and plans, the continuous Allied bombardment that shattered the German defensive line (despite Hitler’s order to hold “at all costs”), Rommel’s westward retreat, and the subsequent Allied pursuit—framing El Alamein as the pivotal turning point in the desert war.
Part of Osprey’s Campaign series (CAM 158), this illustrated reference (paperback, 96 pp., published 2005 by Osprey/Bloomsbury) is illustrated by Howard Gerrard and includes battlefield and campaign maps, orders-of-battle tables, 65 black-and-white photographs, five color plates, battle-scene artwork and a “The Battlefield Today” section—making it a compact, visually rich guide for military historians, students of World War II and battlefield visitors (ISBNs: 9781846030864 / 9781841768670).
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Keywords, content and topics in this Book
Keywords, content and topics in this Book
Basic Bibliographic Data
El Alamein 1942: The Turning of the Tide
Author: Ken Ford
Illustrator: Howard Gerrard
Series: Osprey Campaign (CAM 158)
Publisher: Osprey Publishing / Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication year: 2005
Format: Paperback
Extent: 96 pages
ISBN: 9781841768670 (same work as 9781846030864 edition)
Theater of War
World War II
North Africa campaign
Mediterranean theater
Western Desert
El Alamein battlefield (Egypt)
Operations and Campaigns Covered
El Alamein campaign 1942
First Alamein (July 1942)
Battle of Alam Halfa (August–September 1942)
Second Battle of El Alamein – First Phase (October 1942)
Second Battle of El Alamein – Breakout (October–November 1942)
Allied pursuit westwards after El Alamein
German–Italian advance towards Suez Canal (context)
Main Nations / Belligerents
United Kingdom
British Commonwealth forces (implied within British-led Eighth Army)
Germany
Italy
Allies vs Axis
Afrika Korps
Type of Book
Campaign history
Operational-level military history
World War II battle study
Illustrated reference
Focus and Scope
Analysis of the El Alamein battles as the turning point of the North African campaign
Origins of the 1942 North African campaign
Opposing commanders (Allied and Axis)
Opposing armies and forces composition
Orders of battle
Operational plans of both sides
Tactical phases of the El Alamein battles
Breakdown of the German defensive line and Axis retreat
Aftermath and pursuit following the Allied breakthrough
Battlefield history and the battlefield today
Notable Figures / Commanders
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (Afrika Korps – Axis)
Adolf Hitler (strategic directives to hold the El Alamein line “at all costs”)
Forces, Arms, and Military Topics
German Afrika Korps
Italian forces in North Africa
British Eighth Army (by context: "Allies" in Africa; detailed in "Opposing Armies" and "Orders of Battle")
Desert warfare
Artillery bombardment and continuous bombardment of fixed defensive lines
Defensive line warfare and fortified positions
Operational retreat and pursuit operations
Visual and Reference Features
Illustrated by Howard Gerrard
Osprey Campaign series standard visual content
Battlefield and campaign maps (indicated by “Table of Contents” battle phases and member-site maps)
Battle scenes artwork
Orders of battle tables
Photographs (65 black-and-white images)
Color artwork/plates (5 color illustrations)
“The Battlefield Today” section (modern photographs / interpretive visuals)
Chronology and Structure
Origins of the campaign
Chronology of events in 1942 North African theater
Phase-by-phase battle narrative
Post-battle pursuit and strategic consequences
Descriptive and Thematic Keywords
Turning point in North African campaign
Turning of the tide in the desert war
Allied victory in North Africa
Axis defeat and retreat from El Alamein
Strategic significance of El Alamein
German defensive line at El Alamein
Hitler’s “hold at all costs” directive
Operational analysis of World War II battles
Tactical study of desert battles
Battlefield guide (historical and “battlefield today” focus)
Book Condition: New
Book Condition: New
You’ve reached the divisional archives. Whether you are looking for the technical blueprints of a Panzer, the gritty memoirs of an infantryman, or a bird’s-eye view of the Pacific Theater, we’ve got your intel right here. Our collection ranges from technical specs and biographies to rare photo journals and historical novels.
Before you enlist a new title into your personal library, check the Condition Report below to see how much action these volumes have seen:
New: Fresh Out of Bootcamp
Flawless and untested. This book is in pristine, new condition and ready for its first assignment.
Like New: Light Combat Experience
Almost new and in great shape. It has clearly been read before and is ready to fight again, but it shows very little wear from its time in the field.
Good: A Few Scars or Shell Shock
A reliable veteran. The book might have some bent corners or a dust cover with a few scratches, but it’s still sturdy and standing tall.
Fair: Battle-Hardened
Visible signs of a long campaign. Expect some stains, bent pages, and perhaps some minor tears on the cover. It’s seen the trenches, but the intel inside is still solid.
Poor: Survived Iwo Jima
This one has been through the meat grinder. It carries noticeable damage, heavy staining, or significant wear—but like any old soldier, it would love to be read one last time before it retires.
