Alamein

by Jon Latimer

In this compelling account of the decisive World War II battle of El Alamein, Jon Latimer brings to life the harsh desert conflict in North Africa. In October 1942, after a two-year seesaw campaign across the wasteland of western Egypt and eastern Libya, the British Eighth Army not only achieved a significant military victory over the combined German-Italian Panzer Army but also provided an enormous psychological boost for the Allies. This is the story of two of the most intriguing commanders of the war. Latimer offers remarkably balanced portraits of Bernard Law Montgomery, whose real achievement was overshadowed by his prickly ego, and Erwin Rommel, whose tactical brilliance could not overcome his disdain for the administrative side of war. Alamein, Latimer notes, was a victory for modern armaments, with concentrated artillery used on a scale not seen since 1918. Equally important were the critical contributions of naval and air forces in cutting off the German supply lines and supporting the ground troops, roles largely overlooked in standard accounts. But Alamein is at heart the story of the infantry soldiers who fought in a scorched wilderness. Often using their own words, Latimer vividly describes the experiences of the gunners, sappers, cavalrymen, and airmen--Britons, Canadians, Australians, Indians, Germans, Italians, and others--who struggled in the heat, sand, and dust of this brutal environment. With their success at El Alamein, the British forces would drive Rommel's army into Tunisia--and ultimate destruction in the North African Campaign of 1943.

Genres: History, World War II, Nonfiction, Military History, War, Military Fiction

448 pages, Hardcover

First published October 25, 2002

About the author

Educated at Christleton County High School in Chester, Jon Latimer studied for a geography degree at University College, Swansea but switched course to graduate in oceanography. He worked as an oceanographer until becoming a full-time writer in 1997.

Reviews

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thank you to Jon Latimer, Thistle Publishing, and Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased opinion.

I’m very impressed with how clearly Latimer discusses battle lines, cities, commanders, etc. typically when I read such books I get a little lost in the details
there is so much action leading up to Alamein that I keep thinking the battle has been fought only to realize everything I'm reading is still Part One-the prologue in the sand. Strategy and tactics are discussed in detail and I can picture what's happening. My heart pounded even though I️ knew how it ended.
This was a constant race to the finish with airplanes, artillery, and armor battling in full force with more passion and courage than I’ve ever read. Alamein is a portrait of bravery.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a gripping account of this turning point of the Second World War, Jon Latimer gives us the experience of the men who fought – British, Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans, Germans, Italians and others besides. We feel their fear, elation or despair as they fight it out at close quarters amid a welter of confusion – heat, sand, smoke, noise, dust, flies and blood.

My thoughts:
If you love to read or know anyone that loves to read about WW2 ,then this is for you or them, Mr.Jon Latimer has away with bring to live the very history his writing about. At least that's the way it felt while I was read Alamein, it was like I could see and feel every thing that was happening. It gives you not only a idea of how it was over there but the lives of both sides of the war. With that said I would like to say thinks to NetGalley for giving me a chance at reading Alamein , and learning more about what was going doing WW2.

[Bill V · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an OK book. I found it confusing at times to follow what was going on. There are too many units and people mentioned. It does go to considerable lengths describing everything that went on before, during and after the battle. I most certainly learned a few facts and the book has a generous number of maps.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow, what a great book... GREATLY detailed and gave me a much better understanding of the Africa front...

Made me gain a whole new respect for Rommel and Montgomery. Book was so good, I read through it in a week

[Jacob Mcconnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dense with detail. This is a good book for the WW2 buffs; it will help if you’ve got a pre-existing knowledge of Alamein- otherwise prepare to have many many names, places and regiments thrown at you. I had to keep them written down. For this reason, it wasn’t quite for me, as someone being more interested in broad strokes and personalities involved than the almost sports-like play-by-play treatment Latimer gives of Alamein and its preceding battles. For a book like this, it’s a matter of personal preference. For those who like to leave no stone (or landmine) unturned, this is the book on Alamein for you. Too dry for me though.

[Mark Lisac · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly engrossing and richly researched study of one of the pivotal battles of the Second World War. What makes it particularly strong is the effort Latimer put into explaining both the macro issues (logistics, politics, overall strategic situation, the scale of the problem created by German minefields) and the small-unit and individual actions that turned a hard struggle into a historic success. Brains and materiel matter, but so does determination and bravery.

[Arturo Real · Rating 5 out of 5]

El libro da una visión general de la conocida como Campaña del Norte de África hasta su punto de inflexión en El Alamein. La perspectiva de la misma es, mayormente, británica (el propio autor lo hace constar así en el prólogo); pero es un libro ágil, cargado de testimonios sobre la crudeza de esta campaña, y que hace hincapié en aspectos importantes de la misma como la influencia en tierra de los combates navales en las rutas de suministro de ambos bandos.

[D.M. Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first victory

This is an excellent account of the Battle of Alamein. It is fair to all thee participants and analyses just about everything.. It is readable and a valuable account of this important first British and Commonwealth major victory in World War 2.

[Radwa El-Derwy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The three stars are for all the information and research that must have gone into making this book. However, I found it so boring. Too much details made me lose focus of what was really going on. I wish it was more friendly to readers that are not military specialized.

[Thomas Mihalchick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well documented

This is a well research book but the lack of maps makes it hard to follow the action. I gave up about halfway through and watched the documentary on the battle instead

[Franklin Rodbell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful editing

This book is in desperate need of a competent editor. The narrative switches from Allies to Axis with no effort to let the reader know who the author was describing. There are many passages that contain poorly constructed or incomplete sentences

[RAL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very dense read but worth perseverance. Well constructed account of the Battle of Alamein, informative and thought provoking. If I'd realised it's level of detail I'd have set up a tabletop campaign to actually map the action as I read.

[Nick Boldrini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very detailed account of the Alamein battles, with a good build up, and decent maps so whilst there are a wealth of units involved, you can keep pretty good track of who is doing what where.

[Mary Vogelsong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Montgomery is portrayed in higher esteem than as in most other history books I've read. The text is heavily notated; it is more like a thesis.

[Jorge Eskoin · Rating 3 out of 5]

El Alamein supuso un salto cualitativo en la Segunda Guerra Mundial, no sólo fue el punto de inflexión en el norte de Africa, sino que demostró que el ejército británico podía derrotar al ejército alemán. En este caso el VIII Ejército Británico contra el Panzerarmee, o personalizando, Montgomery contra Rommel.

Este libro de Jon Latimer es una extensa recreación de lo acontecido en El Alamein, con una cantidad apabullante de datos, demasiados, diría yo. Pero nos da una visión detallada de la importancia de las acciones de personajes "menores" como Brian Horrocks, Von Thoma, Freyberg, Morshead, etc.

Si queréis conocer más al detalle esta importante batalla, os recomiendo la lectura de este libro. Aunque he de reconocer que a veces se hace pesado por la gran cantidad de datos aportados. Pero como dijo Sir Winston Churchill:

Before Alamein we never had a victory, after Alamein we never had a defeat

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I originally read a 1965 paperback describing this battle. It was a balanced, well written book. But Jon Latimer is writing in 2002 (I think). so, way more historical detail. Also, good historical photographs. And, when Latimer writes about the German general Rommel, he has historical information about what was going on the German side of the battle, which the 1965 book lacked. so, it seems, 70 years after an important battle, historians are able better histories (more detail, and from the sides of both armies).

[Luis Cardenas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una explicacion en si, sencilla de todo lo referente a la guerra en el norte de Africa y la primera y segunda batalla de El Alamein. Las explicaciones militares son bastante sencillas de entender, con un lenguaje y mapas de facil comprension. Lo mas agradable del libro no es el centralismo en las figuras de Rommel y Montgomery; es ver de manera integral todo la batalla en su marco de aire, mar y tierra, logistica, mandos y geopolitica.

[Inknscroll]

This book, also, was recommended in the "Bookmarks" magazine's issues of either: (Nov/ Dec 2007) or (Jan/ Feb 2008).

[Andreu Gimenez Sitjà · Rating 3 out of 5]

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