Bernard Law Montgomery Biography and Timeline — Page 3

Commander of Eighth Army

Takes over active command of the Eighth Army

Commander of Eighth Army

Takes over active command of the Eighth Army

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Armoured Reserve Held for Alam Halfa

Keeps British armour concentrated rather than allowing it to be drawn into Rommel's preferred mobile battle.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1943

Battle of Alam Halfa

Defeats Rommel's attack at Alam Halfa, protecting the approaches to Cairo and the Suez Canal.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Battle of Alam Halfa

Rommel attacks the Alam Halfa Ridge

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Alam Halfa Defensive Ground Selected

Strengthens the Alam Halfa position and prepares a defence designed to absorb Rommel's armoured attack.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1943

Eighth Army Morale Restoration Begins

Begins rebuilding Eighth Army morale and confidence immediately after arriving in Egypt.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1943

Retreat Plans Cancelled at Alamein

Rejects preparations for further retreat and orders Eighth Army to hold the Alamein position.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1943

Battle of Alam Halfa

Rommels attack is turned back, Cairo & Alexandra are safeguarded

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Axis Alam Halfa Offensive Repulsed

Eighth Army stops the Axis attack and preserves the defensive position protecting Egypt.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1943

Eighth Army Re-Equipment Programme

Builds up tanks, artillery, ammunition and transport before the planned offensive at El Alamein.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1943

Premature Alamein Attack Rejected

Refuses pressure for an early offensive while Eighth Army is still training and accumulating supplies.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1943

Battle of Alamein, 2nd

Montgomery issues final plans for the Eighth Army's offensive before the Second Battle of El Alamein.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Operation Lightfoot

Begins Operation Lightfoot, the infantry and artillery opening phase of the Second Battle of El Alamein.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Battle of Alamein, 2nd

Launches an attack at El Alamein to stop the Axis advance toward the Suez Canal.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Battle of Alamein, 2nd

Launches the El Alamein offensive that turns back the Axis threat to Egypt and the Suez Canal.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Battle of Alamein, 2nd

Montgomery launches a diversionary attack in the southern sector on the opening night of the battle.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Battle of Alamein, 2nd

Montgomery launches the Second Battle of El Alamein with coordinated attacks by XXX Corps and XIII Corps.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Lightfoot

Operation Lightfoot is launched to recapture north Africa

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Northern Alamein Break-In Ordered

Orders the principal infantry assault in the north to open routes through Axis defensive belts.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1943

Southern Alamein Diversion Maintained

Maintains pressure in the south to hold Axis formations away from the decisive northern sector.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1943

Battle of Alamein, 2nd

Montgomery confirms that the breakout effort must continue despite stubborn Axis resistance.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Battle of Alamein, 2nd

Axis tankers Proserpina and Tergeste are sunk, worsening fuel shortages during the battle.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Battle of Alamein, 2nd

The loss of Axis supply tankers deprives Panzer Army Africa of fuel during the battle.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Alamein Attrition Phase Continued

Continues the battle despite slow progress, using artillery and infantry to wear down Axis reserves.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1943

Supercharge Breakthrough Sector Chosen

Chooses a more northerly sector for the final breakout operation against the weakened Axis line.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1943

Supercharge

Decides to launch the break-out Supercharge as far north as possible

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Alamein Artillery Concentration Prepared

Masses artillery to support infantry corridors through the Axis minefields at the start of the offensive.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1943

Operation Bertram Deception Supported

Supports deception measures intended to disguise the timing and main direction of the coming Alamein offensive.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1943

Operation Supercharge

Launches Operation Supercharge to break through the Axis position west of El Alamein.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Battle of Alamein, 2nd

Montgomery's offensive forces Rommel's army into retreat during the Second Battle of El Alamein.

Role range: 1939-1945

Supercharge

151st & 152nd brigades launch Operation Supercharge & reach their objectives

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Axis Armour Reduced before Breakout

Presses the offensive as Axis armoured strength falls to a fraction of its original level.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1943

Battle of Alamein, 2nd

Montgomery's offensive reduces the Axis armoured reserve to a small number of serviceable tanks.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Alamein Breakthrough Achieved

Eighth Army breaks the Axis front and begins the pursuit westward across Egypt and Libya.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1943

Battle of Alamein, 2nd

The British armoured formations break through the Axis front as the Second Battle of El Alamein nears its decision.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Pursuit after Alamein

Orders the pursuit westward after the Axis army abandons the El Alamein position.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Mersa Matruh Pursuit Maintained

Continues the pursuit as withdrawing Axis forces abandon positions around Mersa Matruh.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1943

Capture of Tobruk

Montgomerys forces enter Tobruk which was never again to fall under German control

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1945

Tobruk Reoccupied during Pursuit

Eighth Army re-enters Tobruk while the Axis retreat continues westward.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1943