From the ongoing Italian geomorphic study of the Alamein arena to individual memories of non-combatant Alexandrians, from the Free French to the seasoned colonial forces of Australia, India, New Zealand, and South Africa, and from vital naval engagements and the siege of Malta to the study of Rommel's leadership and the Churchill-Montgomery duo, this book offers a detailed yet broad reassessment of the complexities of the war in North Africa between 1941 and 1943, its technology, philosophy, military doctrine, strategy, tactics, logistics, and the associated local and international politics.

Foreword /William Roger Louis -- Introduction / Jill Edwards -- 1. The war in North Africa, 1940-43: an overview of the role of the Union of South Africa / James Jacobs -- 2. Training the troops: the Indian army in Egypt, Eritrea, and Libya, 1940-1942 / Alan Jeffreys -- 3. "The part we played in this show": Australians and El Alamein / Peter Stanley -- 4. "No model campaign": the Second New Zealand Division and the battle of El Alamein, October-December 1942 / Glyn Harper -- 5. The Free French in the battle for North Africa, 1942: military action and its political presentation / Rémy Porte -- 6. Between history and geography: the El Alamein Project: research, findings, and results / Aldino Bondesan -- 7. Silent service: the Royal Navy and the desert victory / Nick Hewitt -- 8. Feeding the fortress: Malta, summer 1942 / Thomas Scheben -- 9. "The highest rule": Rommel as military genius / Antulio J. Echevarria II -- 10. High command in the desert / Niall Barr -- 11. Alexandrians tell their story: oral narratives of the war in North Africa, 1940-43 / Mohamed Awad and Sahar Hamouda -- 12. The battle of El Alamein: impressions of a young schoolboy in Alexandria / Harry Tzalas -- "Here dead lie we" / A.E. Housman. $t Foreword / $r William Roger Louis -- $t Introduction / $r Jill Edwards -- $g 1. $t The war in North Africa, 1940-43: an overview of the role of the Union of South Africa / $r James Jacobs -- $g 2. $t Training the troops: the Indian army in Egypt, Eritrea, and Libya, 1940-1942 / $r Alan Jeffreys -- $g 3. $t "The part we played in this show": Australians and El Alamein / $r Peter Stanley -- $g 4. $t "No model campaign": the Second New Zealand Division and the battle of El Alamein, October-December 1942 / $r Glyn Harper -- $g 5. $t The Free French in the battle for North Africa, 1942: military action and its political presentation / $r Rémy Porte -- $g 6. $t Between history and geography: the El Alamein Project: research, findings, and results / $r Aldino Bondesan -- $g 7. $t Silent service: the Royal Navy and the desert victory / $r Nick Hewitt -- $g 8. $t Feeding the fortress: Malta, summer 1942 / $r Thomas Scheben -- $g 9. $t "The highest rule": Rommel as military genius / $r Antulio J. Echevarria II -- $g 10. $t High command in the desert / $r Niall Barr -- $g 11. $t Alexandrians tell their story: oral narratives of the war in North Africa, 1940-43 / $r Mohamed Awad and Sahar Hamouda -- $g 12. $t The battle of El Alamein: impressions of a young schoolboy in Alexandria / $r Harry Tzalas -- "Here dead lie we" / $r A.E. Housman.