El Alamein Research Articles

Tsunami deposits and hazard along north coast of Egypt correlate with historical earthquake records of eastern Mediterranean

AbstractPaleotsunami deposits and tsunami scenarios are investigated along the north coast of Egypt in the framework of the National Research Institute of Geophysics and Astronomy (NRIAG) and EC-Funded ASTARTE European tsunami and the French-Egyptian IMHOTEP projects. The study area located west of Alexandria is selected according to historical earthquakes and related inundation events as recorded in the archives. The two selected sites at Kefr Saber ∼32-km west of Marsa Matruh city and ∼10 km northwest of the El Alamein village are inner Laguna protected by 2 to 20-m-high dunes parallel to the shoreline. The two selected sites were chosen according to geomorphological and geological aspects. Five trenches and 12 cores were dug in two selected sites Kefr Saber and EL Alamein. X-ray scanning, magnetic susceptibility, grain size analysis, sampling and macrofossil detections, XRD analysis, total organic and inorganic matter measurements and carbon dating were carried out to identify the paleotsunami signatures. The high energy white sandy layer with rich in reworked fossils at Kafr Saber are correlated with 21 July 365 in Kafr Saber, while the four characteristic high energy sedimentary layers at the El Alamein site are correlated with the historical tsunami events of 1600 BC, 21 July 365, 8 August 1303, 24 June 1870.

0161 Die Totenburgen von Tobruk und El Alamein – strategische Memorialarchitektur für die Bundesrepublik

The two German memorials in Tobruk, Libya (1954-1955) and in El Alamein, Egypt (1956-1959) were deliberately built close to sites of decisive Second World War battles. At both memorials, commemoration is cultivated in a predominantly de-individualized manner, and the historical-political meaningfulness as well as the fort-like, hermetical design of the structures directly reference concepts of commemoration prevalent during the Third Reich. Analogous to these concepts, the memorials refer back to the Hohenstaufen castles and forts in southern Italy and Sicily, and, thus, to the Holy Roman Empire’s most persistent period of territorial expansion. Robert Tischler, the architect responsible for both of the German War Graves Commission’s monuments in North Africa, had already constructed similar memorials during the National Socialist period. He was able to carry such projects over to the post-war period without further scrutiny. This illustrates once again the oppressive personnel and mental consistencies which continued beyond 1945.

"THE END OF THE BEGINNING" FOR CLINICAL SIMULATION IN THE ABFM SELF-ASSESSMENT MODULES (SAMS)

“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”[1][1] With these words, Winston Churchill marked the Allied victory of Second El Alamein that represented a major turning point in the struggle against the Axis powers in World War

"The End of the Beginning" for Clinical Simulation in the ABFM Self-Assessment Modules (SAMs)

“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” With these words, Winston Churchill[1][1] marked the Allied victory of the Second Battle at El Alamein that represented a major turning point in the struggle against the Axis powers

Europe on Trial: The Story of Collaboration, Resistance, and Retribution during World War II by Istvan Deak

EUROPE ON TRIAL: THE STORY OF COLLABORATION, RESISTANCE, AND RETRIBUTION DURING WORLD WAR II By Istvan Deak. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 2015. 288 pp.Prolific scholar Istvan Deak examines the spectrum of collaboration and resistance across Europe during the Second World War in Europe on Trial: Story of Collaboration, Resistance, and Retribution during World War II. For Hungarian-born Deak, these themes have a deep personal resonance; he begins his account with the story of Bela Stollar, the fiance of his sister and close friend from his youth who died resisting fascism in Hungary. Throughout the autobiographical account that opens this text, Deak recounts his life in war-time Hungary, followed by his refugee status in early Cold War Paris and his academic career at Columbia University.In this concise textbook, Deak stresses that collaboration with the Nazi regime remained endemic in Europe until the tide of the war turned against Germany at the battles of Stalingrad and El Alamein. For Deak, European collaboration proved essential to furthering Nazi war aims, especially in implementing the phases of the Holocaust. Collaboration took different forms. In some cases independent nations aligned themselves with Nazi Germany in order to further their own national interests. For instance, Hungary sought to regain territories lost as a result of the Treaty of Trianon. For conquered nations, collaboration was indicative of self-preservation, especially if the German authorities permitted a modicum of autonomy. By supplying the German war effort and eschewing armed resistance, the Danes managed to preserve their parliamentary system throughout much of the war. Other nations, especially Poland, possessed fewer avenues of collaboration, but the widespread embrace of antisemitism led some Poles to aid the Nazis in ferreting out Jews.What is the line between collaboration and resistance? How does one consider the question of fear and intimidation? Drawing upon Christopher Browning's Ordinary Men, Deak observes that even those involved in the actual murder of Jews had a remarkable range of options and could opt out from serving as executioners. But do we swing too far in the other direction and fail to stress the primacy of the Nazis as perpetrators of the Holocaust? How much autonomy did Hungary's ruler, Admiral Horthy, have in chartering a foreign policy that challenged Nazi Germany? Even in 1944, with the Wehrmacht losing the war on both fronts, Horthy tilted away from the Nazis, only to be toppled by German troops with the support of Hungarian fascists. In the Netherlands in 1941, Dutch Jews resorted to violence, and Dutch workers waged sympathy strikes on their behalf. Deak observes that these actions were unique for occupied Europe, but also acknowledges how quickly they were suppressed by German forces.How much weight should Deak give to the question of intention? surrender of France in 1940 and the creation of the Vichy regime suggest a level of collaboration of the highest order. Many other governments, most notably those of Poland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Greece, refused to surrender when facing military defeat, continuing the struggle in exile.Considering Europe on Trial made me reflect on my own encounters with the Second World War in my college textbooks in the late 1970s and ponder shifts in historiographical focus. During the Cold War the lines between good and evil seemed more rigid. In my introductory class, The Atlantic Community and Contemporary World 1914-1945, my professors at Drew University assigned Robert Edwin Herzstein's Adolf Hitler and the German Trauma, 1913-1945 (1974) as the main text dealing with the Second World War. …

How the war was won: air-sea power and Allied victory in World War II

World War II is usually seen as a titanic land battle, decided by mass armies, most importantly those on the Eastern Front. Phillips Payson O'Brien shows us the war in a completely different light. In this compelling new history of the Allied path to victory, he argues that in terms of production, technology and economic power, the war was far more a contest of air and sea than of land supremacy. He shows how the Allies developed a predominance of air and sea power which put unbearable pressure on Germany and Japan's entire war-fighting machine from Europe and the Mediterranean to the Pacific. Air and sea power dramatically expanded the area of battle and allowed the Allies to destroy over half of the Axis' equipment before it had even reached the traditional 'battlefield'. Battles such as El Alamein, Stalingrad and Kursk did not win World War II; air and sea power did.

Cohen, Laurie R. Smolensk under the Nazis: Everyday Life in Occupied Russia (review)

REVIEWS 389 Midway or El Alamein in pivotal importance — and the epochal clash at Kursk in the summer of 1943. These chapters show the VVS going from strength to greater strength: industrial production came back on line, Lend-Lease aircraft were arriving in greater numbers, radios were installed in more aircraft, and the tactical reforms associated with air commander Alexander Novikov vastly improved performance. By the end of 1943, as the Soviets liberated Ukraine, the VVS was moving ‘At Full Stride’, the title of chapter six, which narrates the final triumph over the Luftwaffe in 1944–45. A seventh chapter discusses the USSR’s need to adapt to the new postwar realities of atomic and jet warfare. A set of informative and useful appendices follows. Red Phoenix Rising works best as operational and institutional history, and it convincingly argues that the VVS not only fought with greater dynamism and innovativeness than is commonly thought, but also proved adept at learning from their German foes without slavishly imitating them. The prose is crisp, shifting adroitly between combat narrative and deeper analysis. Of course, any single-volume study is bound to have some omissions. The authors deliberately sidestep naval aviation, operations in the Far North, and air offensives against Japan in 1945. The overall history of the Nazi-Soviet conflict is sketched in somewhat, but readers already familiar with that history will benefit most from Red Phoenix Rising. Biographical treatment of key individuals is minimal, as is — surprisingly — discussion of the technical qualities and combat capabilities of various aircraft types. Nor does Red Phoenix Rising use Soviet aviation as a prism through which to examine larger questions pertaining to the USSR as a whole, as many aviation histories have done in the 1990s and 2000s. For Hardesty and Grinberg, their subject stands on its own. None of which diminishes the value of Red Phoenix Rising. An old classic has had new life breathed into it, and the book in its new form has become more indispensable than ever. Southern New Hampshire University John McCannon Cohen, Laurie R. Smolensk under the Nazis: Everyday Life in Occupied Russia. Rochester Studies in East and Central Europe. University of Rochester Press, Rochester, NY, 2013. xiii + 364 pp. Notes. Bibliography. Index. $85.00: £65.00: €75.00. Eighty million Soviet citizens found themselves under German rule at some pointduringtheSecondWorldWar.20,000to40,000ofthem—mostlywomen and children — resided in the Russian town of Smolensk, some 200 miles south-west of Moscow. By offering a detailed account of their fate, Laurie R. Cohen’s book contributes to the literature on how the Soviets experienced their SEER, 93, 2, APRIL 2015 390 ‘Great Patriotic War’. Based on Soviet and German archival sources as well as in-depth oral history interviews, contemporary eyewitness accounts, and postwar memoirs, Cohen sets out ‘to examine the uniquely human dimensions of the German occupation […] in specifically Russian territory’ (p. 3). As Cohen correctly stresses, most research on life in the German-occupied Soviet Union has dealt with Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltics and Poland rather than Russia. The book consists of eleven chapters ordered thematically, covering the main military events, German plans and occupation policies, conditions of everyday life, popular attitudes and propaganda, as well as liberation and post-war restoration. While the author certainly succeeds in illuminating these topics, the absence of a clear, governing research question makes for a study that is rich in description but offers less in terms of argument. The area around Smolensk witnessed fierce battles in the first weeks and months of the war, with more than 320,000 Soviet soldiers taken prisoner. By 15 July 1941, Smolensk itself was in German hands. Cohen shows how the remaining population — those who were unable (or, less frequently, unwilling) to escape — was faced with a new and brutal regime as well as deteriorating living conditions. Many lived in bombed-out apartments, cellars and attics. Food, water, fuel and electricity were scarce. In order to survive, townspeople worked for the Germans, engaged in blackmarketeering, bartered for food in the surrounding countryside, and constantly manoeuvred to avoid the many pitfalls of living with the enemy. Cohen suggests that a minority of the Smolensk residents hoped...

The Use of Mobile Technology for Detecting Landmines

Arab Republic of Egypt suffer from the absence of maps that show spread of landmines locations planted from World War II in the Egyptian western desert ―El Alamein region‖ in addition to the lack of funds and the limited use of technology. This paper presents an enhancements of the method of mine detection of previously published research paper in [1], enhancements include a new direct approach for remote sensing based on the concept of metal detectors to expansion of the ground, which are scanned in addition to the accuracy in detection of explosives and the ability to re-check them many times to identify landmines locations. The solution based on integrated technologies by using the wireless communications, cellular technologies, the packet oriented mobile data service and sensor technology to obtain a full control from a safe distance for landmine monitoring team in El Alamein region. GSM sound tracker, GPS tracker, smart cellphones plus advanced applications and RC truck equipment were brought together to do three main tasks for metal landmines, a)Tracing,-b)Detecting,-c)pinpoint coordinates.

Book Review: The North African Air Campaign: U.S. Army Air Forces from El Alamein to Salerno by Christopher M. Rein

Book Review: <i>The North African Air Campaign: U.S. Army Air Forces from El Alamein to Salerno</i> by Christopher M. Rein

Jiri Karel Lintner

Jiri Karel Lintner was born in Czechoslovakia. He was studying medicine at Brno University when the Nazis invaded in 1939 and closed the universities. He left his home country and...

Stratigraphic distribution of the palynomorphs and the particulate organic matter in subsurface Lower/Middle Cretaceous deposits, Western Desert of Egypt: Palynological and geochemical approach

The stratigraphic distribution of the palynomorphs and particulate organic matter was studied in the subsurface Lower/Middle Cretaceous sections in Ii-26-1 and Ig-30-1 wells, located in north Western Desert of Egypt. Some important palynofacies parameters were employed as indicators of proximal–distal trends. The spatial and stratigraphical variations of six palynofacies categories had been illustrated. Optically, the type and nature of the recovered particulate organic matter together with their quantity were combined to reveal the prevailing paleoenvironmental conditions during deposition of the concerning sections. Thirty-seven samples were selected from the two wells to carry the total organic carbon (TOC) and Rock–Eval Pyrolysis analyses in order to geochemically evaluate the source rock.TOC and Rock–Eval Pyrolysis analyses illustrate extremely low TOC and HI values, demonstrating that the Alam El Bueib, Alamein, Dahab, Kharita and Bahariya formations are comprised principally of type IV kerogen and a few type III kerogen components. Therefore, they are inert to slightly gas prone, signifying a strong deficiency of hydrogen-enriched organic matter. Palynofacies analysis implies that all the studied formations have highly oxidized terrestrial organic matter (brown phytoclasts and black woods).

Explosive Detection in El Alamein

paper presents an integrated applications and hardware systems of a RC Truck to detect and pinpoint the locations of explosives in desert environment as El Alamein region. This work will be based on the use of the packet oriented mobile data service that available through the global system for mobile communications. By using of this integrated technologies, this paper provides the safe distance to the human in the process of explosives detection and help to map the landmines in fenced minefields and suspicious regions. The truck equipment brought together to fulfill four main tasks, a) Tracing the explosives, b) Detecting the explosives c) Monitor the minor change happens to the explosive detector sensor d) pinpoint the exact location coordinates of those explosives. KeywordsExplosives, Suspicious Regions, Tracing

Geomorphology of the El Alamein Battlefield (Southern Front, Egypt)

This map outlines the main processes and related landforms of the stretch of the Western Desert from Deir El Munassib to El Taqa Plateau, south of El Alamein (Egypt). Freely available digital elevation data derived from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission, image processing of the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer and field surveys have led to the geomorphological map at 1:40,000 scale. Landforms constitute the result of the complex interplay of gravitational, aeolian, coastal and fluvial processes strongly influenced by geological structure. Particular attention was devoted to the recognition, identification and mapping of military remains dating to 1942, which occur all over the study area.

Combat and Morale in the North African Campaign: The Eighth Army and the Path to El Alamein, by Jonathan Fennell

Combat and Morale in the North African Campaign: The Eighth Army and the Path to El Alamein, by Jonathan Fennell

Editorial introduction to ‘Ownership’ by A. M. Honoré (1961)

Antony (Tony) M. Honoré was born in London in 1921 but was brought up in South Africa. He served in the British Army during the Second World War and was severely wounded in the Battle of El Alamein in 1942. After the war, he continued his studies at New College, Oxford, and he has lived and taught in Oxford for well over half a century, holding fellowships at several Oxford colleges. From 1971 to 1988, he was Regius Professor of Civil Law and a Fellow of All Souls College in Oxford. He is internationally known for his work on ownership, legal causation, and Roman law.

Jurassic–Cretaceous palynomorphs, palynofacies, and petroleum potential of the Sharib-1X and Ghoroud-1X wells, north Western Desert, Egypt

Palynomorph and palynofacies analyses have been performed on 93 cutting samples from the Jurassic Masajid Formation and Cretaceous Alam El Bueib, Alamein, Dahab, Kharita, and Bahariya formations in the Sharib-1X and Ghoroud-1X wells, north Western Desert, Egypt. Two palynological biozones are proposed for the studied interval of the Sharib-1X well: the Systematophora penicillata–Escharisphaeridia pocockii Assemblage Zone (Middle to Late Jurassic) and the Cretacaeiporites densimurus–Elateroplicites africaensis–Reyrea polymorpha Assemblage Zone (mid-Cretaceous: late Albian to early Cenomanian). Spore coloration and visual kerogen analysis are used to assess the thermal maturation and source rock potential. Mature oil prone to overmature gas prone source rocks occur in the studied interval of the Sharib-1X well, whereas highly mature to overmature gas prone source rocks occur in the studied interval of the Ghoroud-1X well.Palynofacies and palynomorph assemblages in both wells reflect shallow marine conditions throughout the Jurassic and the late Albian and early Cenomanian. During these times, warm and dry climatic conditions prevailed. The Cretaceous palynomorph assemblages of the Sharib-IX well correlate with the Albian–Cenomanian Elaterates Province of Herngreen et al. (1996).

Horses for courses

The film 'War Horse' reminded me of previous prejudices and an episode where I met veterinary surgeon Hunteler. We suddenly came to realise that in late 1942, during the 2nd battle of El Alamein, he was looking after the horses of Rommel’s army on one hillside, while medical officer Caldwell, my late father, was tending the wounded on the opposing hillside.

Erosion chain reaction at El Alamein Resorts on the western Mediterranean coast of Egypt

Rate of shoreline changes, seabed morphology and coastal processes are integrated to assess erosion resulting from construction of a series of jetties and groins built in stages to support recreation facilities at the Marina Resort Center at El Alamein historic site on the western Mediterranean coast of Egypt. Analysis of shoreline changes using satellite images spanning between 1988 (pre-construction) and 2011 (present situation) indicates that coastal stretch with these hard structures, 8km long, has experienced a state of stability with a general tendency toward accretion (2.1–16.4m/yr), mostly occurring to the west of these structures under the action of the prevailing easterly longshore current. As a consequence, the accretion systematically continues eastward for a 3.5km distance and then reverses to erosion between −1.2 and −3.9m/yr, threatening the adjacent resort beaches. Annual sand nourishment operations undertaken downcoast of these structures between 1989 and 2009 were unsuccessful in maintaining stability of this eroded sector because of its steeply sloped beachface and incompatibility of borrowed sand for nourishment. Therefore, establishing a sustainable erosion mitigation with minimum impacts has been the ultimate goal to stabilize the area and also to create a calm beach safe enough for recreation and swimming. As a practical response, an environmentally acceptable “Perched Beach” was designed in 2011 and is now under construction.

DIE ROL VAN DIE EERSTE SUID-AFRIKAANSE INFANTERIEDIVISIE TYDENS DIE GEVEGTE BY EL ALAMEIN, JULIE TOT NOVEMBER 1942

The role of the First South African Infantry Division in the first Battle of El Alamein, 1-30 July 1942. The First Battle of EI Alamein (1-30 July 1942) was the turning-point in the course of the Second World War in North Africa. Under the command of Gen. C.J.E. Auchinleck, the British Eigth Army finally succeeded in halting the advance of Erwin Rommel, the able German general, to the Suez Canal. Through drastically changing the British battle strategy, Auchinleck prepared the way for Gen. B.L. (Monty) Montgomery's later triumph at the Second Battle of EI Alamein in October 1942. Auchinleck's July success was due in no small manner to the stubborn resistance of the Fifth Indian Division, the First South African Division and the Ninth Australian Division. This prevented Rommel from breaking through the Eighth Army's positions between Ruweisat Ridge and the Mediterranean Sea. These battles also emphasized the leadership quality of Gen. Dan Pienaar and his fellow South African officers.

Michael James Riddell

Having won a scholarship to St Thomas’ Hospital at 17, Michael James Riddell qualified during the Blitz, with memories of the bombing of the private wing at the hospital in...