World War Two
Published 23 Oct 2021

Could this be the beginning of the big break in North Africa? The Allies have the men, the armor, and the fuel … they just have to deal with the Axis minefields to try and get started. And the Axis are throwing ever more men at Stalingrad as the Soviets grimly hold on. Another roller coaster of a week.

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Source list: http://bit.ly/WW2sources

Archive footage: Screenocean/Reuters – https://www.screenocean.com

Hosted by: Indy Neidell
Director: Astrid Deinhard
Producers: Astrid Deinhard and Spartacus Olsson
Executive Producers: Astrid Deinhard, Indy Neidell, Spartacus Olsson, Bodo Rittenauer
Creative Director: Wieke Kapteijns
Creative Producer: Maria Kyhle
Written by: Indy Neidell
Research by: Indy Neidell
Edited by: Lucas Aimó
Map animations by: Daniel Weiss
Map research by: Markus Linke
Sound design by: Marek Kamiński
Colorizations by: Daniel Weiss, Mikolaj Uchman

Image sources:
US Navy Archives
USHMM
IWM
Bundesarchiv

Soundtracks from Epidemic Sound:
“Anxiety Attack” – Bonnie Grace
“Blood in Water” – Dream Cave
“Break Free” – Fabien Tell
“Dark Beginning” – Johan Hynynen
“I Am Unbreakable” – Niklas Johansson
“Disciples of Sun Tzu” – Christian Andersen
“Not Safe Yet” – Gunnar Johnsen
“The Proving Grounds” – Dragon Tamer
“We Must Be Prepared” – Brightarm Orchestra
“Try and Catch Us Now” – David Celeste

A TimeGhost chronological documentary produced by OnLion Entertainment GmbH.

From the comments:

World War Two
5 hours ago
A lot of this series includes maps. Maps with numbers, boxes, lines, crosses, and all sorts of other symbols. While we do everything we can to bring history to life, it can be hard at times to keep in mind that the maps are only there to represent the positions of people. Indeed even during the war itself many leaders failed to fully appreciate the people behind the symbols on maps.

This week we are reminded that these are indeed real people. Rommel was ill and in Germany and needed Stumme to fill in for him. affecting the morale of the soldiers. History is not made by great men, but sometimes men get sick, because they are human too. That matters in history.

Thank you all for the support on Patreon that gives us the resources to bring the people, not just the maps, back to life. Go sign up so we can continue doing that.

What are some moments in history that remind you of the individual experience in an event, rather than just the facts and figures?

From a separate article posted on YouTube:

World War Two
3 hours ago
On 23 October 1942, the long-anticipated Second Battle of El Alamein kicks off as the Allies attack.

For nearly four months now, the Axis and Allies have been locked in a stalemate before El Alamein, with neither side able to gain the upper hand. However, it was clear to everyone that time was on the Allied side, as their strength grew consistently, in contrast to the unreliable supply lines on the Axis side. It is up to the Allies to make the next move, and today, they finally do.

Expectations are high in the Allied camp. Nearly two years ago, the Allies were poised to strike at Tripoli when a diversion to Greece foiled those plans and gave Erwin Rommel a chance to strike back. Then in December of last year, the Allies were again at the doorstep of Tripolitania when Japan opened a new front. Again, Rommel was quick to retake Cyrenaica. Now, the immediate Japanese threat has been contained, while the Soviets have reduced the German advance on the Eastern Front to a crawl. Under the fresh leadership of Bernard Montgomery, it is now time for the Eighth Army to strike back.

After months of planning, more about which you can learn in today’s weekly episode on YouTube, Eighth Army’s artillery opens up in full fury. An Australian battalion War Diary reads: “2140 hours. Arty bombardment commences— the hammers of Hell at work.” Nine hundred gun muzzles light up the dark desert sky with an inferno of death. The barrage cuts most of the Axis telephone lines, leaving temporary Panzer Army commander Georg Stumme in the dark about the developments at the front.

And there, things are getting serious as the Allies launch the biggest infantry assault yet this campaign. After sappers clear a path through the massive Axis minefields, four of 30th Corps’ infantry divisions attack in the north. They make good progress during the initial hours, but the tanks of 10th Corps see delays in traversing the minefield. Tomorrow, we will know if they can arrive in time to face the inevitable counterattack by the panzers of the Afrika Korps.