South-of DEIR EL MUNASSIB, EGYPT, 24 October 1942: The ability of the Desert Fox to pull the remainder of his Afrikakorps out of the cauldron of the line at El Alamein hinged on Italian resistance in the south, holding off a British pincer that could have swung north and surrounded the entire defending force. Yet, contrary to post-war propagandists’ take, Italian valor on the part of Littorio, Pavia, and other units literally imprisoned in the southern portion of the line, with no motorized means of escape across the open, barren desert—was the reality. No other unit personified the heroic stand as the late days of October 1942 ushered in Montgomery’s mighty offensive, than the men of Folgore (Lightning), Italian paratroopers re-purposed in an an infantry role. The Italians were not the only paratroopers positioned in the south. The men of the German Ramcke Parachute Brigade were also positioned along the western edge of Deir el Mussanib, where it meets Deir Alinda. The latter managed to get out, marching westward where Ramcke and his men came upon and captured a British supply column. Ramcke later remarked the most welcome surprise was the tobacco and luxury goods. The Italian backbone, in the form of the Folgore parachutists, were situated behind the minefields January and February, laid by the British when an onrushing Rommel was at the height of his dash for Alexandria. Fighting to almost the last man and round, the men of Folgore exceeded their orders. Instead of holding off Monty’s attack for 24 hours, they resisted for 72 hours and destroyed over a large quantity of enemy AFVs and other vehicles. In spite of the resistance, January was overrun on the 24th, and some British soldiers even reached the final objective, February, before being forced to hunker down. There they found themselves in broken country, isolated among enemy outposts. The survivors withdrew successfully to a wadi just west of January at 0300 hours on 25 October and took up positions covering the minefield gaps.
The SECOND BATTLE OF EL ALAMEIN is here with fully re-mastered Dier Munassib map, FREE 280 British MMC/SMC/SW counters in Africa uniforms (shorts), plus 88 5/8" North Africa AFVs.... in a large package including 12 boards that create the modular battlefield AND Macro scenario. All during the weekend of 5-8 July 2024.
