El Alamein, << ehl `ah` lah MAYN >>, is an Egyptian coastal village that lies about 65 miles (105 kilometers) west of Alexandria. El Alamein became famous during World War II. In 1942, German troops led by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel advanced from Tobruk, Libya, as far east as the city in a drive toward Alexandria. Later that year, British troops led by Lieutenant General Bernard L. Montgomery defeated the Germans in two major battles at El Alamein. They prevented the Germans from conquering Egypt and forced them to retreat. This marked a turning point in the war. Today, an Egyptian oil field operates in the desert south of the city.
