During the following day, the Allies launched an attack on the Northern part of the line. The minefield was deeper than expected and although the tanks advanced by dawn, they had not achieved their objectives. They were followed by an engineer whose task was to clear the minefields.
Together with the barrage Allied infantry moved forward. The Allies let loose a massive artillery barrage against the Germans. The first phase of the attack began on the night of October 23rd. By late October the Allies had 195,000 men and 1,029 tanks, including new American Sherman tanks facing 116,000 men and 547 tanks for the Germans. The Germans knew that an offensive against their lines was inevitable and had built strong defensive lines that included 500,000 mines. With his army close to Alexandria and the battle considered critical, he was able to receive the needed supplies to build up his forces. Brooks wanted to achieve a decisive victory over the German Afrika Corps. General Sir Alan Brooks replaced general Auchinleck. A counteroffensive by the British failed to dislodge the Germans. Rommel at this point decided he could not advance any further and had his troops dig in. The Allies were able to stop the German in what became known as the First Battle of El Alamein. Rommel’s forces meanwhile were fighting at the end of their logistic lines and had trouble obtaining enough supplies. His lines were short, with the Qattar Depression coming to within 40 miles of the coast the Germans would not be able to outflank his forces. The British commander General Claude Auchinleck decided that this was the right spot to hold back the Germans. The British withdrew to within 50 miles Alexandria and the vital Suez Canal. The Germans had defeated British troops at the Battle of Gazala. The German led by Field Marshall Rommel had advanced deep into Egypt.
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