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(Monday, July 27, 1942, part of Western Desert Campaign of World War II) — The First Battle of El Alamein, fought in Egypt between Axis and Allied forces, ended in stalemate today, when attacks by the British Army’s XXX Corps failed to gain ground in Operation Manhood.

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The British prevented a second advance by the Axis forces into Egypt. Axis positions near El Alamein, only 66 mi (106 km) from Alexandria, were dangerously close to the ports and cities of Egypt, the base facilities of the Commonwealth forces and the Suez Canal.

However, the Axis forces were too far from their base at Tripoli in Libya to remain at El Alamein indefinitely, which led both sides to accumulate supplies for more offensive, against time and distance constraints.