The El Alamein War Museum (in English, Al-Alamein Military Museum) is a must-visit for anyone coming to this city with that famous Second World War battle in mind. In this post, we provide information on what you can find at this interpretation and outreach centre, which addresses this sensitive conflict in the most respectful and neutral way possible, to foster better understanding and, above all, learning for peace.
A little context
El Alamein, about 100 km west of Alexandria, is a city inextricably linked to the battle of the same name, fought in 1942 and considered a turning point in the course of the Second World War, which also left underwater traces in the form of shipwrecks. It pitted the Allies against the Axis powers, and the troops directly involved here were the forces of Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany against those of Great Britain and Egypt, which at the time was under British rule.
The battle ended in a draw, but the moral victory went to the Allies, who emerged strengthened and launched new attacks in the Mediterranean. And the greatest losers, as always, were the wounded and fallen soldiers, leaving broken families back home: some sources estimate there were around 70,000 fatalities.
To honour their memory, memorials (German, Italian and British) were erected by the respective states and victims’ associations. And to learn the lesson of this human tragedy, the El Alamein War Museum was created, promoted directly by the Egyptian Ministry of Defence.
What the museum is like
The museum opened in 1965, so it has been operating for many decades. This also helps us understand that its museum concept is not as modern and interactive as that of newer museums, but it does stand out for its attention to detail and its account of what happened.
It has three main areas: the outdoor area, the permanent exhibition pavilion and the temporary exhibition rooms. As for the outdoor area, as soon as you enter the grounds, the heavy weaponry of the opposing sides immediately stands out, with tanks, artillery guns, military aircraft and armoured vehicles.
Inside, in addition to the aforementioned temporary exhibition area, the permanent collection is organised as follows:
- Main lobby, with abundant images of the battle, maps explaining the strategies employed, and a peace memorial, among other items
- Great Britain Gallery, which, despite its name, includes references to the Commonwealth nations that contributed troops, including Canada and Australia
- Egypt Gallery, very informative about Egypt’s role in the war and the strategic importance of this location
- Germany Gallery, where Erwin Rommel, nicknamed the ‘Desert Fox’ for his operations here, is given a prominent place
- Italy Gallery, with comprehensive information and documents on Mussolini’s ambitions in North Africa
- Mixed Gallery, where shared items and images are displayed for easier understanding and comparison
In each of these national galleries, documents, images and weapons used in the battle are displayed, as well as the uniforms worn by the soldiers involved, placed on life-size mannequins.
Practical Information About the Museum
If you are planning to visit the El Alamein War Museum, you should know that its opening hours are usually from 9.00 to 16.00, every day of the week, with exceptions depending on the date. It does not have an audio guide system, but all the labels are translated into four languages: English, Italian, German and Arabic.
