The First Battle of El Alamein was a battle in the Second World War. It took place in El Alamein, Egypt. It was fought between the Allied forces, and Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The battle took place from July 1 to July 27 1942. It was part of the Western Desert Campaign. The Field Marshal Commander Erwin Rommel led the Afrika Korps. British Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck led the Eighth Army, defending El Alamein from Rommel's attacking army. Italian General Ettore Bastico was also included in the battle. The British prevented a second advance by the Axis forces into Egypt. They were 66 miles from Alexandria and were dangerously close to the ports and cities of Egypt.