El Alamein: War Cemeteries, Memorials and Museum Guide

El Alamein is a town on Egypt's Mediterranean coast west of Alexandria, where two battles of the Second World War were fought in 1942. Visitors come for the war cemeteries and memorials of the Commonwealth, German and Italian armies and for the El Alamein Military Museum. It is usually seen on a day trip from Alexandria or as a stop on the drive to Siwa Oasis.

Key Takeaways

• The First Battle of El Alamein was fought from 1 to 27 July 1942 and the Second from 23 October to 11 November 1942, when the British Eighth Army under General Montgomery defeated Rommel's German-Italian army.
• El Alamein War Cemetery holds 7,240 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 815 of them unidentified, according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
• The cemetery is open every day from 07:00 to 17:00.
• The German memorial, inaugurated on 28 October 1959, holds 4,313 dead.
• Distances from Alexandria are given as about 100 km (Britannica) to about 130 km (CWGC), depending on the point measured.

The Battles of El Alamein

In the summer of 1942 the German-Italian army under Field Marshal Erwin Rommel advanced across North Africa toward Alexandria and the Suez Canal. It was stopped at El Alamein. In the First Battle, from 1 to 27 July 1942, the British under General Claude Auchinleck held the line. In the Second Battle, from 23 October to 11 November 1942, the Eighth Army under General Bernard Montgomery broke through and forced the Axis armies into retreat.

What to See

El Alamein War Cemetery

The Commonwealth cemetery is the main site. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) records 7,240 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 815 of them unidentified, and 102 war graves of other nationalities. The Alamein Memorial at the cemetery commemorates more than 8,500 soldiers and more than 3,000 airmen of the Commonwealth who have no known grave, and the Alamein Cremation Memorial commemorates more than 600 men cremated in Egypt and Libya.

The German memorial

The German memorial is an ossuary built in the style of a medieval fortress. According to the German war graves commission (Volksbund), 4,313 dead are buried there, and the memorial was inaugurated on 28 October 1959.

The Italian memorial

The Italian War Memorial (Sacrario) is a white octagonal monument, built by the Italian government between 1954 and 1958. Sources give different numbers for the Italian dead it holds, so we do not quote one.

El Alamein Military Museum

The museum displays tanks, guns, vehicles and photographs from the North African campaign, with armored vehicles parked outside. We could not find official opening hours or ticket prices online, so ask your guide or operator.

The Sites at a Glance

Site	What it is	Key figure
El Alamein War Cemetery (CWGC)	Commonwealth cemetery with the Alamein Memorial	7,240 Commonwealth burials; open daily 07:00–17:00
Alamein Memorial	Names of the missing	More than 8,500 soldiers and 3,000 airmen
German memorial	Fortress-style ossuary	4,313 dead; inaugurated 1959
Italian memorial	White octagonal shrine	Built 1954–1958
Military Museum	Tanks, weapons and photographs of the campaign	Hours not published online

How to Visit

El Alamein lies on the coast road from Alexandria to Marsa Matruh. Britannica gives the distance as about 100 km west of Alexandria and about 240 km (150 miles) west of Cairo; the CWGC gives about 130 km from Alexandria to the cemetery. A full day is enough for the cemetery, the memorials and the museum. Our El Alamein day tour from Alexandria visits the War Museum and the Commonwealth cemetery; the Alexandria and El Alamein day tour adds the sights of Alexandria, including the Qaitbay Citadel. From Cairo, see the Alexandria and El Alamein overnight tour. El Alamein is also the usual first stop on the drive to Siwa Oasis.

Practical Tips

• Go early in summer: the cemetery is in the open with little shade.
• Dress respectfully for the cemeteries and memorials.
• Looking for a relative? The CWGC website has a searchable record of everyone buried or commemorated at El Alamein.
• Travel advice: the coast between the Nile Delta and Marsa Matruh, where El Alamein lies, is among the exceptions to the UK government's warning about the Western Desert.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I combine El Alamein with Alexandria in one day?

Yes, a long day covers both, starting with El Alamein in the morning and Alexandria in the afternoon.

How long should I allow?

Allow a full day from Alexandria to see the Commonwealth cemetery, the museum and the German and Italian memorials without rushing.

Cover photo: El Alamein Commonwealth War Cemetery by Ian Rose, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.