Uploaded May 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
It's one of the great "What If" questions of World War II...what if Rommel had won a decisive victory at Alamein and collapsed the British position in Egypt? There was very real fear in 1942 that the Desert Fox could do precisely that. In our video last week, Ed noted that Rommel's opponent was not intended to be the resolute, steady Bernard Montgomery, but rather, William "Strafer" Gott. Ed speculates that Rommel would have had an easier time handling Gott, which could have led to a much different outcome in North Africa.
But then what? Ed walks through a nightmarish string of events that might have followed. This is pure "what if" speculation but a powerful reminder of how history can turn on the smallest coincidences and mishaps. What if Gott hadn't been shot down and killed in August 1942? What if Gott was in command of the British 8th Army at Alamein? And what if Rommel pulled off another stunning victory like Gazala, opening the door to Cairo and the Suez?
If you enjoy exploring military history's "what if" moments and battles, SUBSCRIBE and join us on Little Wars TV. We play tabletop wargames and try to rewrite history all the time!
It's one of the great "What If" questions of World War II...what if Rommel had won a decisive victory at Alamein and collapsed the British position in Egypt? There was very real fear in 1942 that the Desert Fox could do precisely that. In our video last week, Ed noted that Rommel's opponent was not intended to be the resolute, steady Bernard Montgomery, but rather, William "Strafer" Gott. Ed speculates that Rommel would have had an easier time handling Gott, which could have led to a much different outcome in North Africa.
But then what? Ed walks through a nightmarish string of events that might have followed. This is pure "what if" speculation but a powerful reminder of how history can turn on the smallest coincidences and mishaps. What if Gott hadn't been shot down and killed in August 1942? What if Gott was in command of the British 8th Army at Alamein? And what if Rommel pulled off another stunning victory like Gazala, opening the door to Cairo and the Suez?
If you enjoy exploring military history's "what if" moments and battles, SUBSCRIBE and join us on Little Wars TV. We play tabletop wargames and try to rewrite history all the time!
