Interview with Mark A. Stoler
What do you teach at UVM? What kinds of subjects and classes?
I am now retired from UVM, though I occasionally teach courses there and elsewhere. At UVM I taught U.S. Diplomatic history, U.S. Military history, world war II, and the introductory courses in U.S. History.
Why does WWII interest you so much?
It always has, perhaps because i was born in 1945 as it was ending.
Why did the Germans and Italians attempt to expand into North Africa and the Middle East?
The Italians sought to obtain British colonies and when they failed to do so Hitler sent Rommel to save them from total defeat. This modifies one of my earlier answers. El Alamein was the first British victory over the Germans, thought the British had previously defeated the Italians.
Why was Erwin Rommel such a great general? Why was he so reputable and well-liked by both the Axis and Allied forces?
He was respected rather than liked by allied forces for his tactical brilliance. But critics say he was not that good a strategist.
The German and Italian forces in North Africa during the war were often very low on supplies. Why was this? Why did Hitler and Mussolini refuse to send more supplies?
Because this theater had a very low priority for Hitler; indeed, Rommel was sent in only to stop a total Italian defeat, not launch his highly successful offensives. Also the British were very effective in destroying German supply convoys due to their possession of the so-called ultra secret.
Why did Winston Churchill change command prior to the Battle of El Alamein, from Auchinleck to Alexander, and place the British 8th Army in command of Montgomery?
Because he had lost faith in Auchinleck after his defeats at Rommel’s hands.
Why was El Alamein an ideal spot for the allies to “make a stand”? Why did the Allies chose El Alamein as the place to hold back Rommel?
The terrain--ocean on one side and impassable depression on the other severely limited Rommel’s maneuverability.
Do you believe that Rommel and the Panzerarmee Afrika had a legitimate chance of winning at El Alamein against Montgomery and his mass numbers of the 8th Army?
No.
Why, specifically, was the Second Battle of El Alamein such a turning point in the war for the Allied and British forces?
It was the first British victory in the war and ended the threat of German control of the Suez canal. As Churchill put it, it was not the beginning of the end, but it was perhaps the end of the beginning. Along with the successful Anglo-American landings in North Africa in early November and the huge Russian victory at Stalingrad, the three victories mark what is normally considered the turning point in the war.
Politically, did the Second Battle of El Alamein change anything? Did any political strategies, or political policies of the British or Axis governments change because of the outcome of El Alamein?
No for the British, who maintained their pre-existing military strategies and policies. But German policies did change as Hitler decided to take over and hold Tunisia (into which Rommel escaped) as well as militarily occupy what had previously been the unoccupied southern part of France.
Did any of Rommel's wartime strategies change after the battle of El Alamein? Did he change any of his prior strategies?
Yes because his position changed. In North Africa he had been fighting an armored campaign in the desert that in many ways resembled naval warfare more than land warfare. That was far less true in Tunisia in 1943 and in northern France in 1944.
How did the battle of El Alamein affect the remainder of the war in North Africa? How did it affect the fight for Tunisia, etc.?
As I previously said, with the Anglo-American landings in North Africa and the British victory at El Alamein Hitler decided to take over and hold Tunisia rather than give up all of North Africa. Rommel was able to escape into German lines in Tunisia and in February 1943 inflict a serious defeat on the Americans at Kasserine pass. That delayed allied victory until May, which in turn played a role in the allied decision to invade Sicily in 1943 rather than cross the English channel. The Tunisian defeat also resulted in the surrender of a large number of axis soldiers.
How did the loss of North Africa for the Axis forces affect the Axis forces elsewhere in the world? Many Axis soldiers were captured after North Africa was taken by the Allies, did this loss of numbers affect the axis numbers at all elsewhere in the world?
Yes and no. Obviously losing a large number of men affects forces elsewhere, but these were largely Italian rather than German forces. The Germans proved quite effective in the Sicilian and Italian campaigns, while the overwhelming bulk of German and other axis forces remained on the eastern front in Russia.
Did the outcome of the Second Battle of El Alamein influence the US to support the fight in North Africa at all?
No--the decision to invade north Africa had already been made in July--much to the distress of the U.S. Joint chiefs of staff.
Do I have your consent to use any of your answers to these questions in my National History Day project?
Yes, you do.
Click here to return to Interviews page.
I am now retired from UVM, though I occasionally teach courses there and elsewhere. At UVM I taught U.S. Diplomatic history, U.S. Military history, world war II, and the introductory courses in U.S. History.
Why does WWII interest you so much?
It always has, perhaps because i was born in 1945 as it was ending.
Why did the Germans and Italians attempt to expand into North Africa and the Middle East?
The Italians sought to obtain British colonies and when they failed to do so Hitler sent Rommel to save them from total defeat. This modifies one of my earlier answers. El Alamein was the first British victory over the Germans, thought the British had previously defeated the Italians.
Why was Erwin Rommel such a great general? Why was he so reputable and well-liked by both the Axis and Allied forces?
He was respected rather than liked by allied forces for his tactical brilliance. But critics say he was not that good a strategist.
The German and Italian forces in North Africa during the war were often very low on supplies. Why was this? Why did Hitler and Mussolini refuse to send more supplies?
Because this theater had a very low priority for Hitler; indeed, Rommel was sent in only to stop a total Italian defeat, not launch his highly successful offensives. Also the British were very effective in destroying German supply convoys due to their possession of the so-called ultra secret.
Why did Winston Churchill change command prior to the Battle of El Alamein, from Auchinleck to Alexander, and place the British 8th Army in command of Montgomery?
Because he had lost faith in Auchinleck after his defeats at Rommel’s hands.
Why was El Alamein an ideal spot for the allies to “make a stand”? Why did the Allies chose El Alamein as the place to hold back Rommel?
The terrain--ocean on one side and impassable depression on the other severely limited Rommel’s maneuverability.
Do you believe that Rommel and the Panzerarmee Afrika had a legitimate chance of winning at El Alamein against Montgomery and his mass numbers of the 8th Army?
No.
Why, specifically, was the Second Battle of El Alamein such a turning point in the war for the Allied and British forces?
It was the first British victory in the war and ended the threat of German control of the Suez canal. As Churchill put it, it was not the beginning of the end, but it was perhaps the end of the beginning. Along with the successful Anglo-American landings in North Africa in early November and the huge Russian victory at Stalingrad, the three victories mark what is normally considered the turning point in the war.
Politically, did the Second Battle of El Alamein change anything? Did any political strategies, or political policies of the British or Axis governments change because of the outcome of El Alamein?
No for the British, who maintained their pre-existing military strategies and policies. But German policies did change as Hitler decided to take over and hold Tunisia (into which Rommel escaped) as well as militarily occupy what had previously been the unoccupied southern part of France.
Did any of Rommel's wartime strategies change after the battle of El Alamein? Did he change any of his prior strategies?
Yes because his position changed. In North Africa he had been fighting an armored campaign in the desert that in many ways resembled naval warfare more than land warfare. That was far less true in Tunisia in 1943 and in northern France in 1944.
How did the battle of El Alamein affect the remainder of the war in North Africa? How did it affect the fight for Tunisia, etc.?
As I previously said, with the Anglo-American landings in North Africa and the British victory at El Alamein Hitler decided to take over and hold Tunisia rather than give up all of North Africa. Rommel was able to escape into German lines in Tunisia and in February 1943 inflict a serious defeat on the Americans at Kasserine pass. That delayed allied victory until May, which in turn played a role in the allied decision to invade Sicily in 1943 rather than cross the English channel. The Tunisian defeat also resulted in the surrender of a large number of axis soldiers.
How did the loss of North Africa for the Axis forces affect the Axis forces elsewhere in the world? Many Axis soldiers were captured after North Africa was taken by the Allies, did this loss of numbers affect the axis numbers at all elsewhere in the world?
Yes and no. Obviously losing a large number of men affects forces elsewhere, but these were largely Italian rather than German forces. The Germans proved quite effective in the Sicilian and Italian campaigns, while the overwhelming bulk of German and other axis forces remained on the eastern front in Russia.
Did the outcome of the Second Battle of El Alamein influence the US to support the fight in North Africa at all?
No--the decision to invade north Africa had already been made in July--much to the distress of the U.S. Joint chiefs of staff.
Do I have your consent to use any of your answers to these questions in my National History Day project?
Yes, you do.
Click here to return to Interviews page.