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Context:
Field-Marshal Bernard Montgomery - 'Monty' - led the British 8th Army in North Africa against German forces led by Erwin Rommel. The decisive battle of the desert campaign was at El Alamein.
The battle was one key turning point during the War. According to popular theory, Nazi Germany and her allies (the 'Axis forces') never lost a battle before El Alamein and never won one after it.
Here Montgomery rallies his troops on the eve of the battle in October 1942.
Transcript:
I want to impress on everyone that the bad times are over - they're finished! Our mandate from the Prime Minister is to destroy the Axis forces in North Africa. I have seen it - written on half a sheet of note paper. It can be done...and it will be done! Beyond any possibility of doubt. What I have done is to get over to you the atmosphere in which we will now work and fight. You must see to it that this new atmosphere permeates right down through the Eighth Army...right down to the most junior, private soldier. The great point to remember is that we're going to finish with this chap Rommel once and for all!
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