CAIRO: Representatives from Germany, Egypt, Britain, Italy and Greece took part in a ceremony on Saturday to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of El-Alamein during the Second World War.
Thousands of people were killed in the three-week battle, which started on Oct. 23, 1942, and was a major turning point in the conflict.
According to the German Embassy in Egypt, this year’s commemorations, held at the German War Memorial in El-Alamein, aimed to recall the horrors of war while calling for the preservation of peace.
German Ambassador Frank Hartmann said: “Today, after 80 years, the enemies of yesterday stand together as friends and partners of today.”
But he added that Europe and the world was once again being threatened by the war waged by Russia, which denied the Ukrainian people their right to exist and self-determination.
“We stand united in solidarity with the Ukrainian people who are defending their freedom, our freedom, their democracy, and our democracy against aggression,” he said.
“We have a responsibility to history and to mourn the dead, but we also have a responsibility to humanity’s present and future. As a result, we come together to protect the world order based on the United Nations Charter and to defend global peace.”
The German Embassy said the commemorations were attended by diplomats, politicians and soldiers from all of the nations involved in the battle.
They included UK Defense Senior Adviser to the Middle East and North Africa Air Marshal Martin Sampson, Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff Gen. Konstantinos Floros and Deputy Chief of the Italian Defense General Staff Lt. Gen. Carmine Masiello.
Senior officials from Egypt and ambassadors from several other countries were also present.
The Battle of El-Alamein, which ended on Nov. 11, 1942, was a decisive victory for the Allied forces, marking a watershed moment in the Western Desert campaign. More than 11,000 soldiers from both sides fell in the battle.
