Fox Strikes Back, The - Ruweisat Ridge Extended Map Edition

Ruweisat Ridge, El Amamein, Egypt, 22 July 1942: During the defensive fighting of July, a new German formation appeared on the scene - the 164th Light Division. Its men were given little time to get the bearings in the desert environment after the unit was flown to Africa (minus its vehicles). The 382nd Grenadier Regiment was flung into the fray direct from their point of embarkation. It was one particular 164th soldier, gun-layer Gunther Halm, that particularly carved a place for himself in military lore. As part of Kampgruppe Hecker, Halm and his unit were responsible for halting a British breatkthrough around the northern flank of Rommel's Panzerarmee. On the edge of a 300 yard long wadi waited Halm and an anti-tank column of the 104th Panzergrendaier Regiment, armed with Russian 7.62cm. guns. While British artillery pounded the position all morning, the gun crews lay under cover. As the smoke lifted, a shout was heard, "they're coming!" A hundred and fifty yards away enemy armor crawled toward the gunners' positions. A new shout soon went up. "Direct hit!" The wrecks piled up and soon nine British tanks were burning from Halm's gun alone. Others were knocked out by Halm's battery-mates and the British tank attack broke down. Gunther Halm received his Knight's Cross personally from Erwin Rommel and was promoted to corporal for his part in the action.