Introduction

Desert War is an Australian two-part documentary series screened in 2013 portraying segments of the North African Campaign in World War II.

Outline

Episode 01.

The second episode covers the preparations for the major Allied counter-attack and victory under Bernard Montgomery in the Second Battle of El Alamein. It is demonstrated that extensive and accurate military intelligence, which greatly empowered Rommel for a long period, was gained through the copying of a burgled code book and regular indiscreet radio transmissions from the American embassy in Cairo. When these transmissions were terminated, advantage shifted overwhelmingly to the Allies.

The series combines docudrama footage shot in a desert landscape in Western Australia with retouched archive film and interviews with British and Australian veterans of the campaign.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s): Steve Westh.
• Producer(s): Phil Craig, Andrew Ogilvie, and Andrea Quesnelle.
• Writer(s): Greg Colgan, Phil Craig, and Steve Westh.
• Music: Ash Gibson Greig.
• Cinematography: Jim Frater.
• Editor(s): Lawrie Silvestrin.
• Production: Electric Pictures and Nutopia.
• Distributor(s): BBC Worldwide and EP Independent.
• Release Date: 25 April 2013.
• Running Time: 114 minutes (total running time).
• Country: Australia.
• Language: English.