Battle Of Tunisia (Kasserine Pass)

Battle Of Tunisia

(Kasserine Pass)

Date and Location

It all started in November, 1943

Allied troops landed in Algeria and Morocco as part of Operation Torch (America’s plan of clearing the continent of Axis powers)

Lt. General Bernard Montgomery’s victory in the Second battle of El Alamein put German and Italian troops in Tunisia and Libya in a difficult position.

By early 1943, Axis forces in Tunisia had 250,000 men.

German General Erwin Rommel and his Afrika Korps launch an offensive against an Allied defensive line in Tunisia, North Africa.

Between Nov. 2nd, 1942, and Jan. 23rd, 1943,

Rommel had retreated more than 1,000 (1600km) from El Almein to Mareth in Tunisia

Date and Location continued

American forces met their 1st defeat at the hands of the Germans in the Battle of Kasserine Pass ( Feb. 14th.-25th, 1943)

6 March 1943 command of the U.S. II Corps passed from Fredendall to George Patton, with Omar N. Bradley as assistant Corps Commander

Allies forced 250,000 Germans and Italians to surrender near Cape Bon on May 12th

Who fought who?

Battle of Tunisia was between the United States and the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) Japan was not involved in Tunisia, but triggered American involvement in WWII.

Key People Involved

USA

Lt. Gen. Mark W. Clark, deputy to

Lt. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower

France

Admiral Jean Francois Darlan,

commander in chief of the collaborationist Vichy government's military forces.

Details of Battle

The allied front was made up of three parts; with British troops in the north, French troops in the center, and U.S. troops in the south.

Montgomery’s Eighth Army continued to bear down on Rommel’s Afrika Korps from the southeast.

A series of German counterattacks in January managed to strengthen the Axis position. The next month Rommel struck west U.S. forces.

His intentions were to cut the north off, or at least drive into retreat, a large part of the Allied force and seize the Allied base at Tebessa.

Casualties

On Feb. 14th his forces headed north and seized Sidi bou Zid, inflicting heavy losses on U.S. armor.

Feb 18th- two forces converged and captured the Kasserine Pass, in the mountains of W. Tunisia. Heavy losses were inflicted on its U.S. defenders.

Feb 21st British force faced more resistance from French troops.

Germany and Italy lost 300,000 Troops with 275,000 being taken prisoner and 25,000 being killed and injured.

USA: 35-55 tanks lost 4,000-5,000 killed or wounded

The cornered German and Italian Forces in Tunisia launch a final attack against the Americans at Kasserine Pass which defeated the US forces

Primary Source

Impact

Rommel remained convinced that U.S. forces posed little threat, while the British and Commonwealth troops were his equal. The US likewise studied the battle, and relieved several senior commanders while issuing several "lessons learned" publications to improve future performance.

This had the intended side effect of improving the fire control of the already-strong US artillery. A truly satisfactory solution was not arrived upon until the Battle of Normandy.

Map

Works Cited

Hickman, Kennedy. "Battle of Kasserine Pass - World War II Battle of Kasserine Pass." Military History - Warfare through the Ages - Battles and Conflicts - Weapons of War - Military Leaders in History. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. .

"Tunisia." U.S. Army Center Of Military History. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. .

"World War II :: Invasion of North Africa; Battle of Tunisia --  Kids Encyclopedia | Children's Homework Help | Kids Online Dictionary | Britannica." Kids Encyclopedia | Children's Homework Help | Kids Online Dictionary | Britannica. 2011. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. .

The 30 Greatest Battles of World War II." Military News Humor Photos - StrategyPage. Web. 25 Mar. 2011. <http://www.strategypage.com/militaryforums/30-18346.aspx>.

Thomas Moran, mother's friend

By Nicole & Lanna