Tunisian campaign
The first two years of the war in North Africa were defined by chronic supply shortages and transport problems. The North African coast has few natural harbors, forcing armies to rely on distant ports like Alexandria on the Nile delta. This port sat hundreds of miles from Tripoli, the main Italian base in Libya. Smaller ports at Benghazi and Tobruk lay even further west along the Litoranea Balbo road. Control of the central Mediterranean was contested by British and Italian navies that were equally matched. They exerted a reciprocal constraint on supplies moving through these coastal points. The British could supply Egypt via a long route around the Cape of Good Hope or through the Indian Ocean into the Red Sea. This difficulty led to several indecisive victories for both sides. Long fruitless advances stretched along the narrow coastal corridor. The Italian invasion of Egypt by the 10th Army advanced over 500 miles from Tripoli. More than 300 miles separated them from Benghazi and 400 miles from Tobruk. The Western Desert Force fought a delaying action as it fell back to Mersa Matruh. Then they launched Operation Compass, a raid and counter-attack into Libya. The 10th Army was destroyed and the force occupied El Agheila, some 200 miles from Alexandria. With the arrival of the German Afrika Korps, the Axis counter-attacked in Operation Sonnenblume. In April 1941 they reached the limit of their supply capacity at the Egyptian border but failed to recapture Tobruk.
On the 8th of November 1942, Operation Torch landed Allied forces in Algeria and Morocco. Landings occurred at Oran and Algiers in Algeria and Casablanca in Morocco. The intention was that once Vichy forces in Algeria had capitulated, an advance would be made to Tunis. Tunis lay approximately 600 miles to the east along poor roads in difficult terrain during the winter rainy season. By the 10th of November, French opposition to the landings had ceased, creating a military vacuum in Tunisia. The First Army under Lieutenant-General Kenneth Anderson immediately ordered the 36th Infantry Brigade Group eastward by sea. They were to occupy Bougie, Philippeville, and Bône plus the airfield at Djedjelli. The Combined Chiefs of Staff decided that Torch would not include landings close to Tunisia. The French governor in Tunisia, Admiral Esteva, did not close airfields to either side. The Germans moved first. By the 9th of November there were reports of 40 German aircraft arriving at Tunis. By the 10th of November aerial reconnaissance reported 100 aircraft. Two days later an airlift began that carried over 15,000 men and tons of supplies. Ships brought 176 tanks, 131 artillery pieces, 1,152 vehicles and tons of supplies. By the end of the month three German divisions including the 10th Panzer Division had arrived. On January 16 General Arturo Benigni became the first senior Italian officer on the ground. Walther Nehring took command of the new XC Corps on the 12th of November and arrived on the 17th of November.
On the 19th of February 1943 Rommel launched what would become the Battle of Kasserine Pass. He sent the light armour of the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion racing into the pass. Colonel Alexander Stark's Stark Force was responsible for the defence of the pass. It had not had time to organize properly but directed heavy artillery fire from surrounding heights. This halted the leading mechanized units of the Afrika Korps battlegroup. Before they could continue infantry had to be sent up into high ground seeking to eliminate the artillery threat. A battlegroup under Hans-Georg Hildebrand including tanks from 21st Panzer advanced north from Sbeitla toward the Sbiba Gap. In front of hills east of Sbiba they were brought to a halt by 1st Guards Brigade and 18th Regimental Combat Team. These forces had strong field and anti-tank artillery support and joined two infantry regiments from 34th Infantry Division. By morning of the 20th of February bitter hand-to-hand fighting in hills above Kasserine continued. The Afrika Korps Kampfgruppe and a battalion from 131st Armoured Division Centauro prepared another attack through the pass. The morning attack made slow progress but intense pressure during renewed afternoon attack triggered collapse in Allied defences. Units of Centauro Division headed west toward Tébessa meeting little or no resistance. Following them came von Broich battlegroup from 10th Panzer which forked right onto road to Thala where slowed by regimental armoured group from 26th Armoured Brigade.
Montgomery launched Operation Pugilist against the Mareth Line on night of 19/the 20th of March 1943. XXX Corps commenced operation along with 50th Northumbrian Infantry Division. They penetrated 136th Armored Division Giovani Fascisti-held line and established small bridgehead west of Zarat on 20/the 21st of March. Terrain and rain prevented deployment of tanks aircraft and anti-tank guns leaving infantry isolated. A determined counter-attack by 15th Panzer Division and Giovani Fascisti Division on the 22nd of March recaptured much of bridgehead. On the 26th of March X Corps drove around Matmata Hills capturing Tebaga Gap and town of El Hamma at northern extreme of line. This made Mareth Line untenable. Following day anti-tank guns from German and Italian units checked advance of X Corps gaining time for withdrawal. In next 48 hours Axis defenders pulled out of Mareth Line establishing new defensive position 70 miles northwest at Wadi Akarit near Gabès. The reorganized US II Corps advanced from passes again getting behind Axis lines. 10th Panzer Division counter-attacked at Battle of El Guettar on the 23rd of March. German tanks rolling up lead units ran into minefield. US artillery and anti-tank units opened fire. 10th Panzer Division rapidly lost 30 tanks and retreated out of minefield. Second attack supported by infantry in late afternoon also repulsed. 10th Panzer Division retired to Gabès. Eighth Army and US II Corps attacked for next week. On the 28th of March Eighth Army captured El Hamma forcing Axis to abandon Gabès and retreat north towards Fifth Panzer Army.
On the 26th of February Arnim launched Operation Ochsenkopf against V Corps across wide front commanded by General Weber. Main attacks were by Corps Weber which had 334th Infantry Division newly arrived elements of Hermann Göring Division and part of 10th Panzer Division not involved in Operation Frühlingswind. Weber's force was to advance in three groups: central group moving west toward Medjez el Bab; second to north advancing southwest on route from Mateur to Béja; third group pushing west south of Medjez. Northern flank protected by Manteuffel Division advancing west. Aim of Operation Ausladung was to gain control of vital town Djebel Abiod. This attack made good progress across French-held lightly defended hills between Cap Serrat and railway town Sedjenane. Costly counter-attacks delayed Axis advance. Withdrawals left little opposition to German occupation of high ground dominating town. As result Sedjenane abandoned by British on the 4th of March. Fighting lasted until the 5th of March in terrible weather conditions operation called off by Arnim. Failure cost Axis grievous losses in infantry as well as tanks particularly loss of many heavy Tiger Tanks. By the 18th of April after attacks by Eighth Army from south and flanking attacks by IX Corps and French XIX Corps Axis forces pushed into defensive line on northeast coast of Tunis attempting to protect supply lines but with little hope continuing battle for long.
Allied redeployments complete by night of the 5th of May. Anderson arranged dummy concentration of tanks near Bou Arada on IX Corps front to deflect attention from arrival of 7th Armored Division in Medjez sector. Final assault launched at 3:30 a.m. on the 6th of May by IX Corps commanded by Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks. V Corps under Lieutenant-General Charles Walter Allfrey had made preliminary attack on the 5th of May capturing high ground securing left flank of IX Corps. On the 7th of May British armor entered Tunis and American infantry from II Corps which continued its advance in north entered Bizerte. Six days after fall of Tunis and Bizerte last Axis resistance in Africa ended with surrender of over 260,000 German and Italian troops who became prisoners of war. Major General Lucian Truscott commander of US 3rd Infantry Division reported German resistance ceased on the 6th of May. At 10:00 a.m. on the 9th of May US II Corps cornered Major-General Gustav von Vaerst and what remained of 5th Panzer Army which surrendered before noon. Around 22,000 Germans in mountainous Zaghouan sector also ceased fighting on the 11th of May and surrendered with equipment to Free French. Messe along with Kurt Freiherr von Liebenstein formally surrendered to British and New Zealand forces under General Bernard Freyberg.
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Common questions
When did the Tunisian campaign begin and end?
The Tunisian campaign began on the 8th of November 1942 with Operation Torch and ended on the 13th of May 1945 when over 260,000 German and Italian troops surrendered. Last Axis resistance in Africa ceased after the fall of Tunis and Bizerte on the 7th of May 1943.
Who commanded the Allied forces during the Battle of Kasserine Pass?
Colonel Alexander Stark's Stark Force defended the pass while General Rommel launched the attack on the 19th of February 1943. The battle involved units from the 1st Guards Brigade, 18th Regimental Combat Team, and the Centauro Division against the Afrika Korps.
What was the outcome of Operation Ochsenkopf for the Axis powers?
Operation Ochsenkopf failed to gain control of Djebel Abiod and cost the Axis grievous losses in infantry and heavy Tiger Tanks. Fighting lasted until the 5th of March 1943 before Arnim called off the operation due to terrible weather conditions.
How many Axis troops surrendered at the end of the Tunisian campaign?
Over 260,000 German and Italian troops became prisoners of war following the surrender that ended last Axis resistance in Africa. Major-General Gustav von Vaerst surrendered his remaining 5th Panzer Army before noon on the 9th of May 1943.
Why did the British struggle to supply Egypt during the early North African war years?
The North African coast has few natural harbors forcing armies to rely on distant ports like Alexandria hundreds of miles from Tripoli. Control of the central Mediterranean was contested by equally matched British and Italian navies creating reciprocal constraints on supplies.