Tunisian campaign

Tunisian campaign
Part of the North African Campaign of World War II
German and Italian POWs
Date 17 November 1942 – 13 May 1943 Location Tunisia Result Decisive Allied victory The Axis forces were pushed back out of North Africa
Belligerents
United Kingdom United States Free France New Zealand Kingdom of Greece	Nazi Germany Fascist Italy
Commanders and leaders
Dwight D. Eisenhower Lloyd Frederick (6 March 1943–) George S. Patton Harold Alexander Bernard Montgomery Kenneth Anderson Alphonse Juin	Albert Kesselring Erwin Rommel (9 March 1943–) Hans-Jürgen von Arnim Giovanni Messe
Casualties and losses
76,020 deaths 849 aircrafts destroyed over 340 tanks damaged or destroyed	290,000 – 362,000 casualties (238,000 captured) 2,422 aircrafts damaged and 600 others lost 450 tanks damaged or destroyed

The Tunisian campaign (Battle of Tunisia) refers to battles occurred in Tunisia in the North African Campaign of World War II. The Allies, led by the United Kingdom, United States and Free France, won.

Operation Torch and standoffs

The Allied forces, after won Operation Torch, advanced to the east from Algeria, but these two forces were blocked at the German positions built in the Dom d'Or Saleh Mountains in the Atlas Mountains.

In the south, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was concentrating his forces and developed a defensive position in Tunisia. This made two coalitions halted in Tunisia, creating a standoff.

Plans

The Axis' plan was to develop a defensive position with Erwin Rommel, Hans-Jürgen von Arnim and Giovanni Messe, while the US-UK forces planned to attack. The Allies' mission was to block the Axis' reserves confronting the British Eight Army while the Eight Army was advancing to the north of Gabès.

Campaign

German attacks and withdrawal

On 17 February 1942, the 10th and 21st Panzer Divisions of the German 5th Panzer Army attacked the American forces stationed at Sidi Bouzid and forced them back to Kasserine. However, the German attacks were stopped at this pass and a tedious defensive battle happened. Meanwhile, supply lines from Italy were halted by Allied air forces and the Mareth Line was defended successfully. However, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery launched a second counter-offensive and X Corps penetrated through the Mareth Line, the Axis forces withdrew from the Mareth Line by 31 March.