Battle of El Guettar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of El Guettar |
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| Part of the Tunisia Campaign of World War II | |||||||
 An American soldier hands out cigarettes to captured Bersaglieri of the 131st Armored Division "Centauro" near El Guettar in March 1943. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
 Germany Italy |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 George S. Patton |
Jürgen von Arnim Giovanni Messe |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 22 tanks lost 4 halftracks lost 4,000–5,000 killed or wounded |
37 tanks lost 4,000–6,000 killed or wounded in 3 weeks |
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The Battle of El Guettar was a key battle during World War II. It took place in Tunisia, North Africa, in March and April 1943. This fight was between the U.S. Army and forces from Nazi Germany and Italy. It was the first time U.S. troops successfully fought off experienced German tank units. Even though the battle itself didn't have a clear winner, it was an important step for the American forces.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
Learning from Past Mistakes
Before El Guettar, U.S. forces had a tough time in Tunisia. They faced the German and Italian armies in battles like the Battle of the Kasserine Pass in February 1943. The American troops lost ground and many soldiers. They also lost confidence in some of their leaders.
The Allied (U.S. and British) commanders learned from these early defeats. They made big changes to their leadership, training, and fighting plans. They decided to keep large groups of soldiers together. This stopped them from being split up and left without support. They also improved how air support helped ground troops.
Patton Takes Command
On March 6, 1943, General George Patton took charge of the U.S. II Corps. He replaced the previous commander, Lloyd Fredendall. Patton was known for his strong leadership. He quickly prepared his troops to attack the Atlas Mountains again.
This attack aimed to threaten the German and Italian forces. These Axis forces were defending the Mareth Line against the British 8th Army. If Patton's plan worked, it would make the Axis position very difficult.
Moving into Position
On March 17, the U.S. 1st Infantry Division moved forward. They took the town of Gafsa without much fighting. Gafsa became a supply base for future operations.
The next day, the 1st Ranger Battalion, led by Colonel William O. Darby, pushed ahead. They captured the oasis of El Guettar. The Italian defenders pulled back to the hills. They blocked the mountain pass that led out of the plains. The Rangers also raided an Italian position, taking 200 prisoners. They did this by climbing a steep cliff at night.
The Battle Begins
The German commanders knew the U.S. forces were moving. They decided to send the 10th Panzer Division to stop them. German General Erwin Rommel had left Tunisia before the battle. So, General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim was in charge. He believed American forces were not very strong. He thought a quick attack would push them back.
German Tank Attack
At 6:00 AM on March 23, about 50 German tanks from the 10th Panzer Division attacked. They came out of the pass into the El Guettar valley. German motorized units, riding in halftracks and motorcycles, charged the American infantry. They quickly overran some front-line positions.
The German attack slowed down when it hit a minefield. As the Germans tried to reorganize, U.S. artillery and anti-tank guns opened fire. This included 31 new M10 tank destroyers. Within an hour, 30 German tanks were destroyed. By 9:00 AM, the German tanks retreated from the valley.
The Germans tried a second attack later that day. But U.S. artillery again stopped them. The attack failed, and the Germans suffered heavy losses. The remaining German tanks dug in on nearby hills or went back to their headquarters.
Allied Counterattacks
While this was happening, the British 8th Army attacked the Mareth Line on March 19. This was another major German defense line.
Over the next week, U.S. forces slowly moved forward. They took control of more of the plains. The German and Italian defenses were strong, so progress was slow and costly. On March 23, the 10th Panzer Division attacked again. They broke through American lines. Italian reports claimed 40 Allied tanks were destroyed and 170 soldiers captured.
On March 26, a British force attacked the Tebaga Gap. This attack broke through the Mareth Line. This forced the Axis forces to retreat about 40 miles to a new defense line. This made the U.S. position at El Guettar even more important. The road through El Guettar led directly to the German and Italian forces.
By March 30, U.S. forces were ready to attack south from El Guettar. They needed to capture two strong Italian positions on Hill 369 and Hill 772.
Fighting for the Hills
The U.S. plan involved the 1st and 9th Infantry Divisions. They attacked Hill 369 on March 30. But they ran into mines and anti-tank fire. They lost five tanks and many soldiers. The attack failed, and the tanks pulled back.
The 1st and 9th Divisions attacked again the next day. They gained some ground and took hundreds of prisoners. However, an Italian counter-attack pushed them back. They ended up where they started, losing more tanks. Another attempt on April 1 also failed.
General Patton was not happy with the slow progress. He ordered an attack on Hill 772, even though Hill 369 was still held by the Italians. The 9th Division moved to Hill 772, while the 1st Division stayed on Hill 369. By April 3, the 1st Division finally cleared Hill 369. But the fighting on Hill 772 continued. The Italian commander, General Messe, called for help from the German 21st Panzer Division. This slowed the U.S. progress even more.
What Happened Next
On April 6, the British 8th Army broke through the Axis lines again. This happened at the Battle of Wadi Akarit. The German and Italian forces began a full retreat. On April 7, U.S. forces moved quickly down the road from El Guettar. They met the British 8th Army.
With the last Axis defense line in southern Tunisia broken, the remaining German and Italian forces tried to join other Axis forces in the north. But it was too late. The city of Tunis fell to the Allies in early May. This marked the end of the fighting in North Africa.
In Movies
- The beginning of the Battle of El Guettar is shown in the 1970 movie Patton.
See also
- List of equipment of the United States Army during World War II
- List of German military equipment of World War II
- List of Italian Army equipment in World War II
- North African campaign timeline
- List of World War II battles
