Battle of Sedjenane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Sedjenane |
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| Part of Tunisia Campaign of World War II | |||||||
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 Germany Italy |
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Sedjenane is a town in northern Tunisia, a country in North Africa. It was important because it was on the railway line leading to Mateur and the port of Bizerta. The Battle of Sedjenane was a series of fights during World War II. It took place between the Allied forces (like Britain and America) and the Axis forces (Germany and Italy). The battle was fought for control of this important town and was part of the larger Tunisia Campaign.
Contents
First Battle of Sedjenane: February–March 1943
Sedjenane became a very important place during World War II. This was after the Allies landed in North Africa in an operation called Operation Torch. The Allies tried to quickly reach the city of Tunis, but German paratroopers stopped them. These German soldiers were fighting on the ground in the hills east of Sedjenane in November 1942.
A Tough Stalemate in the Hills
British troops from the 8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, were attacked on November 29, 1942. Their vehicles were destroyed, and this became a sad symbol of the long, tough fight that followed. The hills around Sedjenane, known as "Green Hill," "Baldy," and "Sugarloaf," were a big problem. They blocked the Allied advance in the north until February 1943.
A war reporter named Alan Moorehead wrote about how important these hills were. He said that whoever controlled Sedjenane and its nearby hills also controlled Mateur and Bizerta. This meant controlling a key path to the coast.
German Attack: Operation Ochsenkopf
On February 26, 1943, the Germans launched a big attack called Operation Ochsenkopf. This was meant to break the deadlock. It was a follow-up to another major battle, the Battle of Kasserine Pass, which happened earlier that month.
As part of this attack, the Axis tried to go around the British troops in Sedjenane. They attacked the hilly coastal area to the north. This area was held by French troops who were not very well equipped.
Fierce Fighting and Counter-Attacks
The German advance was led by Colonel Rudolf Witzig. But British troops from the 16th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, fought back hard. They were helped by two groups of No. 1 Commando and artillery. On February 27, 1943, they launched several counter-attacks.
On March 2, 1943, the 16 DLI tried another counter-attack, but they lost many soldiers. That same afternoon, German forces also attacked from the east. They broke through the lines of the 5th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters. An Italian infantry battalion, supported by 30 tanks, also attacked on March 3. They lost many soldiers to machine-gun fire.
Sedjenane Falls to the Axis
Many different units fought to defend Sedjenane. These included the 6th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, Churchill tanks from the North Irish Horse, and parts of No. 1 Commando. Despite their efforts, the town finally fell to the German and Italian forces on March 4, 1943.
Second Battle of Sedjenane: April–May 1943
The Allies fought hard to get Sedjenane back. They launched several counter-attacks throughout March 1943. These battles were the first time that British and German parachute troops fought against each other. It is believed that the nickname 'Red Devil' for a British paratrooper came from these fights.
Allies Retake the Town
The town of Sedjenane was finally retaken by the Allies on April 1, 1943. After this, American forces took over the positions in the Sedjenane area. They held these positions until the end of the North African Campaign in May 1943.
Heroism in the Battle
During this time, U.S. Army Sergeant William L. Nelson showed great bravery. He was part of the 60th Infantry Regiment, U.S. 9th Infantry Division. For his actions on April 24, 1943, northwest of Sedjenane, he was given the Medal of Honor after he died. His battalion also received a special award called a Presidential Unit Citation for their actions on April 23 and 24.
