Battle of Sidi Bou Zid facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Sidi Bou Zid
Part of the Tunisia Campaign of World War II
Tunisian Campaign, January–April 1943
Date 14–17 February 1943 Location Sidi Bou Zid, Tunisia 34°52′N 9°29′E / 34.867°N 9.483°E / 34.867; 9.483 Result German victory
Belligerents
United States Free France	Germany
Commanders and leaders
Lloyd Fredendall Orlando Ward John K. Waters (POW) Alphonse Juin	Hans-Jürgen von Arnim Heinz Ziegler
Casualties and losses
2,546 missing 103 tanks

The Battle of Sidi Bou Zid was a major fight during the Tunisia Campaign in World War II. It happened from February 14 to 17, 1943. The battle took place near a town called Sidi Bou Zid in Tunisia.

During this battle, German and Italian forces attacked many US Army units. The Axis forces, which included Germany and Italy, won the battle. They were able to take back the important town of Sbeitla in central Tunisia.

The Germans planned this battle as a two-part attack. Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen von Arnim led several strong German units. These included the 10th Panzer Division and the 21st Panzer Division. These divisions were part of the 5th Panzer Army. Their goal was to move north and west towards the Kasserine Pass. Another German group attacked Sidi Bou Zid from the south.

The American forces facing this attack were from the II US Corps. They were led by Major General Lloyd Fredendall.

In just a few days, the Axis attack pushed the US II Corps back. The Americans had to set up new defenses outside Sbiba. This success allowed the German High Command to believe that American forces were not as strong as their experienced troops. They thought this even though the Americans had good equipment.

Why Did the Battle Happen?

After Operation Torch in late 1942, the Allies tried to capture Tunis. But they failed. Both sides then took a break to get stronger. Hans-Jürgen von Arnim was put in charge of the Axis forces in Tunisia. More soldiers arrived, and his force was named the 5th Panzer Army. Arnim wanted to keep attacking to hide his plans.

In January 1943, the German-Italian Panzer Army led by General Erwin Rommel had moved back. They went to the Mareth Line, which was a strong defense line in southern Tunisia. In the Sidi Bou Zid area, both German and Italian armies had forces. This included the 21st Panzer Division and the 10th Panzer Division.

Most of Tunisia was controlled by the Axis. But in November 1942, the Allies captured the Eastern Dorsale of the Atlas Mountains. This area was held by the U.S. II Corps and the French XIX Corps. The American commander, Lieutenant-General Lloyd Fredendall, set up his headquarters far back in Tébessa. He rarely visited the front lines.

Fredendall did not know what the Axis forces planned. So, he spread out his troops too much. This meant his units were too far apart to help each other. At Sidi Bou Zid, he ignored his commanders and ordered how defenses should be set up. He did this without looking at the land himself.

Sidi Bou Zid was defended by the 34th US Infantry Division and tanks from the 1st US Armored Division. Fredendall placed most of these forces in separate "islands" on high ground. This made them easy to defeat one by one.

Rommel knew the Allies might attack the Eastern Dorsale towards the coast. This could split the Axis forces. On January 30, Arnim sent the 21st Panzer Division to attack the Faid Pass. This pass was held by the French XIX Corps. Fredendall reacted slowly. Arnim's troops fought hard and won, causing many French losses.

How the Battle Started

The Germans planned two main attacks. The first, called Unternehmen Frühlingswind (Operation Spring Breeze), was against US positions at Sidi Bou Zid. This attack involved the 10th and 21st Panzer divisions. After this, the 21st Panzer Division would join Italian forces to attack Gafsa. The 10th Panzer Division would move north. Unternehmen Frühlingswind was set to begin around February 12–14.

The Battle Unfolds

On February 14, at 4:00 AM, four German battle groups attacked Sidi Bou Zid. They had 140 tanks from the 10th and 21st Panzer divisions. These tanks moved through the Faïd and Maizila passes. General Dwight D. Eisenhower had inspected these passes just hours before.

The attack started with tanks from the 10th Panzer Division. They advanced from Faïd in a sandstorm. American tanks tried to slow them down. The Germans fired powerful 88mm guns. By 10 AM, the Germans had surrounded Djebel Lessouda. This area was defended by Lieutenant Colonel John K. Waters, who was George S. Patton's son-in-law. The German groups then met north of Sidi Bou Zid.

Two other German groups, Kampfgruppe Schütte and Kampfgruppe Stenckhoff, secured the Maizila Pass to the south. Kampfgruppe Schütte moved north to fight American soldiers on Djebel Ksaira. Kampfgruppe Stenckhoff went northwest to Bir el Hafey. Their plan was to swing around and attack Sidi Bou Zid from the west later that day.

Under heavy German fire, Colonel Thomas Drake asked to retreat. But Fredendall said no. He ordered Drake to hold his position and wait for help, which never came. By 5 PM, the Germans had pushed the American forces back. The Americans lost 44 tanks and many guns. Their soldiers were stuck on high ground at Djebel Lessouda, Djebel Ksaira, and Djebel Garet Hadid.

During the night, the American commander Orlando Ward moved more tanks to Djebel Hamra. He planned a counter-attack on Sidi Bou Zid for February 15. But his attack crossed open land. German planes bombed and shot at them. Then, the American tanks found themselves between two German Panzer divisions. The Germans had over 80 Panzer IV, Panzer III, and Tiger I tanks.

The American tanks had to retreat. They lost 46 medium tanks, 130 vehicles, and 9 self-propelled guns. They barely made it back to Djebel Hamra. By evening, Arnim ordered three German battle groups towards Sbeitla. They fought the remaining American forces, who were forced to retreat again. On February 16, with strong air support, the Germans pushed back fresh American units and entered Sbeitla.

What Happened Next?

The experienced German soldiers fought very well. They caused many American losses. General Anderson, who was in charge of Allied operations in Tunisia, ordered the Allies to pull back on February 17. The Allied forces moved to better defensive spots in front of Sbiba and Tebessa.

Eisenhower blamed himself for trying to do too much. He also pointed to the sudden French collapse in the central mountains. Confusing command arrangements made things worse. When the US II Corps was forced out of Sbeitla on February 17, the Axis forces moved towards Kasserine.

The poor performance of the Allies in January and February, and later at the Battle of the Kasserine Pass, made the Axis commanders think that American units were not good at leadership or tactics. This idea became common among the Axis forces. It led them to underestimate the Allies later on, as the Americans gained experience and replaced less effective commanders.

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