Run for Tunis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids

The Run for Tunis

Part of the Tunisia Campaign of the Second World War

Date	10 November – 25 December 1942 (1 month, 2 weeks and 1 day)
Location	Tunisia 34°N 09°E / 34°N 9°E / 34; 9
Result	Axis victory

Belligerents

Commanders and leaders

Walther Nehring

The Run for Tunis was an important part of the Tunisia Campaign during World War Two. It happened in November and December 1942. After French forces stopped fighting the Allied Operation Torch landings, the Allies tried to quickly capture Tunis. They wanted to stop the Axis from building up their forces in Tunisia.

The Allies moved a large group of soldiers east from Algeria. They almost reached Tunis by late November, getting within 20 miles (32 km). However, the Axis defenders fought back hard. They pushed the Allies back almost 20 miles (32 km). The fighting then settled down by the end of the year.

Why the Battle Started
Getting Ready for Battle
- French Forces Join the Allies
- The Allied Battle Plan
The Battle Begins
See also

Why the Battle Started

Allies Plan Their Attack

When the Allies planned Operation Torch, they thought the French would fight them. So, their ships carried many infantry soldiers. These soldiers were meant to fight on the ground. At Algiers, it took time to unload the mobile forces. They could only start moving east by November 15.

The Allies had limited forces for this advance. They had two infantry groups from the British 78th Infantry Division. There was also an armored group called Blade Force. This group was from the British 6th Armoured Division. They also had some extra artillery. Trying to reach Bizerta and Tunis quickly was a big risk. It depended on the navy and air force slowing down the Axis forces.

Axis Forces Arrive Quickly

The Allies thought the French would fight hard. But they did not expect how fast the Axis could send troops to Tunisia. Even with reports about Axis movements, the Allies were slow to react. It took almost two weeks after the landings to plan how to stop Axis ships.

By late November, Allied naval forces were ready. Force K was in Malta, with three cruisers and four destroyers. Force Q was in Bône, with three cruisers and two destroyers. In November, no Axis ships were sunk. But in early December, the Allied navies sank seven Axis transport ships. This success came too late. Tanks of the 10th Panzer Division had already arrived. Axis ships then started sailing during the day. This way, their aircraft could protect them. Night convoys started again after the Axis laid more minefields. These minefields made it very hard for Force K and Force Q.

Vichy France's Role

Officials in Tunisia were unsure who to support. Airfields were open to both sides. On November 9, German planes were seen landing at Tunis. The next day, British photos showed about 100 German planes there. That same day, the Italian Air Force sent 28 fighters. Two days later, an airlift began. It brought 15,000 men and 581 tons of supplies. Ships brought 176 tanks, 131 guns, and 1,152 vehicles. By the end of November, three German divisions had arrived. This included the 10th Panzer Division. Two Italian infantry divisions also arrived.

On November 12, Walther Nehring was put in charge of the new XC Corps. He arrived on November 17. The French commander in Tunisia, General Barré, moved his troops into the mountains. They formed a defensive line from Tebersouk through Majaz al Bab. He ordered them to stop any crossing attempts.

Getting Ready for Battle

French Forces Join the Allies

By November 10, French resistance to the Torch landings had stopped. This left a gap in Tunisia. On November 9, Lieutenant-General Kenneth Anderson took command of the Eastern Task Force. This force was in Algiers and was renamed the British First Army. Anderson ordered his troops to move east. They were to capture the ports of Bougie, Philippeville, and Bône. They also needed to take the airfield at Djedjelli. This was all before moving into Tunisia.

Allied planners decided against a direct landing in Tunisia. They did not have enough troops. Also, there was a threat from enemy aircraft. The Allies needed to advance quickly. They had to get there before the Axis could send more troops to Tunis. On November 11, the British 36th Infantry Brigade landed at Bougie without a fight. But due to supply problems, they reached Djedjelli by road only on November 13. Bône airfield was taken after a parachute drop. This was followed by No. 6 Commando taking the port on November 12.

Advanced groups of the 36th Brigade reached Tabarka on November 15. They arrived at Djebel Abiod on November 18. Here, they first met enemy forces. Further south, on November 15, U.S. Army paratroopers landed at Youks-les-Bains. They faced no opposition. They captured this airfield and then the airfield at Gafsa on November 17. On November 19, General Nehring asked to cross the bridge at Medjez. General Barré refused him. The Germans attacked twice but were pushed back. However, the French defense was costly. They lacked tanks and artillery. So, the French had to pull back.

Some French forces joined the Allies. But most French forces were still uncertain. On November 22, the North African Agreement was signed. This made Vichy French North Africa part of the Allied side. Allied soldiers guarding areas were then sent to the front lines. By this time, the Axis had more troops and outnumbered the Allies.

The Allied Battle Plan

There were two main roads leading east into Tunisia from Algeria. The Allied plan was to move along these two roads. Their goal was to capture Bizerte and Tunis. Once Bizerte was taken, Operation Torch would end.

In the north, the 36th Infantry Brigade would attack towards Bizerte. They were part of the 78th Infantry Division. They had support from "Hart Force." This was a small mobile group from the British 11th Infantry Brigade. To the south, the rest of the 11th Infantry Brigade would attack. On their left was Blade Force. This was an armored group led by Colonel Richard Hull. It included tanks, U.S. light tanks, motorized infantry, paratroopers, and artillery.

The Battle Begins

Allied Forces Attack

Sketch map of Tunisia during the 1942–1943 campaign

The two Allied groups moved towards Djebel Abiod and Beja. They were attacked by the Luftwaffe (German air force). The Germans had more planes in the sky. This was because Allied planes had to fly from far-off bases in Algeria.

On the northern road, the 36th Brigade moved fast. But on November 17, they met enemy forces at Djebel Abiod. This force had 17 tanks, 400 paratroopers, and self-propelled guns. The British destroyed eleven tanks. But they had no tank support themselves. So, they were held up for nine days. The Allied groups gathered at Djebel Abiod and Beja. They prepared for a big attack on November 24.

The 36th Brigade was to move from Djebel Abiod towards Mateur. The 11th Infantry Brigade would go down the Merjerda river valley. They would take Majaz al Bab (Medjez el Bab) and then Tebourba, Djedeida, and Tunis.

Blade Force was to cross the country on smaller roads. They would go between the two infantry brigades. Their target was Sidi Nsir. They would also attack Terbourba and Djedeida from the side. The northern attack was called off due to heavy rain. In the south, the 11th Infantry Brigade was stopped by defenders at Medjez.

Blade Force passed through Sidi Nsir. They reached the Chouigui Pass north of Terbourba. Then, a U.S. tank company with 17 M3 Stuart light tanks attacked. They were supported by armored cars. They went behind enemy lines to an airbase at Djedeida. This happened in the afternoon. The Allied tanks destroyed over twenty Axis planes. They also shot up buildings and supply areas. They caused many casualties. But they lacked infantry support. So, the raiders went back to Chouigui.

Blade Force's surprise attack showed Nehring that Medjez was not safe. So, the defenders moved to Djedeida. This was only 30 km (19 mi) from Tunis. The 36th Infantry Brigade attacked on November 26. But Nehring used the delay at Djebel Abiod. He set up an ambush at Jefna. This was on the road from Sedjenane and Mateur. The Germans held high ground on both sides of the road. After heavy rain, the road was very muddy. The ground on either side was too muddy for vehicles. The leading British battalion had 149 casualties.

The British commander sent units into the hills to go around the Germans. But the paratroopers fought very hard. Their defenses were well-placed and could not be broken. A landing by No. 1 Commando 14 mi (23 km) west of Bizerta also failed. This was on November 30. The commandos rejoined the 36th Brigade by December 3. The Germans held this position until the last days of fighting in Tunisia in 1943.

German Forces Retreat

Early on November 26, the 11th Infantry Brigade entered Medjez without a fight. They reached Tebourba also without a fight. They were ready to move on Djedeida. The next day, the Germans attacked. They caused 137 casualties and took 286 prisoners. The brigade attacked again on November 28 towards Djedeida airfield. The U.S. 1st Armored Division lost 19 tanks to anti-tank guns in the town.

On November 29, new units arrived. These were from the 1st Guards Brigade. They had arrived in Algiers on November 22. They began to take over from the 11th Infantry Brigade. On November 29, a U.S. armored unit planned to attack with Blade Force on December 2. The 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment was to be dropped near Axis airfields. These were around Depienne, 30 mi (48 km) south of Tunis. Their job was to destroy Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers. They also aimed to threaten Tunis from the south.

But the main attack was stopped by an Axis counter-attack on December 1. So, Blade Force did not attack. The 2nd Battalion had to retreat 50 mi (80 km) back to Allied lines. They were attacked often. They lost 23 killed and wounded, and 266 missing.

The Axis counter-attack was led by the 10th Panzer Division. This division had just arrived in Tunisia. They attacked from the north towards Tebourba. Blade Force suffered many losses. By the evening of December 2, they had pulled back. This left the 11th Infantry Brigade and the U.S. armored unit to fight the Axis attack. The Axis almost cut off the brigade and broke through.

The 2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment and the 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment fought desperately for four days. This slowed the Axis advance. The U.S. armored unit also fought against tank and infantry attacks. This allowed a slow retreat to high ground. This ground was on each side of the river west of Terbourba. The Hampshires had 75 percent casualties. The Surreys had almost 60 percent casualties.

As more Allied troops arrived, V Corps took charge. This included the 6th Armoured Division, 78th Infantry Division, and U.S. armored units. It also had the 1st Parachute Brigade and Commandos. The commander thought the tired units facing Tebourba were in danger. He ordered a retreat of about 6 mi (10 km). They moved to the high ground of Longstop Hill and Bou Aoukaz. These were on either side of the river. On December 10, Axis tanks attacked the U.S. armored unit. They got stuck in the mud. Then U.S. tanks counter-attacked. They also got stuck and were destroyed. They lost 18 tanks.

Later Operations

Another Allied attack was ready by late December 1942. The Allied force had 54,000 British, 73,800 American, and 7,000 French troops. A quick check showed about 125,000 enemy combat troops. There were also 70,000 support troops, mostly Italian.

On the night of December 16/17, a company of the 1st US Infantry Division raided Maknassy. This was 155 mi (249 km) south of Tunis. They took 21 German prisoners. The main attack began on the afternoon of December 22. It rained, and there was not enough air support. Parts of the 18th Regimental Combat Team and the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards made progress. They moved up the lower ridges of Longstop Hill. This hill controlled the river path from Medjez to Tebourba and then to Tunis.

By the morning of December 23, the Coldstreams had pushed back parts of the 10th Panzer Division. They were on the top of the hill. They were then replaced by the 18th Regimental Combat Team and pulled back to Mejdez. The Germans took back the hill in a counter-attack. The Guards were ordered back. The next day, they regained the peak and dug in with the 18th Regimental Combat Team. By December 25, ammunition was running low. Axis forces held nearby high ground. The Longstop position could not be held. The Allies were forced to pull back to Medjez.