Martin Antonenko
A Fixture
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2008
- Messages
- 9,001
Rommel's final offensive!
In February 1943 the situation for the - meanwhile so-called - "Panzerarmee Afrika" and their Italian allies slowly became really critical!
After the German-Italian defeat by the British, Canadians, Australians and Free French at El Alamein (November 1942), the enemy landed in Morocco and Algeria ("Operation Torch"), and meanwhile also deployed in the rear of the Axis powers - the Germans and the Italians threatens a two-front war!
In addition, the Nazi Luftwaffe failed to eliminate the "unsinkable British aircraft carrier" Malta, leaving the Axis troops with few supplies.
On February 14, 1943, Generaloberstl Erwin Rommel...
... with two Panzerdivisions - the 10th and 21st - which he personally subordinated, the three-day battle at the Kasserine Pass!
It's a desperate attempt to regain the initiative!
And contrary to expectations, the German offensive - against a British and American superiority - is making surprisingly good progress!
The British are once again proving they are lions - led by sheep, and the inexperienced US soldiers are running like rabbits!
The Germans - reinforced by Italian units of the "Centauro" armored division...
...and the 7. Bersaglieri regiment...
... can break through the allied positions...:
In their panic escape, the US boys leave behind large quantities of weapons, vehicles and equipment.
The 10th Panzer Division alone captured 95 M3 halftracks during the fighting at the Kasserine Pass!
Many of these are immediately used against their previous owners...:
3,000 Americans are killed, another 4,000 captured!
However, the attack of the Axis forces gets bogged down just when they think they have won:
Two American elite units stand in the way of the Axis soldiers, 1st US Armored Division...
...and parts of the US 1st Infantry Division (nicknamed "The Big Red One" because of their division insignia):
Since the lack of fuel on the part of the Axis powers is now also becoming noticeable, they can no longer maneuver over long distances and thus avoid the enemy, but can only attack frontally, which means that high losses can be expected.
After the first frontal attacks were unsuccessful...
...Rommel decides after consultation with the Commander-in-Chief "South", Field Marshal Albert Kesselring (on the right in the picture)...
... to stop the offensive, which turns the victory, which was believed to be certain, into a defeat!
The Axis powers lose 2,000 soldiers and 34 tanks (which they can no longer replace), the Allies lose 10,000 men (6,500 of them Americans), 183 tanks, 208 guns and 616 wheeled and half-track vehicles.
Now Rommel is forced to permanently switch to the defensive - the beginning of the end of the African campaign of the Nazi Wehrmacht!
After the battle, US commander General Lloyd Fredendall...
... is fired as commanding general of II US Corps and replaced by George S. Patton, which is of a completely different caliber than its hesitant predecessor...:
After their experiences at the Kasserine Pass, the British and Germans take the US soldiers as allies and opponents not very seriously - which, at least on the German side, will take bitter revenge later...
In February 1943 the situation for the - meanwhile so-called - "Panzerarmee Afrika" and their Italian allies slowly became really critical!
After the German-Italian defeat by the British, Canadians, Australians and Free French at El Alamein (November 1942), the enemy landed in Morocco and Algeria ("Operation Torch"), and meanwhile also deployed in the rear of the Axis powers - the Germans and the Italians threatens a two-front war!
In addition, the Nazi Luftwaffe failed to eliminate the "unsinkable British aircraft carrier" Malta, leaving the Axis troops with few supplies.
On February 14, 1943, Generaloberstl Erwin Rommel...
... with two Panzerdivisions - the 10th and 21st - which he personally subordinated, the three-day battle at the Kasserine Pass!
It's a desperate attempt to regain the initiative!
And contrary to expectations, the German offensive - against a British and American superiority - is making surprisingly good progress!
The British are once again proving they are lions - led by sheep, and the inexperienced US soldiers are running like rabbits!
The Germans - reinforced by Italian units of the "Centauro" armored division...
...and the 7. Bersaglieri regiment...
... can break through the allied positions...:
In their panic escape, the US boys leave behind large quantities of weapons, vehicles and equipment.
The 10th Panzer Division alone captured 95 M3 halftracks during the fighting at the Kasserine Pass!
Many of these are immediately used against their previous owners...:
3,000 Americans are killed, another 4,000 captured!
However, the attack of the Axis forces gets bogged down just when they think they have won:
Two American elite units stand in the way of the Axis soldiers, 1st US Armored Division...
...and parts of the US 1st Infantry Division (nicknamed "The Big Red One" because of their division insignia):
Since the lack of fuel on the part of the Axis powers is now also becoming noticeable, they can no longer maneuver over long distances and thus avoid the enemy, but can only attack frontally, which means that high losses can be expected.
After the first frontal attacks were unsuccessful...
...Rommel decides after consultation with the Commander-in-Chief "South", Field Marshal Albert Kesselring (on the right in the picture)...
... to stop the offensive, which turns the victory, which was believed to be certain, into a defeat!
The Axis powers lose 2,000 soldiers and 34 tanks (which they can no longer replace), the Allies lose 10,000 men (6,500 of them Americans), 183 tanks, 208 guns and 616 wheeled and half-track vehicles.
Now Rommel is forced to permanently switch to the defensive - the beginning of the end of the African campaign of the Nazi Wehrmacht!
After the battle, US commander General Lloyd Fredendall...
... is fired as commanding general of II US Corps and replaced by George S. Patton, which is of a completely different caliber than its hesitant predecessor...:
After their experiences at the Kasserine Pass, the British and Germans take the US soldiers as allies and opponents not very seriously - which, at least on the German side, will take bitter revenge later...
