The Restored Burlington Northern Depot & WWII
Memorial Museum
Kasserine Pass Battle
Introduction
During the struggle against
the Axis, the citizens of Montgomery County Iowa
lost a high percentage of their sons. Many active service participants from the
county were solders in Company F ( Villisca) and Company M ( Red Oak).
During WWII, both units were assigned to the
168th Infantry Regiment, 34th “ Red Bull “ Infantry Division (see note 1).
At the North
Africa American Cemetery and Memorial in Tunisia rest
2,841 of our military dead, their headstones set in straight lines subdivided into
nine rectangular plots by wide paths, with decorative pools at their intersections.
Along the southeast edge of the burial area, bordering the tree-lined terrace
leading to the memorial is the Wall of the Missing. On this wall 3,724 names
are engraved. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.
Most honored here lost their lives in World War II in military activities
ranging from North Africa to
the Persian Gulf.
The Memorial in the North Africa American Cemetery consists of the Court of Honor and
the chapel. The Court of Honor is in the form of a cloister. Within it is a large rectangular
stone of remembrance of black Diorite d'Anzola quarried in northwest Italy;
this inscription, adapted from Ecclesiasticus XLIV, is worked into the
design of the mosaic panel surrounding the base:
SOME THERE BE WHICH
HAVE NO SEPULCHRE
THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE.
The rectangular pylons of the cloister are of San Gottardo limestone from the vicinity of
Vicenzain Italy; the main part of the structure of the memorial is faced with Roman travertine.
The pavement is of Sienite della Balma granite from northwest Italy. In the southwest
corner is a Russian-olive tree (Elaeagnus angustifolia). On the west wall of the cloister
facing the mall is this inscription, with translations in French and Arabic:
1941-1945
IN PROUD REMEMBRANCE OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF HER SONS AND
IN HUMBLE TRIBUTE TO THEIR SACRIFICES THIS MEMORIAL HAS
BEEN ERECTED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
The Battle of the KASSERINE PASS, Tunisia
19 – 25 February 1943
The name "Kasserine" is generally not remembered as one of the finest hours of the
US Army because of the disastrous battle at Kasserine Pass, where German forces
delivered a crushing blow to the American Army.
However, "Kasserine" was, in fact, a series of engagements between Axis & Allied forces
including the 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th “ Red Bull “ Infantry Division,
that left the US Army still in control of the battlefield at the end of the fight.
At the start of 1943,
both Axis & Allies were moving forces into Tunisia as quickly as
possible.
German units were
ferried across the Mediterranean by all available means. The Afrika Korps
had been pulled back through Libya to the Mareth Line on Tunisia's southeastern border.
The British Eighth
Army was slowly moving up behind the German retreat in the east and Allied
forces
were being moved from Morocco
and Algeria into western Tunisia. The British First Army
was in the north, the American II Corps in the south, with French forces in between.
In southern Tunisia, the Atlas mountains divide into Y-shaped extensions of the Eastern Dorsal
and Western Dorsal. The Germans controlled the passes through the Eastern Doral,
secured by actions occurring at the end of January, while the Allies controlled the
Western Dorsal, with a strong American II Corps presence in the valley in between.
Axis forces decided to expand their defensive perimeter. For this action, Field Marshal
Erwin Rommel had his 21st Panzer Division, most of the 10th Panzer Division, and units
from the Kampfgruppe DAK (Deutsches
Afrika Korps).
On 14 February
Rommel attacked
through Faid
Pass in the Eastern Dorsal, inflicting severe damage on American units in
his path.
Within three days, the
Germans controlled the valley. The American II Corps suffered significant
losses,
including most of its 1st
Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division, and the 168th Infantry
Regiment,
killed or captured. The
Allies retreated and began moving units to block a likely German attack
through the Western Dorsal
passes at Sbiba Gap and Kasserine Pass. On 17 February,
Allied forces were
ordered into Sbiba Gap and Kasserine
Pass.
At Sbiba Gap were elements of the British 6th Armoured Division, which consisted mainly of
the British Guards Brigade, to which the 18th Infantry Regimental Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
was attached. This force was later supplemented by units of the 34th Infantry Division.
At Kasserine Pass was Task Force Stark, which consisted mainly of the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry,
the 33rd Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Infantry division, and the 19th Combat Engineer Regiment,
3rd Infantry Division, later reinforced by elements of the 3rd Battalion, 39th Infantry.
Rommel, still the Desert Fox, saw an opportunity to boldly strike the Allies, with their green
and untested American Torch forces, and, if successful, cause their retreat into Algeria - an
event that would surely prolong the German presence in North Africa.
He proposed his battle
plan, but, fortunately for the Allies, there were dissensions among the German
commanders in Tunisia. Field
Marshal Von Arnim, commander of the 5th Panzer Army, disagreed
with details
of Rommel's plan and the
Axis commander in North Africa, Field Marshal Kesselring, modified the
plan,
leaving Rommel somewhat perplexed and possibly much less enthusiastic about his prospect for complete success.
On 19 February, Rommel renewed the attack.. He assigned the 21st Panzer Division to probe
Sbiba Gap and Kampfgruppe DAK to probe Kasserine Pass, while he recovered the
10th Panzer Division from Von Arnim.
At Sbiba,
the British Guards Brigade dug in on the west side of the Sbeitla-Sbiba
road, while the
18th Infantry
Regimental Combat Team was assigned more exposed positions on the east side
of the road. The vaunted 21st Panzer Division reached Sbiba and deployed to the east of the
road. Soldiers of the 21st Panzer Division were among the most seasoned German fighters
then in Africa, having been part of the original Afrika Korps.
Rommel arrived during
the attack and noted the tough defense at Sbiba. In
the meantime,
Kampfgruppe DAK's probe, although
initially repulsed, showed much more promise.
When the 21st Panzer Division attacked on the morning of the 20th, they fought to within
600 meters of the 18th Infantry Regimental Combat Team, but got no further.
Therefore, Rommel ordered them into holding positions and diverted the late-arriving
10th Panzer Division toward Kasserine. The fate of American soldiers defending
Kasserine Pass is well known. Rommel broke through at Kasserine, then split his force,
sending one group toward Bou Chebka and the other toward Thala.
At Bou Chebka he met determined resistance from Combat Command B, 1st Armored Division,
the 16th Infantry Regimental Combat Team, and Big Red One's Division Artillery. At Thala,
the British 26th Armoured Brigade gave ground grudgingly in a valiant attempt to stem
the German tide. Fortunately, the US 9th Division Artillery arrived just in time.
By the end of the day on the 22nd, it was clear that Rommel's bold plan could not succeed.
His units by then lacked the strength of force, compounded by a crippling shortage
of fuel and ammunition,
to exploit his victory at Kasserine Pass.
The Germans broke contact and withdrew.
"Kasserine" was over.
Courtesy of 18th INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION
Also, read
Battle of the Kasserine Pass on
Wikipedia
Baptism
of Fire: Kasserine Pass, 1943 by Eric
Niderost
Northwest
Africa: Seizing the Initiative in the West
(
especially Part Five – “Concentration
of Forces in Tunisia” ) by Dr. George F. Howe
Strategy and Tactics
by the Third Reich, in North Africa
Tunisia 17 November
1942 – 13 May 1943
as reported by the U.S.
Army Center of Military History
The
official motto of the 34th
“ Red Bull “ Infantry
Division is
ATTACK, ATTACK,
ATTACK
U.
S. Army 34th Infantry Division Unit Insignia
Blue reflects
the Infantry.
The black olla (a Mexican water flask), suggestive of
training in New Mexico during World War I.
The
stylized red
bovine skull is symbolic of vitality, courage and strength.
The two fasces (crossed diagonally and superimposed
by a black olla bearing a gold fleur-de-lis debruised
by a
red bovine skull) imply authority and
commemorate the unit’s campaign service in Italy during World War II.
The gold fleur-de-lis alludes to excellence and the Division’s
French Croix de Guerre
for service in World War II.
The motto, “
ATTACK, ATTACK,
ATTACK ”, was adopted by the Division in 1943 and
characterized by the nature of the Division’s combat
operations for the remainder of World War II.
***
ADDENDUM ***
Some
lessons learned by the Allies, from engagements in Kasserine
Pass,
which assisted in the
final victory over the Axis.
Kasserine
Pass was the only time in WWII the 34th Infantry Division withdrew
(45-50 km).
Some contributing factors
included units being repeatedly passed to the French, British, and
American II Corps, and the tactical mistake of thin lines of Allied
tanks against massed elements
of
Panzerarmee Afrika
movements. Also, lack of reinforcements, provisions, and air support
(the
Luftwaffe was dominate over the battlefield). On 06
March 1943, newly promoted Lieutenant General
George S. Patton
replaced Major General Lloyd Fredendall, as
commander of the American II Corps.
For more “lessons
learned”, click
here for Dr. George F. Howe’s expansive “Fruits of Victory” report
from the Center of Military
History, U.S. Department of Defense.
Additionally, The significance of Kasserine on development of Close Air Support Doctrine.
NOTE 1
JUN 1861: Company
F of Villisca Iowa organized.
AUG 1861: 168th
Regiment began its lineage as the 4th Regiment, Iowa Volunteer
Infantry.
MAY 1879: Company
K, 5th Infantry Regiment of the Iowa National Guard organized.
APR 1892: Company
K became part of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, and in late 1893, redesignated
as Company M of the 3rd
Infantry Regiment of the Iowa National Guard.
World War II: 34th
Infantry Division’s three infantry regiments were the 133rd, the 135th,
and the 168th.
The latter comprised of
the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions.
Company F was assigned to the 2nd Battalion,
and Company M to the 3rd
Battalion.
Lineage
and Honors
for the 168th Infantry Regiment ( Third
Iowa )
The Restored Burlington Northern Depot & WWII
Memorial Museum
#####