1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 100 ] [ 23–27 MARCH 1943 ]
El Guettar–Gabès road to Djebel el Kreroua and E
tip of Djebel Berda. German armored div heads NW
up Gabès–Gafsa road, night 22–23, for counterthrust
toward Gafsa. SE Algerian Command continues
forward in conjunction with and to S of U.S.
II Corps and is in contact with enemy at Djebel Bou
Jerra, SW of Djebel Berda.
In Br Eighth Army area, offensive is severely
handicapped by heavy rainfall. Determined enemy
counterattack forces 50th Div, 30 Corps, to give
ground. Since enemy reserves are now committed in
coastal sector and fighting here is proving very
costly, Gen Montgomery decides to switch main
weight of his attack to W flank and conduct holding
action on E. 10 Corps releases 7th Armd Div to
30 Corps.
Br First Army is strengthened as 1st Div completes
concentration in Tunisia.
23 March
TUNISIA—18 Army Group: In U.S. II Corps
area, 1st Armd Div continues futile efforts to take
Djebel Naemia, where enemy is building up
strength. 1st Div, by dint of hard fighting, contains
2 strong enemy thrusts toward El Guettar. Both
sides sustain heavy losses. SE Algerian Command
is meeting strong opposition as it continues forward
to S of U.S. II Corps.
In Br Eighth Army area, 30 Corps withdraws
Wadi Zigzaou bridgehead under cover of arty fire
during night 23–24. Ind 4th Div begins operations
to clear Médenine–Hallouf–Bir Soltane road, night
23–24. 10 Corps hq and 1st Armd Div move out
after dark to join NZ Corps, which is still help up
near bottleneck between Djebel Tebaga and Djebel
Melab, in preparation for assault against enemy’s W
flank.
24 March
U.S.—JCS approve plan to occupy Attu in the
Aleutians.
TUNISIA—18 Army Group: In U.S. II Corps
area, 1st Armd Div attacks Djebel Naemia in
greater strength but cannot dislodge enemy. Gen
Patton orders the position taken during next
morning’s attack. Maj Gen Orlando Ward, CG 1st
Armd Div, personally commands attack, which begins
midnight 24–25 without arty preparation.
Enemy, unable to break through positions of 1st
Div on hills SE of El Guettar, maintains pressure in
the area and achieves limited gains.
In Br Eighth Army area, 30 Corps is containing
enemy in coastal sector by feints coupled with air
attacks while preparations are made for attack
against W flank of Mareth Line.
In Br First Army’s 5 Corps area, enemy is at last
contained on N flank, where 46th Div holds line Cap
Negro–Djebel Abiod.
25 March
TUNISIA—18 Army Group: In U.S. II Corps
area, 1st Armd Div’s attack against Djebel Naemia
at first makes some progress, but gains cannot be
held. Maintaining pressure against 1st Div on hills
SE of El Guettar, enemy forces 18th Inf elements to
give ground on NE part of Djebel Berda; since no
reinforcements for this position are available, 18th
Inf defense force is ordered to withdraw from
Djebel Berda. U.S. II Corps receives new directive
from Gen Alexander, calling for broadened offensive;
is reinf for this purpose by 34th and 9th Divs.
34th Div is to conduct limited offensive for Fondouk
Gap from Sbeïtla. 9th Div ( — RCT 60) and 1st Div
are to open gap SE of El Guettar for passage of 1st
Armd Div. 1st Armd Div is to break off offensive
in Maknassy area and leave small holding force
there in order to drive on Gabès.
26 March
BATTLE OF KOMANDORSKI Is.—Small naval task
group under Adm McMorris encounters superior
enemy surface force attempting to run Allied
blockade and reinforce Japanese positions in the
Aleutians. Joining battle off Komandorski Is. in the
Bering Sea, enemy is forced to retire without completing
his mission; his Aleutians garrisons are
henceforth obliged to rely on meager supplies
brought in by submarine.
TUNISIA—18 Army Group: Br Eighth Army,
having adopted new plan called SUPERCHARGE, and
abandoned original plan, PUGILIST, renews assault
on Mareth Line in afternoon following destructive
aerial bombardment that lasts for 2 1 /2 hours. NZ
Corps, leading assault against W flank of Mareth
Line, jumps off at 1600 and penetrates enemy positions
in defile between Djebels Tebaga and Melab.
10 Corps’ 1st Armd Div, exploiting this success,
breaks through the defile and pushes toward El
Hamma as operations are continued through night
by moonlight. Ind 4th Div, 30 Corps, clearing
Médenine–Bir Soltane road, is beyond Hallouf Pass.
27 March
TUNISIA—18 Army Group: In U.S. II Corps
area, 34th Div, in its first action as a div, begins
drive on Fondouk Gap, moving astride road from
Hadjeb el Aïoun with 2 regts abreast, 135th on left
and 168th on right. Frontal and enfilading fire from
heights ahead halt attack short of objective; 135th