KASSERINE PASS BATTLES Readings - US Army Center Of Military ...

A.A.580 is army reserve in region west of Sbeitla .
Air situation :
(Situation map)
Since evUly afternoon the enemy has kept up a constant attack with bombers
a
of all types and pursuit aviation against the region/round Kasserine and `
Feriana in a force heretofore unparallelled . (In a quarter of an hour 104 planes
are counted over the Kasserine area) .
Our Luftwaffe carries out successful attacks in the region around Thala
and el Hams..
Est&mate of the situation and plans :
a . First Italian Army :
- 138 -
Situation and plan on the 14Sareth front unchanged .
b. Front oftthe attack pxoup north :
In compliance with orders from Comando Supremo to move the attack units
back by echelon in delaying action, it is ordered for the 24 Feb. that :
aa . The 21 .Pz.Div . will hold its present positions .
bb . The l0.Pz .Div . will. defend Kasserine Pass . In case of strong enemy pressure
it will be taken back to the region west of Sbeitla, to cover the with-
drawal of the 21 .Pz .Div .
cc . Ksmpfaruppe D .A .K . will defend the Feriana region and will fall back un-
der heavy enemy pressure only after mining the roads and destroying the
railway line running to Gefsa . Elements of Div. Centauro attached to the
KampfRruppe will be released to the division .
dd . Div . Centauro with mobile elements, including attached German Lw .Co . will
occupy the north and n ,Drthwest front of Gafsa following its relief
foot?
by the D.A.K . There the im-mobile troops will be relieved and put in
line in the former positions east of Guettar and south of DJ .Bu Jerra .
Elements previously attached to Kamnfgruppe D .A .K . will accompany it .
ee . A .A .580 will secure the right flank of the 21 .P- .Div . i n the region north-