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

Report of Operations,'-_.i . II Corps, 2 , -:ay 1943, (Contir._ .d) .
the direction of 1:U1-1USSY approached to within four or five miles of W.FSI. and
heavy motor movements were observed on the GULi TREE RO:.D . Four or five Italian
armbred cars and one motorcycle approached HDILL,'. and drove the french back
slightly to the north.
2~. To investigate the ene:Vts intentions in the vicinity of G.WSA and
,ID, active reconnaissance was initiated by our forces . I light mobile force
supported by air was dispatched from G~.FSE,_ to, investigate t`ie str:.ngtli of the
enemy in t:.e vicinity of Zi. F:OUC .i . This force moved as far east as STATION
S : . D without contact with the: an;m7. A small mobile force sent fra.1 G:,FSA
easily restored the situation at :DILLA . The enerv met our patrols in the
vicinity of F:SD with a withering fire . Elcnents of the ;;frika Corps were
idenV.fied in this area .
3 . . *,s stated in Section II of this report, on ]1 February the responsioility
for the defense of tire FLID position eras asjigned to General Ward,
Commnding the 1st Armored Division . The scheme of defense was to hold the
two key terrain features, DJ . YS,lIIU on the south end DJ . ISESOUD:. on-the north
of or anizin; infantry islands of resistance on these two positions . These
positions wore not mutually supporting for antitank and small arms fires. :i
mobile reserve was hold in a position of readiness in the- vicinity of SIDI :30U
ZID; During the night 11-12 February, the 701st TD Bn. (:. and B Cos .) arrived
.^.t SBEITLir and came . under the command of the 1st ~rmored Division for the de-
_ense `of- the F.:ID psitions . During the afternoon of 13 February the C-in-C
visited the FIJD positions and had a conference with General Anderson, British
First '.' Comiander.
4: t"daylight on the 14th of February, the enemy attacked our positions
in front of FY.ID. The positions on DJ . LtSSOUD:. were attacked by artillery
fito ihfantry, and approximately thirty unegy tanks . The FOPIDOUK and t:.FS.l
areas were `quiet . i.s of 0920. hrs . the 3rd Battalion, 1st ;armored Re&dmcnt
'rith two batteries, 91st F.. Bn., launched a counterattack and became heavily
engaged with enemy tanks betireen SIDI BOU ZID and DJ . LE SOUD:. . By 1300 hours,
the 31d Battalion, 1st .rmored Regiment, had suffered 50A tank casualties .
BZ" .1700 hours -.no-my tanks 'tied overrun "B" Battery, 91st F.1 Bn ., nortlnrest of
the "W.' IE. SCUD:aI . positicd . ;- Enemy infantry moved Boat F:ID to SIDI BOU ZID in
trucks=~and,Ahe position`ori DJ . L9S OUn:: was completely, surrounded by the -enorw.
~fhe-3r'd"Battnlion 1st :armoiiad Regiment was,-pushed back southwest of SIDI BOU
"ZIDNith-b6tlf :flanks threatowoA .from the north and the south. The XII :.3.r
U8re?l5orV-Comviand successf1x11y attacked onerq tank and track columns throughout
the-day sT"a result of those ;operations, and after repuated requests, the
: 'Com antlor ordorod the 2nd Battalion, let "rmored Regimont from CC'B" at
iy.R'L:R : to - the Idt - Armorod Division at FAID.
- ' .5. -:Due to the critical situation at F.IID, the force of ;,morican and
: .French"_'troops at (3utjS.: was aithdrmm to- positions in the vicinity of FFRI:.1L:a
g-t~ . night of I4=15- February.- :at- daylight on the 15th, the lot Armored
4-Divijiea ` &Zwd a'VO&hterattack`betweenDH. JQtitL, and .
"6 460th - ry`'bt1U ~WA the -hoighta. . of DJ=- MXL , r
: . .~..,s... . ..3 .*...._ ...._+.
draL. ri'hrmmred Division., was directed to offeat the witlh-
Y:. defending . the lussmxa piss. By 1535;x . .
the 2nd Battalion, let i3fmbredRagiamt had-reached the outsjoXts of SID-T,,WU
ZID attempting to take the town and effect. the roliof of the 168th Infantry .
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