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

The Initial German Attack
The German break-through forces had apparently been strongly reinforced, following their capture
of the FAID PASS, early in Feb . '43 . And, on 14 Feb . . the German Panzers came boiling out of the
west end of the Pass, with a whip lash of tanks, guns and men, that set the American forces reeling
back behind the mountain passes at SBEITLA and KASSERINE (40 miles west of the FAIR PASS) .
Combat Command "A" and Combat Command "C" (of the American 1st Armored Division), then
located in the SIDI BOU ZED area (10 miles west of the FAIR PASS), caught the brunt of the German
break-through attack . Out-maneuvered, out-numbered and out-gunned, by the German Panzer Divi
sions, they were badly mauled, and lost 54 tanks in this engagement . A side swipe, by these on-rushing
German Panzers, also over-ran the 168th Infantry Regiment, of the American 34th Infantry Division,
then located north of SIDI BOU ZED .
Following their quick success at SIDI BOU ZED, the German Panzers were then well on their way to
SBEITLA and KASSERINE, just 30 miles further to the west . It then became necessary for the American
II Corps to take immediate steps to protect the mountain passes, through SBIITLA and KASSERINE, and
the passes west thereof, leading north to TEBESSA .
8 . American Reinforcements from the North
When it was finally realized that the tremendous American supply base at TEBESSA was in grave
danger of being captured; and that the Germans very possibly could smash north through THALA, clear
to LE KEF, and thus threaten the right rear flank of the entire British 1st Army; then, finally, the
Headquarters of the British 1st Army saw fit to release additional reinforcements from the north, to
assist the hard pressed American H Corps . These initial reinforcements included Combat Command "B"
(of the American 1st Armored Division), and the 18th Infantry Regimental Combat Team (of the 1st
Infantry Division .
Combat Command "B" (of the 1st Armored Division) (Col . Robinette, Comdg .) - on release
from the British V Corps, boiled down south, and by 16-17 Feb . was in position, north of SBIITLA, to
cover the American withdrawal therefrom . It was later ordered further northwest, to help protect the
THALA area and the passes leading into TEBESSA, from the east .
The 18th Infantry Regimental Combat Team (of the 1st Infantry Division - Wiih the
Field Artillery Battalion arached) , Col . Greer . Comdg ., on relcaae from the British it Corps, ura.z
down from the north, on 17 Feb ., to occupy a defensive position, just southwest of SBIBA, (24 miles,
north of SBIITLA) . On 19 Feb . '43, it repulsed several enemy armored-infantry attacks, in this area,
after inflicting heavy losses on the enemy; and thus secured the left flank of the hard pressed American
II Corps .
9 . The German Break-through at the KASSERINE PASS,
The KASSERINE PASS provided the most favorable corridor of approach for the German Panzer
Units, in their advance north towards the critical area near THALA (at the head of the KASSERINE
VALLEY) . The KASSERINE PASS had been occupied initially by the 19th Combat Engineer Regiment
(a regiment of Corps troops, which was new to combat) . These defending troops were reinforced, and
the Pass was hastily organized for defense on 19 Feb . , under command of the Headquarters, of the 26th
Infantry Regimental Combat Team (Col . Alec Stark, Comdg .) . In this hasty defensive organization ,
the 19th Engineer Rogiment occupied the west side of the Pass ; and the 26th Infantry Regiment ( less the
2nd and 3rd Battalions) occupied the _east side of the Pass . The 33rd Field Artillery Battalion (Lt Col .
Verdi Barnes . Comdg .) was in general support .
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Feb ., '43 .