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

even today perhaps
tkxkxkkx regiment be committed to the attack/on the infantry positions along
-the hills . For the present a reconnaissance is to be carried out in both
fkanks . At 1620 h . the Fll4 arrives at the C .P . to get oriented on the course
o£ the operations . The Fa4 advocates the view that every means must be employed
to throw the enemy . At 1710 h . Lt .Col . Stenkhoff reports the following to the
division commander at the divisional C .P . : "Our tank attack is at a stand still
as a result of barbed wire obstacles, mines and antitank guns, and also because
of enenV artillery ; ten breakdowns up to now" . The division commander decides
to call off the attack and orders to take back the tanks at dusk, to assemble,
and .
refuel/ re-anmunition .
~2 .
A battalion of 104 A Rgt . i s committed am for the defense of the
A
ridge east of the road . The second battalion moves to the hollow as reserve .
, Reconn.Bn.580 assume the protection of the . right flank and reconnoiters
toward the east . Flak Bn.609 covers the left flank and occupies a position
to
on the ridge with connection mx the road . Recormaissance as far as the enemy
will begin immediately - when the moon shines .
The division commander takes the following decision : vrith the first
rays bf light on 20 Feb . the attack will be launched anew . Tho entire infantry
and the 5th Pz .Rgt . will carry the attack forward under good artillery support.
force
Bn . Kurzei, widely pulled apart, will attack frontally by bounds . The main xfcaxt
concentrated
will be 3 on the right flank. An engineer platoon and 2 flak combat detach-
ments, Bn.Kuhn and the 5th Pz .Rgt . will be on the right flank. The attack of
the right flank will be carried forward in such a way that from point 5354
either point 5371 will be reached and thereby Draa bou Rouino,skirtirg Sbiba,
or that the attack from 5354 - advance to the north so as to swing west on
Sbiba at the proper moment . -
To Flak Bn .609 devolves the mission to tie down the enemy and especially
to simulate an attack on the left flank.