the field artillery journal - Fort Sill - U.S. Army

220 THE FIELD ARTILLERY JOURNAL March
force them to battle. This withdrawing force (supposed to be
still under command of Marshal Rommel) will, if it reaches
Gabès, have an excellent line of defense facing toward the
south, in a line of swamps, depressions, and marshes
extending some 300 miles westwardly from the sea. There
are only a few points of passage across this extended
obstacle. It affords an opportunity for Marshal Rommel to
leave a detaining force to hold this line, while his main body
(which includes three armored and two motorized divisions)
joins the Axis forces in Tunisia. This might give the Axis
sufficient strength to initiate a major offensive.
In view of this situation, another inspired estimate of the
situation was issued at Allied GHQ's CP on January 20th:
a. The Allies are in a position to launch only limited attacks to
prevent Rommel's army joining the Axis forces already in
Tunisia.
b. The British Eighth Army will follow Rommel, but it is
improbable that it would be able to assault the enemy's covering
position, presumably west from Gabes, before reorganization of
its own forces and assembly of necessary materiel.
c. An Axis offensive is now to be expected on the front
Mateur—Medjez-el-Bab.
d. A major Allied offensive might reach the sea in south
Tunisia and thus separate Rommel's army from Axis forces in
north Tunisia. This would be untimely as the Axis might attack in
the north, directly into the Allies' supply lines.
Apparently in preparation for the arrival of Rommel's
army, an Axis offensive was launched west and southwest
of Pont du Fahs on January 19th. Considerable tank and
artillery forces supported infantry assaults, all
supplemented by an intensive air attack. The Axis
succeeded in driving the French back about 7 miles and
(according to their accounts) capturing over 1,000
prisoners. The attack was continued on the 20th. At date of
writing the result of this offensive has not been determined.
TRIPOLITANIA
On January 1st Marshal Rommel's Axis army (estimated
as having 3 armored, 2 motorized, and several infantry
THE RUSSIAN OFFENSIVES AROUND STALINGRAD
Mid-December, 1942, saw the German Sixth Army
(Colonel-General Herman Hoth) holding Stalingrad, less a
wedge in north part of the city which had never been
reduced, plus an area around Stalingrad extending about 40
miles east and west (from the Volga to the Don) and about
80 miles from north to south. The troops available to
defend Stalingrad against the Russian Twenty-first Army
(under Major-General I, N. Christiannikov) which had
surrounded the Stalingrad area, were approximately
German Panzer Divisions 3 14th, 16th, 24th.
German Motorized Divisions 3 3rd, 29th, 60th.
German and Rumanian
Infantry Divisions 11 71st, 75th, 76th, 94th, 10th,
113th, 297th, 295th,
305th, 371st, 389th.
Rumanian Cavalry Divisions 1 1st.
THE CAMPAIGNS IN RUSSIA
divisions) was holding a defensive position near Buerat el
Hsun and the Wadi Zemzem. It was confronted by the
British Eighth Army. The latter prepared to attack the Axis
position by turning it from the south. These British
intentions were noted by the enemy. In fact, London
newspapers published in advance statements that their
Eighth Army was going to attack.
The attack was delivered on January 15th. The turning
movement met a considerable enemy armored force, and a
sharp fight occurred without any decisive result. During the
ensuing night the Axis withdrew from the entire position.
Up to January 23d the Axis forces had made no stand,
but continued on uninterruptedly toward Tunisia. On that
day they had cleared the city of Tripoli, which was entered
by British troops.
A supplementary movement to the British advance was
made by French forces, which had started from Lake
Tchad (south of the Sahara) and advanced across the
desert. At the beginning of January it was in contact with
Italian posts in the territory of Fezzan. Fighting occurred,
but as the Axis had already determined to concentrate its
forces in Tunisia the Italians fought only teat guard actions.
This French force has arrived south of Tripoli, on the left
of the British Eighth Army.
The withdrawal of Marshal Rommel's army from near
the banks of the Nile started in the first week of November.
Together with the pursuit it forms a remarkable annal in
military history. It covered over 1,000 miles in 2½ months,
or 400 miles a month on the average. During this entire
period Rommel has succeeded in avoiding any decisive
engagements. Just before his retreat began he had been
badly defeated at El Alamein, and had lost perhaps 2/3 of
his armor and probably 50,000 men (in captured and
casualties). How much of this loss in men and materiel he
has been able to make good during his retreat is unknown.
Upon the answer depends his future activity in Tunisia,
where it is now conceded he will arrive.
Army Troops:
German Infantry Divisions 2 Parts of 44th, 378th, 384th.
Artillery Regiments: 44th, 46th, 51st,
53rd (trench mortars),
37th (AA), 104th (AA).
Engineers
Battalions: 50th, 162nd,
—— 294th, 336th.
Total divisions 20
All organizations were below strength, divisions having
about 7,500 men for duty. The total force was around
200,000.
The area being defended was nearly as large as the
state of Connecticut. As the east boundary was the Volga
River, which needed only to be observed, there was an
active front of about 160 miles—too long for the size of
the garrison. The west front was in places along the Don
River, but the Russians had several bridgeheads across
the river and the Don front was very active. In