WW2/Battles of WW2/Date-by-Date/North Africa & Mediterranean • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
The campaign that squeezed the last Axis forces in Africa between Montgomery's advancing Eighth Army and the Torch landing forces, ending in a quarter-million Axis surrenders. (17 November 1942 – 13 May 1943)
Chronological Storyline (20 Milestones)
Nov 17, 1942 CE
Allied advance begins into Tunisia
British First Army forces under Lieutenant-General Kenneth Anderson crossed from Algeria into Tunisia, racing eastward to seize Tunis before Axis forces could consolidate a defensive perimeter. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisia_Campaign
Rommel's Last Battle in North Africa: Tunisia 1943 (4K WW2 Documentary)The Axis retreat and the Tunisian campaign 1942 - 1943: Scores of German and Italian prisoners at Gromalia prisoner of war camp after the fall of Tunis. By Lieutenant Whicker, No 2 Army Film & Photographic Unit. - This photograph NA 2866 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-39) Transferred from en.wikipedia; transferred to Commons by User:Shizhao using CommonsHelper., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10690403
Nov 19, 1942 CE
Germans rush reinforcements to Tunisia
Hitler ordered Colonel-General Walter Nehring to Tunisia to establish a command and begin building up Axis forces, airlifting troops and equipment from Sicily to forestall the Allied advance. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisia_Campaign
The Axis retreat and the Tunisian campaign 1942 - 1943: Scores of German and Italian prisoners at Gromalia prisoner of war camp after the fall of Tunis. By Lieutenant Whicker, No 2 Army Film & Photographic Unit. - This photograph NA 2866 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-39) Transferred from en.wikipedia; transferred to Commons by User:Shizhao using CommonsHelper., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10690403
Nov 25, 1942 CE
First Army pushes toward Djedeida
British and American units of the Allied First Army reached Djedeida, approximately 20 miles from Tunis, but were halted by determined Axis resistance and worsening weather conditions. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Torch
First Army pushes toward Djedeida By Unknown author, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=187802
Dec 1, 1942 CE
Axis defense solidifies at Medjez
After repelling Allied attacks near Tebourba and Medjez el Bab, Axis forces under Nehring established a defensive line that blocked the direct Allied route to Tunis, ending the initial race. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisia_Campaign
The Axis retreat and the Tunisian campaign 1942 - 1943: Scores of German and Italian prisoners at Gromalia prisoner of war camp after the fall of Tunis. By Lieutenant Whicker, No 2 Army Film & Photographic Unit. - This photograph NA 2866 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-39) Transferred from en.wikipedia; transferred to Commons by User:Shizhao using CommonsHelper., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10690403
Dec 22, 1942 CE
Allied Christmas Eve attack repulsed
A four-pronged Allied assault on the Medjez el Bab position was defeated by Axis defenders in heavy rain and mud, forcing General Anderson to suspend offensive operations until spring. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisia_Campaign
The Axis retreat and the Tunisian campaign 1942 - 1943: Scores of German and Italian prisoners at Gromalia prisoner of war camp after the fall of Tunis. By Lieutenant Whicker, No 2 Army Film & Photographic Unit. - This photograph NA 2866 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-39) Transferred from en.wikipedia; transferred to Commons by User:Shizhao using CommonsHelper., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10690403
Jan 18, 1943 CE
Eighth Army attacks Mareth Line
General Bernard Montgomery's British Eighth Army assaulted the Mareth Line fortifications in southern Tunisia, defended by the Italian First Army under General Giovanni Messe, beginning the southern front. ) · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Mareth_Line
The British Army in Tunisia 1943 A 25-pdr field gun in action at night during the assault on the Mareth line, 30 March 1943. By No 2 Army Film & Photographic Unit, Palmer (Sgt) - http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib//47/media-47127/large.jpg This photograph NA 1397 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25297362
Jan 23, 1943 CE
Montgomery captures Tripoli
The British Eighth Army entered Tripoli after a prolonged advance from Egypt, securing a major port for resupply and positioning Allied forces to attack the Mareth Line from the south. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Torch
Montgomery captures Tripoli By Unknown author, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=187802
Jan 30, 1943 CE
Rommel attacks at Ousseltia Valley
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel launched an offensive against French and American forces in the Ousseltia Valley, inflicting significant casualties and exposing weaknesses in the inexperienced Allied defenses. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisia_Campaign
The Axis retreat and the Tunisian campaign 1942 - 1943: Scores of German and Italian prisoners at Gromalia prisoner of war camp after the fall of Tunis. By Lieutenant Whicker, No 2 Army Film & Photographic Unit. - This photograph NA 2866 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-39) Transferred from en.wikipedia; transferred to Commons by User:Shizhao using CommonsHelper., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10690403
Feb 14, 1943 CE
Rommel strikes Americans at Sidi Bou Zid
Rommel's forces attacked the poorly deployed American II Corps under Major General Lloyd Fredendall at Sidi Bou Zid, overwhelming two battalions of the 1st Armored Division and capturing over 2,500 troops. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sidi_Bou_Zid
Tunisia Campaign. 8th Army operations 30 January to 10 April 1943. By Military Army - http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/tunisia/p16(map).jpg, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1970226
Feb 19, 1943 CE
Battle of Kasserine Pass begins
Rommel's panzer divisions broke through the Kasserine Pass, routing green American troops who retreated in disorder, marking the worst US ground defeat of the campaign and a profound crisis for Allied command. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kasserine_Pass
English: Photo: SC 167571 - 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry clearing the road and clearing mines, walking through the Kasserine Pass, Tunisia .26 Feb 1943.Photographer: McGray. By Unknown author - from http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/matrix/1ID/1ID-Photos.htm, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1664546
Feb 22, 1943 CE
Allied counterattack halts Kasserine advance
British reinforcements and rallied American units under General Ernest Harmon mounted a determined counterattack at Thala and Sbiba, forcing Rommel to withdraw through Kasserine Pass and ending the Axis offensive. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kasserine_Pass
English: Photo: SC 167571 - 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry clearing the road and clearing mines, walking through the Kasserine Pass, Tunisia .26 Feb 1943.Photographer: McGray. By Unknown author - from http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/matrix/1ID/1ID-Photos.htm, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1664546
Mar 6, 1943 CE
Rommel's Medenine attack repulsed
Rommel launched a final spoiling attack against the Eighth Army at Medenine, but Montgomery had anticipated the move and deployed overwhelming anti-tank firepower, forcing a swift Axis withdrawal. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Medenine
Map showing the Battle of Médenine, 6 March 1943. By Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army - http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-MTO-NWA/USA-MTO-NWA-26.html, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12147191
Mar 9, 1943 CE
Rommel departs North Africa
Field Marshal Rommel left Tunisia for Germany on medical leave, transferring command of Army Group Africa to Colonel-General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim, ending his personal role in the North African campaign. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erwin_Rommel
For documentary purposes the German Federal Archive often retained the original image captions, which may be erroneous, biased, obsolete or politically extreme. Generaloberst Rommel Pk-Aufnahme: Kriegsberichter Otto herausg. 6.6.42 By Otto - This image was provided to Wikimedia Commons by the German Federal Archive (Deutsches Bundesarchiv) as part of a cooperation project. The German Federal Archive guarantees an authentic representation only using the originals (negative and/or positive), resp. the digitalization of the originals as provided by the Digital Image Archive., CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=194054898
Mar 17, 1943 CE
Patton takes command of II Corps
Major General George S. Patton arrived in Tunisia to replace Fredendall as commander of US II Corps, immediately imposing stricter discipline and aggressive training to restore American combat effectiveness. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_S._Patton
General George Patton by Robert F. Cranston, Lee Elkins, and Harry Warnecke, 1945, color carbro print, from the National Portrait Gallery which has explicitly released this digital image under the CC0 license. By Robert F. Cranston / Harry Warnecke - National Portrait Gallery, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=111638983
Mar 20, 1943 CE
Eighth Army breaches the Mareth Line
Montgomery's Eighth Army launched Operation Pugilist against the Mareth Line, breaking through Italian defenses after fierce fighting and forcing General Messe's First Army to retreat northward to the Wadi Akarit position. ) · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Mareth_Line
The British Army in Tunisia 1943 A 25-pdr field gun in action at night during the assault on the Mareth line, 30 March 1943. By No 2 Army Film & Photographic Unit, Palmer (Sgt) - http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib//47/media-47127/large.jpg This photograph NA 1397 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25297362
Apr 7, 1943 CE
Wadi Akarit position overrun
The Eighth Army broke through the Wadi Akarit defenses after intense combat, compelling Axis forces to abandon southern Tunisia entirely and retreat toward the northern mountain strongholds around Enfidaville. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Wadi_Akarit
Tunisia Campaign. 8th Army operations 30 January to 10 April 1943. By Military Army - http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/tunisia/p16(map).jpg, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1970226
Apr 22, 1943 CE
Allied spring offensive launches
General Alexander launched a coordinated assault by First Army from the west and Eighth Army from the south, aiming to crush Axis forces in a pincer movement against the final Tunis bridgehead. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisia_Campaign
The Axis retreat and the Tunisian campaign 1942 - 1943: Scores of German and Italian prisoners at Gromalia prisoner of war camp after the fall of Tunis. By Lieutenant Whicker, No 2 Army Film & Photographic Unit. - This photograph NA 2866 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-39) Transferred from en.wikipedia; transferred to Commons by User:Shizhao using CommonsHelper., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10690403
May 5, 1943 CE
Final assault on Tunis begins
The British First Army, reinforced by American and French units, launched Operation Strike against Tunis and Bizerta, breaking through Axis lines after massive artillery and air preparation. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisia_Campaign
The Axis retreat and the Tunisian campaign 1942 - 1943: Scores of German and Italian prisoners at Gromalia prisoner of war camp after the fall of Tunis. By Lieutenant Whicker, No 2 Army Film & Photographic Unit. - This photograph NA 2866 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-39) Transferred from en.wikipedia; transferred to Commons by User:Shizhao using CommonsHelper., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10690403
May 7, 1943 CE
Allied forces capture Tunis and Bizerta
British forces entered Tunis and American troops seized Bizerta, as the remaining Axis forces retreated to the Cap Bon peninsula, their defensive perimeter collapsing under relentless Allied pressure. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisia_Campaign
The Axis retreat and the Tunisian campaign 1942 - 1943: Scores of German and Italian prisoners at Gromalia prisoner of war camp after the fall of Tunis. By Lieutenant Whicker, No 2 Army Film & Photographic Unit. - This photograph NA 2866 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-39) Transferred from en.wikipedia; transferred to Commons by User:Shizhao using CommonsHelper., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10690403
May 13, 1943 CE
Axis surrender in Tunisia
General von Arnim surrendered Army Group Africa unconditionally to the Allies, with over 230,000 German and Italian troops becoming prisoners of war, effectively ending all Axis presence in North Africa. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisia_Campaign
The Axis retreat and the Tunisian campaign 1942 - 1943: Scores of German and Italian prisoners at Gromalia prisoner of war camp after the fall of Tunis. By Lieutenant Whicker, No 2 Army Film & Photographic Unit. - This photograph NA 2866 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 4700-39) Transferred from en.wikipedia; transferred to Commons by User:Shizhao using CommonsHelper., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10690403
