In a series of fierce but often forgotten battles in the hills and plains west of Tunis, the British First Army launched its final offensive to crush the Fifth Panzer Army. The road to Tunis had been long and arduous for the Allies. British General Kenneth Anderson had urged his troops to capture the city before Axis reinforcements could arrive. After several heavy engagements, the First Army had been sufficiently reinforced by April 1943; now it was time to launch the final series of operations to destroy the remaining Italian and German forces in Tunisiaan undertaking that would ultimately lead to the surrender of 250,000 Axis soldiers. Historian Ian G. Mitchell examines the intense fighting in North Africa, considering Anderson's troop movements, the plans of German General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim, and the involvement of the United States. Using detailed maps, contemporary photographs, and illustrations, the book describes the fighting at locations such as Banana Ridge, "The Basin," Longstop Hill, Gueriat el Atach, Jebel Bou Aoukaz, and the "Cactus Farm." Although the battles outside Tunis are often overlooked, they testified to extraordinary bravery; for their
Group
Books (first-hand)
Author
Mitchell, Ian G./Shumate, Johnny (Illustr.)
Title
Tunis 1943
Details
English text, paperback, numerous photos, some full-page color illustrations, color maps. 96 pages.
