Kasserine Pass - 1943

[Jim O]

491px-Kasserine_Pass.jpg
The 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army marches through the Kasserine Pass


In early 1943 US forces met German forces for the first time on any large scale in the Battle(s) of Kassereine Pass in Tunisia.

The Germans breached American lines shortly after the attack which commenced on February 19, 1943. Evidently the final withdrawal by Rommel was due to his worry about the British 8th Army under Montgomery which was at his rear. US forces retook the Pass on February 25, 1943.

African_Mediterranean_European_Theater.png

While the American forces did not fair well against Rommel and company, it was a learning experience for the GI's. They were a green force and had little chance against the battle hardened Germans. Rommel's army used captured US equipment for some time after that. Rommel was unimpressed with American forces at the time and considered them a "non-threat" after that (at least for awhile).

Ironically, earlier in February, 1943 the Germans and their allies had surrendered after their catastrophe at Stalingrad.

703px-Kasserine_pass.jpg

[Klaus]

Very informative. Altough I had a hard time to understand the Battleplans. I'm not a military person after all. Do you by any chance know what happened to the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment after that?

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by Klaus

Do you by any chance know what happened to the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment after that?

No, maybe someone else here does....

Edit: Found some info at 16th Infantry Regiment Association regarding the 16th Infantry Regiment. These are Battle Campaign Streamers awarded the Regiment.

ALGERIA-FRENCH MOROCCO (ARROWHEAD)

TUNISIA

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (MATEUR)

FRENCH Croix de Guerre (KASSERINE)

SICILY

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT Citation (SICILY)

NORMANDY

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (NORMANDY)

NORTHERN FRANCE

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (HAMICH)

ARDENNES-ALSACE

PRESIDENTlAL UMT CITATION (HURTGEN FOREST)

CENTRAL EUROPE

FRENCH MEDAILLE MIUTAIRE (FRANCE)

FRENCH MEDAILLE MILITAIRE (FOURRAGERE)

BELGIUN FORRAGERE (1944)

CITED IN THE ORDER OF THE DAY OF THE BELGIAN ARMY FOR ACTION AT EUPEN-MALMEDY

[Klaus]

The were battle hardened themeselves after after that for sure.

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by Klaus

The were battle hardened themeselves after after that for sure.

Yes, it seems they saw a great deal of action.

[Klaus]

Join the army! See the world! Get shot! I prefer another style of traveling.

[Lancer44]

Originally Posted by Klaus

Join the army! See the world! Get shot! I prefer another style of traveling.

Join the army! See the world! Meet new people, experience their culture and customs! And kill them!

Lancer44

[Helmut Von Moltke]

There is an excellent article about Kasserine Pass in the "America in WWII" magazine.

Also there is a good Osrpey campaign series book on it.

K