Battle of Kasserine Pass

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The Battle of Kasserine Pass was a major World War II engagement in Tunisia in early 1943, marking the first large-scale clash between American and German forces in North Africa and exposing critical weaknesses in inexperienced U.S. troops and command.

Aliases (1)
  • United States Army forces in Tunisia ×1

Statements (51)
Predicate Object
instanceOf World War II battle
battle
belligerent Free French forces
Kingdom of Italy
Nazi Germany
United Kingdom
United States
casualtiesAndLosses heavy U.S. casualties and equipment losses
moderate Axis casualties
commander Alphonse Juin
Bernard Montgomery
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Erwin Rommel
Hans-Jürgen von Arnim
Lloyd Fredendall
Omar N. Bradley
conflict World War II
country French Tunisia
date February 1943
endDate 1943-02-22
followedBy Battle of El Guettar
involvedUnit British First Army
Free French XIX Corps
German 5th Panzer Army
German Panzerarmee Afrika
U.S. II Corps
location Atlas Mountains
Kasserine Pass
Tunisia
notableFor exposing weaknesses in inexperienced U.S. troops and command
first major clash between U.S. and German ground forces in World War II
prompting reforms in U.S. Army leadership and tactics
objective Axis attempt to capture Tebessa and Allied supply depots
Axis attempt to disrupt Allied advance in Tunisia
opponent German Afrika Korps
Italian forces in North Africa
United States Army
partOf North African Campaign
Tunisia Campaign
precededBy Battle of Sidi Bou Zid
relatedOperation Axis defense of Tunisia
Operation Torch
result Axis tactical victory
Strategic Allied recovery and learning experience
startDate 1943-02-19
strategicConsequence increased prominence of Omar Bradley and other U.S. commanders
replacement of Lloyd Fredendall as U.S. II Corps commander
strengthened Allied command structure in North Africa
terrain mountain pass
narrow defiles and ridges in the Atlas Mountains
theater Mediterranean Theater of Operations


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