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The '''Battle of Kasserine Pass''' was a military confrontation that took place during World War II. The battle took place at Kasserine Pass in the Atlas Mountains in Tunisia involving Italo-German forces under Rommel that attacked American forces under General Fredendall. It was the first major American combat experience during World War II.

The [[Battle of Kasserine Pass]] was a military confrontation that took place during World War II. The battle took place at Kasserine Pass in the Atlas Mountains in Tunisia involving Italo-German forces under Rommel that attacked American forces under General Fredendall. It was the first major American combat experience during World War II.

The Anglo-American forces that had landed in Algeria had crossed into Tunisia and after their failure to capture the north half of the country before the arrival Axis reinforcements from Sicily, were now ordered to attack Rommel's Italo-German Army that had retreat from Egypt after the Axis defeat in the Second Battle of El Alamein, pursued at the same time by General Bernard Montgomery's 8th British Army.

The Anglo-American forces that had landed in Algeria had crossed into Tunisia and after their failure to capture the north half of the country before the arrival Axis reinforcements from Sicily, were now ordered to attack Rommel's Italo-German Army that had retreat from Egypt after the Axis defeat in the Second Battle of El Alamein, pursued at the same time by General Bernard Montgomery's 8th British Army.

On 22 February, the Germans continued their efforts to break the last British line of defense outside Thala. The commander of the British force (called ''Nickforce'') defending Thala, was General Cameron Nicholson who managed to convince that day the US commanders present at Thala not abandon the town in favour of Le Kef, 50 miles away. Two battalions of Bersaglieri tried to outflank the defenses of Thala<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080131210644/http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/97/a4144097.shtml THE 23rd FIELD REGIMENT, ROYAL ARTILLERY]</ref>, but the Italian attack was broken by the heavy fire from British artillery. Assault Group Afrika Korps spent much of the day attacking and bombarding CCB, which still defended the road to Tebessa. On the afternoon of 22 March, the 10th Panzer Division was ordered to retreat, but the American and British fire was so fierce that the order could not be fulfilled until nightfall. On Highway 13, attacks from Assault Group Afrika Korps against Combat Command B also ceased, and in the afternoon the Germans in this sector began their retreat.

On 22 February, the Germans continued their efforts to break the last British line of defense outside Thala. The commander of the British force (called ''Nickforce'') defending Thala, was General Cameron Nicholson who managed to convince that day the US commanders present at Thala not abandon the town in favour of Le Kef, 50 miles away. Two battalions of Bersaglieri tried to outflank the defenses of Thala<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080131210644/http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/97/a4144097.shtml THE 23rd FIELD REGIMENT, ROYAL ARTILLERY]</ref>, but the Italian attack was broken by the heavy fire from British artillery. Assault Group Afrika Korps spent much of the day attacking and bombarding CCB, which still defended the road to Tebessa. On the afternoon of 22 March, the 10th Panzer Division was ordered to retreat, but the American and British fire was so fierce that the order could not be fulfilled until nightfall. On Highway 13, attacks from Assault Group Afrika Korps against Combat Command B also ceased, and in the afternoon the Germans in this sector began their retreat.

North Africa was steep learning curve for American forces, the [[Battle of Kasserine Pass]] being the near-distasterous defeat that lead to vital restructure, and change in tactics. Close to 30,000 American soldiers took part in the fighting for Kasserine Pass. Around 300 were killed, 3,000 wounded and close to 4,000 American soldiers were captured.<ref>«''More than 200 U.S. tanks were destroyed and nearly 4,000 American troops were captured''.» World War II in Europe: An Encyclopedia, p. 985, David T. Zabecki, Routledge, 2015</ref>

North Africa was steep learning curve for American forces, the Battle of Kasserine Pass being the near-distasterous defeat that lead to vital restructure, and change in tactics. Close to 30,000 American soldiers took part in the fighting for Kasserine Pass. Around 300 were killed, 3,000 wounded and close to 4,000 American soldiers were captured.<ref>«''More than 200 U.S. tanks were destroyed and nearly 4,000 American troops were captured''.» World War II in Europe: An Encyclopedia, p. 985, David T. Zabecki, Routledge, 2015</ref>