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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 the [[Tunisian Campaign]] 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 Lloyd Fredendall. It was the first major American combat experience in North Africa.

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 as part of [[Operation Torch]] had crossed into Tunisia and after their failure to capture the north half of the country before the arrival of Axis reinforcements from Sicily, were now ordered to attack Rommel's forces that had retreated 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.

Kasserine Pass would prove to be Rommel's last victory in the desert. During the battle, the German officer Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, future chief conspirator against Hitler, was seriously wounded when British fighter plane attacked his vehicle.

Kasserine Pass would prove to be Rommel's last victory in North Africa. During the battle, the German officer Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, future chief conspirator against Hitler, was seriously wounded when British fighter plane attacked his vehicle.

Given the scarcity of fuel available to Rommel, the Allies did not expect he would make any significant move towards the west and cross the mountain range that goes from north to south and separates Tunisia from Algeria, and cut in two the allied armies deployed in Algeria and Tunisia. The Allied commanders instead, expected Rommel to continue his retreat northwards to shorten the Axis supply line from the port of Tunis. The Allies, therefore left the Kasserine Pass poorly defended, accumulating troops north of the pass, on both sides of the mountain range.

Given the scarcity of fuel available to Rommel, the Allies did not expect Rommel would make any significant move towards the west and cross the mountain range that extends from north to south and separates Tunisia from Algeria, and cut in two the allied armies deployed in Algeria and Tunisia. The Allied commanders instead, expected Rommel to continue his retreat northwards to shorten the Axis supply line from thes ports of Tunis and Bizerta. The Allies, therefore left the Kasserine Pass undermanned, accumulating troops from the US 34th Division and British Guards Brigade north of the Kasserine, on Sbiba Pass.

==Sidi Bou Zid==

==Sidi Bou Zid==