Changes

During 20, 21 and 22 April, General Giuseppe Falugi, commander of the ''Pistoia'' Division delivered fierce counterattacks, but they were met with equally fierce resistance and the British succeeded in holding the village of Enfidaville.<ref>"This part of the front was defended by the Italian Pistoia Division, which made several counterattacks during the ensuing day. These were continued on the 21st and 22nd, but the British held the village." Close Support in Tunisia, Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Williams Thompson, The Field Artillery Journal, July 1943</ref>

During 20, 21 and 22 April, General Giuseppe Falugi, commander of the ''Pistoia'' Division delivered fierce counterattacks, but they were met with equally fierce resistance and the British succeeded in holding the village of Enfidaville.<ref>"This part of the front was defended by the Italian Pistoia Division, which made several counterattacks during the ensuing day. These were continued on the 21st and 22nd, but the British held the village." Close Support in Tunisia, Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Williams Thompson, The Field Artillery Journal, July 1943</ref>

Takrouna village, a stone outcrop nearly 1,000 feet high and Point 141 proved to be very difficult objectives in the fighting. On the night of 19 April, the 2nd New Zealand Division attacked under the cover of heavy artillery fire, but the 28th ''Maori'' Battalion suffered heavy casualties in the failed attack, especially among the officers. The Italian defenders in the form of the ''Folgore'', ''Trieste'' and ''Giovani Fascisti''  Divisions, put up a fierce defence for another day and night before the two New Zealand brigades (with extra artillery support) finally captured Takrouna and surrounding positions. An Allied war correspondent reported that only 326 defenders were captured and that the Italians had fought very hard:{{cquote|The fight atop the 600-foot peak finally ended at 8 p.m. last night. At that hour the first real Italian defenders the British had met surrendered in a body, 326 of them. They gave up only because their ammunition gave out. These Italians were tough, trained killers who didn't feel faint when stout British troopers flung their comrades over the cliffs to clear the road up the side of the steep peak and reach the village atop it. They stood, fired and fought back and when they gave up they said the allies wouldn't get to Tunis. They holed up in caves and crevices of the slopes and had to be dragged out before their machine guns and mortars were silenced.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1243&dat=19430424&id=-OJOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OCEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6228,4995462&hl=en British and Italians Battle To Death on Top Bloody Peak, The Bend Bulletin, Oregon, 24 April 1943]</ref>}}

Takrouna village, a stone outcrop nearly 1,000 feet high and Point 141 proved to be very difficult objectives in the fighting. On the night of 19 April, the 2nd New Zealand Division attacked under the cover of heavy artillery fire, but the 28th ''Maori'' Battalion suffered heavy casualties in the failed attack, especially among the officers. The Italian defenders in the form of the remnants of the ''Folgore'', ''Trieste'' and ''Giovani Fascisti''  Divisions, put up a fierce defence for another day and night before the two New Zealand brigades (with extra artillery support) finally captured Takrouna and surrounding positions. An Allied war correspondent reported that only 326 defenders were captured and that the Italians had fought very hard:{{cquote|The fight atop the 600-foot peak finally ended at 8 p.m. last night. At that hour the first real Italian defenders the British had met surrendered in a body, 326 of them. They gave up only because their ammunition gave out. These Italians were tough, trained killers who didn't feel faint when stout British troopers flung their comrades over the cliffs to clear the road up the side of the steep peak and reach the village atop it. They stood, fired and fought back and when they gave up they said the allies wouldn't get to Tunis. They holed up in caves and crevices of the slopes and had to be dragged out before their machine guns and mortars were silenced.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1243&dat=19430424&id=-OJOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OCEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6228,4995462&hl=en British and Italians Battle To Death on Top Bloody Peak, The Bend Bulletin, Oregon, 24 April 1943]</ref>}}

After three days fierce fighting, the Takrouna stronghold was captured by the New Zealanders from the 23rd and 28th Battalions, but Point 141 remained in Italian hands. Over 500 men in General Freyberg's 2nd Division were killed or wounded seizing the height and surrounding ground. As a consequence, Takrouna would be the last battle fought by the New Zealand Division during the Tunisian Campaign with the British 56th ''Black Cat'' Division taking over the advance and General Freyberg recalled to Cairo.

After three days fierce fighting, the Takrouna stronghold was captured by the New Zealanders from the 23rd and 28th Battalions, but Hill 141 remained in Italian hands. Over 500 men in General Freyberg's 2nd Division were killed or wounded seizing the Takrouna and surrounding ground. As a consequence, Takrouna would be the last battle fought by the New Zealand Division during the Tunisian Campaign with the British 56th ''Black Cat'' Division taking over the advance and General Freyberg recalled to Cairo.

<ref>[http://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/ww2/middle_east/qme025.shtml Enfidaville]</ref> Sergeants Haane Manahi Walter Smith received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for their part in the battle.

<ref>[http://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/ww2/middle_east/qme025.shtml Enfidaville]</ref> Sergeants Haane Manahi Walter Smith received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for their part in the battle.

During the fighting in April, it was observed by General Harold Alexander in a despatch to Winston Churchill that ''"the Italians fought particularly well, outdoing the Germans in line with them"''.<ref>Decisive Campaigns of the Second World War, John Gooch, pg.95, Routledge, 2012</ref>

During the fighting in April, it was observed by General Harold Alexander in a despatch to Winston Churchill that ''"the Italians fought particularly well, outdoing the Germans in line with them"''.<ref>Decisive Campaigns of the Second World War, John Gooch, pg.95, Routledge, 2012</ref>

American infantrymen won much praise for their determination and experience in the fighting on 23–24 April, when the 2nd Battalion from the 18th Infantry, attacked a German stronghold three times before General von Arnim finally quit. After nightfall 1 May the Germans withdrew into Mateur. But two days later American armour drove the defenders out of the town

American infantrymen also won much praise for their determination and experience in the fighting on 23–24 April, when the 2nd Battalion from the 18th Infantry, attacked a German stronghold three times before General von Arnim finally quit. After nightfall 1 May the Germans withdrew into Mateur. But two days later American armour drove the defenders out of the town

By 2 May, both sides had fought themselves to exhaustion; but whereas von Arnim had expended his reserves, General Alexander had still strong forces in hand, including those of the 8th Army which was still uncommitted to a major attack.

By 2 May, both sides had fought themselves to exhaustion; but whereas von Arnim had expended his armoured reserves, General Alexander had still strong tank forces in hand, including those of the 8th Army which was still uncommitted to a major attack.

==Tunis==

==Tunis==