Changes

On March 3, the 10th Bersaglieri Regiment supported by 30 tanks attacked the British lines, hoping to repeat the Italian success at Kasserine Pass.<ref>"On February 22— facing poor terrain for mobile operations, increased Alled resistance, and a lack of cooperation from Arnim— Rommel withdrew artfully to prepare for a similiar operation against General Bernard L. Montgomery's British Eighth Army on the Mareth Line to the east." George S. Patton, Earle Rice, pg. 78, Infobase Publishing, 2009</ref> According to Associated Press war correspondent Don Whitehead:{{cquote|Last night three companies of Italians followed by 30 tanks and lorried infantry attacked the Highlander's advance screen. The Jocks “mowed 'em down”—and didn't lose a man. The tanks and infantry scurried back to the safety of the hills. Half the Italians were killed.<ref>Combat Reporter: Don Whitehead's World War II Diary and Memoirs, pg. 125, Fordham Univ Press, 2006</ref>}}

On March 3, the 10th Bersaglieri Regiment supported by 30 tanks attacked the British lines, hoping to repeat the Italian success at Kasserine Pass.<ref>"On February 22— facing poor terrain for mobile operations, increased Alled resistance, and a lack of cooperation from Arnim— Rommel withdrew artfully to prepare for a similiar operation against General Bernard L. Montgomery's British Eighth Army on the Mareth Line to the east." George S. Patton, Earle Rice, pg. 78, Infobase Publishing, 2009</ref> According to Associated Press war correspondent Don Whitehead:{{cquote|Last night three companies of Italians followed by 30 tanks and lorried infantry attacked the Highlander's advance screen. The Jocks “mowed 'em down”—and didn't lose a man. The tanks and infantry scurried back to the safety of the hills. Half the Italians were killed.<ref>Combat Reporter: Don Whitehead's World War II Diary and Memoirs, pg. 125, Fordham Univ Press, 2006</ref>}}

On 6 March General Montgomery defeated four more counterattacks from the German divisions, destroying 52 panzers.

On March General Bernard Montgomery defeated four more counterattacks from the German divisions, destroying 52 panzers.

On 17 March, the Gurkhas stormed Hangman's Hill and for seven days beat off all the assaults of the Germans, who had surrounded

On March 17, the Gurkhas stormed Hangman's Hill and for seven days beat off all the ensuing German counterattacks.

them.

In mid-March the Allies went back on the offensive. Montgomery's 8th Army hit the Axis southern flank around Mareth with several divisions, breaking the Mareth Line on 20 March. When the 30th Corps was thrown back, Montgomery reinforced the flanking attack, which eventually - on 26 March - forced a German withdrawal. When the bridgehead at Wadi Zigzau had to be abandoned on 23 March, General Montgomery decided to switch the main attack from the Mareth Line to the flank where the New Zealanders were making such good progress. So reinforcements and supplies were rushed to Gemera; Bermard Freyberg's 2nd New Zealand Division. It was during this battle that Second Lieutenant [[Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu]] of the 28th Maori Battalion won a posthumous VC defending Point 209.

In mid-March the Allies went back on the offensive. General Montgomery's 8th Army hit the Axis southern flank around Mareth with several divisions, breaking the Mareth Line on March 20. When the 30th Corps was thrown back, Montgomery reinforced the flanking attack, which eventually - on March 26 - forced a German withdrawal. When the bridgehead at Wadi Zigzau had to be abandoned on March 23, General Montgomery decided to switch the main attack from the Mareth Line to the flank where the New Zealanders were making much progress. So reinforcements and supplies were rushed to Gemera; General Bermard Freyberg's 2nd New Zealand Division. It was during this battle that Second Lieutenant [[Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu]] of the 28th ''Maori'' Battalion won a posthumous VC defending Point 209.

On Sunday 28 March, the 8th Army occupied Mareth, Toujane and Matmata, taking several thousands of prisoners. British tanks pursued the retreating Axis forces, but were stopped by anti-tank defences at Wadi el Assuib.

On Sunday March 28, the 8th Army captured Mareth, Toujane and Matmata, taking several thousands of prisoners. British tanks pursued the retreating Axis forces, but were stopped by anti-tank defences at Wadi el Assuib.

The next Axis fallback position, at Wadi Akarit north of Mareth, was stormed by the 30th Corps on the night of 5 April. Again, the German and Italian forces made an orderly withdrawal, perhaps assisted by Montgomery's deliberate approach. General von Arnim now fell back to a defensive line covering the Tunisian capital.

The next Axis fallback position, at Wadi Akarit north of Mareth, was stormed by the 30th Corps on the night of April 5. Again, the German and Italian forces made an orderly withdrawal, perhaps assisted by Montgomery's deliberate approach. General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim now fell back to a defensive line covering the Tunisian capital.

In a month-long series of battles, the British, hampered by heavy rains, pushed Axis units over 150 miles north to within 47 miles of Tunis.

In a month-long series of battles, the British, hampered by heavy rains, pushed Axis units over 150 miles north to within 47 miles of Tunis.