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The Battle Tunis (5–7 May 1943) was an engagement between Allied and Axis forces during the [[Tunisian Campaign]]. Tunis and its neighbouring town of Bizerta in Tunisia were two important sea ports and their capture would result in the defeat of the remaining Axis forces in North Africa.

The Battle Tunis (5–7 May 1943) was an engagement between Allied and Axis forces during the [[Tunisian Campaign]]. Tunis and its neighbouring town of Bizerta in Tunisia were two important sea ports and their capture would result in the defeat of the remaining Axis forces in North Africa.

Preceded on 5 May by a German attack to recover Jebel Bou Aoukas, the main Allied attack was delivered on the next day. The Allied infantry assault, preceded by heavy air attacks and artillery bombardment, broke through the Axis mountain strongpoints and opened a gap for the supporting armour to advance through the open country. Delivered on a narrow front and aimed straight at Tunis through Massicault, it was a labelled a "blitzkrieg attack"<ref>[http://www.thewarillustrated.info/155/the-battle-fronts.asp The Battle Fronts]</ref>and in a matter of a few hours completely broke the whole German defence line.

Preceded on 5 May by a German attack to recover Jebel Bou Aoukas, the main Allied attack was delivered on the next day. The Allied infantry assault, preceded by heavy air attacks and artillery bombardment, broke through the last remaining Axis mountain stronghold and opened a gap for the supporting armour to advance through the open country. Delivered on a narrow front and aimed straight at Tunis through Massicault, it was a labelled a "blitzkrieg attack"<ref>[http://www.thewarillustrated.info/155/the-battle-fronts.asp The Battle Fronts]</ref>and in a matter of a few hours completely broke the whole German defence line.

==Fall of Tunis and Bizerta==

==Fall of Tunis and Bizerta==

The final Allied offensive began on 5 May, with the 5th Corps gaining the hills which dominated the Tunis plain and the 9th Corps advancing in bright starlight on the morning of 6 May. The village of Massicault, which had been prepared for hedgehog defence, fell without resistance. By the afternoon their infantry had gained their objective, and the 6th and 7th Armoured Divisions, swept forward and entered Tunis on 7 May.  

The final Allied offensive began on 5 May, with the 5th Corps gaining the hills which dominated the Tunis plain and the 9th Corps advancing in bright starlight on the morning of 6 May. The German-held mountain overlooking Tunis and the village of Massicault, which had been prepared for hedgehog defence, fell without resistance.<ref>Maj. Gen. Omar N. Bradley, commanding II Corps, had originally planned to have Truscott's 3rd Division relieve the battle-weary 1st ID. However, as Truscott was moving his division forward to effect that relief, Bradley contacted him on the night of the fifth and told him that General Harmon had requested additional infantry to support his division's attack on a strongly defended German position on the peninsula east of Bizerte, and directed that Truscott send an infantry regiment to the Ferryville area for attachment to the 1st AD. Bradley had also ordered that an infantry regiment from the 9th ID and additional field artillery and antiaircraft join Harmon's division for the attack. Truscott's regiment was to attack the following morning. Truscott joined Harmon at his commando post southeast of Ferryville early the next morning, and after breakfast the two set out on a reconnaissance mission to ascertain how far forward Truscott's force could assemble for the attack. As they traveled they found that Harmon's troopers and their tanks were already in possession of the entire peninsula excepting the high ridge overlooking the Mediterranean, from which there came no sounds of enemy fire. It was obvious to Harmon and Truscott that "the battle in Tunisia was all but done and that no large force would be required to clear the ridge." Dogface Soldier: The Life of General Lucian K. Truscott, Jr, By Wilson A., Heefner, p. 101, University of Missouri Press, 2010</ref>By the afternoon their infantry had gained their objective, and the 6th and 7th Armoured Divisions, swept forward and entered Tunis on 7 May.  

On the same day the U.S. 2nd Corps and Free French ''Corps d'Afrique'' took Bizerta, a fortress designed and equipped to stand a long siege .

On the same day the U.S. 2nd Corps and Free French ''Corps d'Afrique'' took Bizerta, a fortress designed and equipped to stand a long siege .