CENTAURO DIVISION AT KASSERINE BATTLE IN TUNISIA & ALGERIA

The following are excerpts from an essay written by B. D'Ambrosio of the Universiy of Genova (Italy) about the Itaian Division Centauro during the Kasserine Pass battle during WW2. The full essay can be read at

http://researchomnia.blogspot.com/2021/04/centauro-division-in-1943-algeria.html

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THE DIVISION CENTAURO AT THE KASSERINE PASS BATTLE (FEBRUARY 1943)

Only a few historians remember an episody of World War 2: the Axis attack inside Algeria during the famous Kasserine Pass Battle of February 1943. This was the only time when Algeria (in 1943 a french territory nicknamed "Algerie Francaise") was invaded -even if in a minimal "area"- by the Italian-Germans under Field-Marshal Rommel leadership.

Official US Map showing with red arrows the Centauro attacks toward Tebessa (and Bou Chebka) in eastern Algeria, on the red "Line of February 24"

The American force in the region was the II Corps, spearheaded by the 1st Armored Division. In charge of the Americans and operating semi-autonomously was Lieutenant General LLoyd Fredendall. He chose to command his corps from Tebessa, some 80 miles to the rear of his forward units (after the debacle of Kasserine Pass battle, Fredendall was relieved of command of II Corps by General Dwight Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander in North Africa, and replaced by Major General George Patton on March 6, 1943).

In the Axis, Rommel began to cherish the dream of a spectacular action of all his forces towards Tebessa to try to reverse "the bulk of the allied troops from Algeria". The "Desert Fox" (nickname of Rommel) tried to force Kasserine's Pass in order to finally point to Tebessa. However, Hitler and his generals thwarted these plans as they were reluctant to embark on an action of this magnitude. Rommel was furious: he contacted the Italian Supreme Command which only on the evening of February 18 gave the go-ahead for the operation with italo-german armored divisions. However, the attack had to be conducted towards Thale and El Kef instead of Tebessa. According to Rommel, this decision was "an incredible example of myopia" The British Sixth Armored Division with numerous contingents of US infantry and artillery in support was positioned in Thala.

On the 20th, the german 10th and 15th Panzer Divisions with the italian 131st Armoured Centauro division conquered the Kasserine Pass inflicting a very heavy series of losses on the American troops. Over 4,000 Americans were taken prisoner, 200 wagons and hundreds of vehicles were burned, illuminating the African night, while the Axis units hoarded all kinds of rations and armaments that these inexperienced soldiers had at their disposal. Eisenhower enraged by the great defeat replaced Fridendall with the energetic Patton. Complete victory was now within reach: American troops faltered and fuel depots and warehouses began to be burned in the rear (mainly at Tebessa).

In terms of kilometers, the Kasserine Pass battle represented the largest defeat of US forces in all World War II, pushed back 140 km in a single week. But on this occasion, however, Rommel decided -for reasons that are still debated by historians- on late February 23/early February 24 to retire and return to the frenzied "Mareth line" in southern Tunisia.