https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Battle_of_Wadi_AkaritBattle of Wadi Akarit - Revision history2026-07-31T04:15:22ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Battle_of_Wadi_Akarit&diff=472486&oldid=prevNikeNuara at 23:33, 16 August 20252025-08-16T23:33:21Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Conflict in World War II}}<br />
{{Use British English|date=March 2016}}<br />
{{Infobox military conflict<br />
|conflict=Battle of Wadi Akarit<br />
|partof=the [[Tunisian campaign]] of the [[Second World War]]<br />
|image= Tunisia30Janto10Apr1943.jpg<br />
|image_upright = 1.0<br />
|caption=Gabès and the Tunisian Campaign.<br />
|date= 6–7 April 1943<br />
|place=[[Gabès|Gabès Gap]], [[Tunisia]]<br />
|coordinates = {{Coord|33|53|N|10|07|E|display=INLINE,title}}<br />
|casus=<br />
|territory=<br />
|result=Allied victory<br />
|combatant1={{flag|United Kingdom}}<br />
* {{flag|British India}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Dominion of New Zealand}}<br />{{flag|Free France}}<br />{{flagcountry|Kingdom of Greece|state}}<br />
|combatant2={{flagcountry|Kingdom of Italy}}<br />{{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}}<br />
|commander1= [[Bernard Montgomery]]<br />
|commander2= [[Giovanni Messe]]<br />
|strength1=3 divisions<br />
|strength2= 24,500 (estimated)<br />
|casualties1=1,289<br />32 tanks<br />
|casualties2=7,000 prisoners<br />
|notes=<br />
|campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Tunisia Campaign}}<br />
{{Campaignbox North Africa}}<br />
}}<br />
The '''Battle of Wadi Akarit''' ('''Operation Scipio''') was an [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] attack from 6 to 7 April 1943, to dislodge [[Axis powers|Axis forces]] from positions along the Wadi Akarit in [[Tunisia]] during the [[Tunisia Campaign]] of the [[Second World War]]. The Gabès Gap, north of the towns of [[Gabès]] and [[El Hamma]], is a passage between the sea and impassable salt marshes. The [[51st (Highland) Division|51st (Highland) Infantry Division]] breached the defences and held a [[bridgehead]], allowing the passage of their main force to roll up the Axis defences. After several determined counter-attacks, the Axis forces withdrew and the [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|Eighth Army]], under [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[Bernard Montgomery]], pursued toward [[Tunis]], until reaching Axis defensive positions at [[Enfidaville]].<br />
<br />
==Background==<br />
After the [[Mareth Line]] in southern Tunisia had been outflanked in [[Operation Supercharge II]], through the [[Tebaga Gap]], Axis forces had withdrawn to the [[Wadi Akarit]], north of Gabès. This position had been identified long before by [[Erwin Rommel]] as a good defensive position with secure flanks and a short supply route to [[Sicily]]. Rommel had wanted to withdraw there after the [[Second Battle of El Alamein]], as it was the best place to resist the Eighth Army and prolong the Axis presence in Africa. With the British held at Wadi Akarit, all available troops in Tunisia could repulse the [[First Army (United Kingdom)|First Army]] (nominally British but with American and French units under command) to the west, before dealing a similar blow to Montgomery.{{sfn|Lewin|2004|p=192}} The Gabès Gap was the last readily defensible position before the Eighth Army reached [[Sfax]] and formed a continuous front with the First Army advancing from the west.{{sfn|Playfair|Molony|Flynn|Gleave|2004|pp=357–362}}<br />
<br />
==Prelude==<br />
Wadi Akarit lay on an east–west line, from the [[Mediterranean Sea]] in the east and the impassable salt marshes at [[Sebkret el Hamma]] (the east end of the [[Chott el Djerid]]) to the west. There were no flanks to turn as there had been at the Tebaga Gap and no opportunity to disperse the defenders by attacking at several points, as at the Second Battle of El Alamein; a frontal attack on prepared defences was unavoidable.{{sfn|Playfair|Molony|Flynn|Gleave|2004|pp=363–364}} From the coast, the defence line followed Wadi Akarit for {{convert|5|mi|km}}, which was impassable to armour and then a wider section of dry [[wadi]], backed by a long hill, Djebel er Roumana, the last of a line of high ground that forms the northern boundary of the Chott. The approaches to Djebel er Roumana were obstructed by an anti-tank ditch and there were more defence works to the west, although the broken ground was a significant obstacle.{{sfn|Playfair|Molony|Flynn|Gleave|2004|p=362}}<br />
<br />
==Battle==<br />
<br />
[[File:Chott el Jerid.jpg|thumb|{{center|Chott el Djerid area.}}]]<br />
Allied advance units had advanced through [[Oudref]] and reached the Wadi Akarit on 30 March but limited their activity to patrols and probing the Axis defences. Three divisions were chosen for the initial assault: [[51st (Highland) Division|51st (Highland) Infantry Division]] on the right, [[50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division]] in the centre and the [[4th Infantry Division (India)|4th Indian Infantry Division]] on the left.{{sfn|Murphy|2008|pp=490–492}} In the week before the battle, British and American bombers began round-the-clock attacks on the defenders.{{sfn|Ford|2012|p=90}}<br />
<br />
{{quotation|Eighth Army had spent the previous week regrouping ready for the assault whilst the enemy was pounded almost continually by British and American air forces.|Ford{{sfn|Ford|2012|p=90}}}}<br />
<br />
[[File:The British Army in Tunisia 1943 NA2177.jpg|thumb|{{center|Men of the [[Green Howards]] storming Point 85 during the battle.}}]]<br />
Instead of attacking between Jebel Fatnassa, a steep {{convert|800|ft|m|adj=on}} hill and the junction with the 50th (Northumbrian) Division, [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] [[Francis Tuker]], the 4th Indian Division commander, persuaded General Montgomery to attack Jebel Fatnassa using infantry trained in [[mountain warfare]]. Jebel Fatnassa was defended by the Italian [[XXI Corps (Italy)|XXI Corps]] with troops of the [[80th Infantry Division La Spezia (Airlanding)|80th Infantry Division ''La Spezia'']], the [[101st Motorised Division Trieste|101st Motorised Division ''Trieste'']] and the German [[164th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)|164th ''Leichte Afrika'' Division]].{{sfn|Playfair|Molony|Flynn|Gleave|2004|pp=364–366}} The Fatanassa feature was taken and the 4th [[6th Rajputana Rifles]] advanced as far as the plain behind the hills nearly {{convert|5|mi|km}} beyond, taking {{nowrap|2,000 prisoners.}} The 4th Indian Division was not able to exploit the success further, because the British [[X Corps (United Kingdom)|X Corps]] was held up by German counter-attacks.{{sfn|Playfair|Molony|Flynn|Gleave|2004|pp=369–373}}<br />
<br />
The 50th (Northumbrian) Division met determined resistance from Italian marines, well dug in at Wadi Akarit and plentifully supplied with automatic weapons and grenades but the British pressed forward, despite high casualties among the 6th Battalion, [[Green Howards]]; two senior officers, six senior NCOs and junior officers and 118 other ranks were killed.{{sfn|Cheall|1994}}{{sfn|Playfair|Molony|Flynn|Gleave|2004|pp=364–367, 372–373}}<br />
<br />
{{quote|When we were about ten yards away we had reached the top of the slit trench and we killed any of the survivors.... It was no time for pussy footing, we were intoxicated with rage and had to kill them to pay for our fallen pal.|Bill Cheall{{sfn|Cheall|1994}}}}<br />
<br />
The Green Howards took Point 85 and held it against counter-attacks. The 1/4th Battalion [[Essex Regiment]] of the 4th Indian Division made contact with the 50th (Northumbrian) Division on the right flank and helped them to cross an anti-tank ditch.{{sfn|Playfair|Molony|Flynn|Gleave|2004|pp=370, 372}}<br />
<br />
The 51st (Highland) Division attacked with the [[152nd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|152nd Brigade]] and seized the top of Roumana, then made a gap through the minefield and the anti tank ditch on the left flank. The [[153rd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|153rd]] and [[154th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|154]] brigades attacked the coastal defences and took {{nowrap|2,000 prisoners.}}{{sfn|Delaforce|2006|pp=88–94}} A battalion of the 101st Motorised Division ''Trieste'' was destroyed and prisoners were taken from the [[90th Light Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)|90th Light ''Afrika'' Division]], one regiment of which counter-attacked at {{nowrap|9:00 a.m.}} and caused a short delay before being repulsed.{{sfn|Stevens|1962|pp=262–265}}<br />
<br />
===1st Italian Army counterattack===<br />
[[File:Cameron Highlanders Storming the Heights of Jebel Ramauna at the Wadi Akarit Art.IWMARTLD3404.jpg|thumb|{{center|[[Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders]] storming the heights of Jebel Ramauna at the Wadi Akarit (Art.IWMARTLD3404).}}]]<br />
Messe ordered the 164th ''Leichte Afrika'' Division to move from the position in the western hills to the centre and in the afternoon sent the [[15th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|15th Panzer Division]] to join with the 90th Light Division and counter-attack the 101st Motorised Division ''Trieste'' positions captured by the 51st (Highland) Division. The 15th Panzer Division arrived just before the British tried to exploit their success and counter-attacked. (The [[10th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|10th]] and [[21st Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|21st]] ''Panzer'' divisions, which had been opposite the US [[II Corps (United States)|II Corps]] during the [[Battle of El Guettar]] were also moved towards the British attack.){{sfn|Ford|2012|pp=87–91}}<br />
<br />
Three German counter-attacks were made during the afternoon, mainly against the 51st (Highland) Division on Djebel Roumana, against positions held by the 7th Battalion, [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]], who repulsed the attacks.{{sfn|Playfair|Molony|Flynn|Gleave|2004|pp=372}} As dark fell, the Axis position had become untenable, the defenders having been severely depleted. Messe reported the situation to [[Hans-Jürgen von Arnim]]; [[Albert Kesselring]] and the Italian command in [[Rome]] urged the army group commander to continue the battle but Arnim ordered a retreat to the [[Enfidaville]] position, about {{convert|240|km|mi|order=flip}} to the north.{{sfn|Playfair|Molony|Flynn|Gleave|2004|pp=373–374}}<br />
<br />
===Axis retreat===<br />
The [[2nd New Zealand Division]] and [[1st (United Kingdom) Division|1st Armoured Division]] began a pursuit across the coastal plain, which changed from semi-desert to [[olive]] groves which offered opportunities for ambush. There was little resistance until close to Enfidaville and about {{nowrap|6,000 prisoners}} were taken, sometimes surprised to see Allied troops beyond the supposed front line and large amounts of material (including captured American supplies) were taken.{{sfn|Hunt|2014|p=172}}<br />
<br />
==Aftermath==<br />
===Casualties===<br />
At dawn on 7 April, it was found that the Axis forces had quietly withdrawn. The 15th Panzer Division had suffered many losses, the 164th ''Leichte Afrika'' Division had lost most of its weapons and vehicles and at least three Italian divisions had to be amalgamated into one unit; the 80th Infantry Division ''La Spezia'' was reduced to {{frac|1|1|2}} infantry companies, the 101st Motorised Division ''Trieste'' to three weak battalions and the 16th Motorised Division ''Pistoia'' and the 90th Light divisions had many casualties.{{sfn|Playfair|Molony|Flynn|Gleave|2004|p=375}} The strength of the [[First Army (Italy)|1st Army]] had been 106,000 men, of whom 7,000 prisoners had been taken.{{sfn|Stevens|1962|p=254}} The Eighth Army had 1,289 casualties and lost 32 tanks.{{sfn|Ford|2012|p=91}}<br />
<br />
===Subsequent operations===<br />
{{main|Battle of El Guettar}}<br />
<br />
[[File:Tunisia1942-1943.svg|thumb|{{center|Sketch map of Tunisia during the 1942–1943 campaign}}]]<br />
At El Guettar, the II US Corps operation to cut off Axis forces during the Wadi Akarit attack had been held up but the retirement from Wadi Akarit forced the Italians to withdraw. On 7 April, the Americans raced down the El Guettar–Gabès road, where it met advanced troops of the Eighth Army at {{nowrap|5:00 p.m.}}{{sfn|Playfair|Molony|Flynn|Gleave|2004|pp=357–358, 376}} Alexander moved the II US Corps to the north, because the Eighth Army was better prepared for the final offensive.{{sfn|Strawson|2004|p=209}} The pursuit covered {{convert|140|mi|km}} north of Wadi Akarit, Sfax and [[Sousse]] were captured. The Axis troops fell back to defensible positions north and west of Enfidaville, {{convert|25|mi|km}} south of Cape Bon. The mountains descend to the sea, with a narrow passage to [[Hammamet, Tunisia|Hammamet]]. The area was held until the Axis surrender in North Africa and Eighth Army units were moved towards [[Majaz al Bab|Medjez el Bab]] opposite Tunis, for the final operations of the Tunisian Campaign.{{sfn|Loughnan|1963|pp=283–288}}{{sfn|Lewin|2004|pp=246–247}}<br />
<br />
==Order of battle==<br />
<br />
===British Eighth Army===<br />
(Allied units taken from Playfair et al. (1966) unless indicated){{sfn|Playfair|Molony|Flynn|Gleave|2004|p=485}}<br />
<br />
* [[XXX Corps (United Kingdom)|XXX Corps]]<br />
** [[50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division]] (69th Infantry Brigade, less 151st Infantry Brigade, att: [[13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion|1st Free French Brigade]] and 1st Greek Infantry Brigade)<br />
** [[51st (Highland) Infantry Division]]<br />
** [[4th Indian Division]]<br />
** [[2nd New Zealand Division]]al Artillery{{sfn|Murphy|2008|pp=491–492}}<br />
* Held in reserve to exploit the breakthrough{{sfn|Loughnan|1963|pp=278–285}}<br />
** [[2nd New Zealand Division]], including the Greek [[Sacred Band (World War II)|Sacred Band]] special forces unit<br />
** [[1st Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|1st Armoured Division]]<br />
<br />
===Italian 1st Army===<br />
(Axis units taken from Playfair et al. (1966) unless indicated){{sfn|Playfair|Molony|Flynn|Gleave|2004|p=363}}{{efn|The 1st Army included the German {{lang|de|[[Afrikakorps]]}}.{{sfn|Stevens|1962|p=254}}}}<br />
<br />
* [[XX Army Corps (Italy)|XX Army Corps]]<br />
** [[101st Motorised Division "Trieste"]]<br />
** [[136th Armoured Division "Giovani Fascisti"]]<br />
** German [[90th Light Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)|90th ''Leichte Afrika'' Division]] (less one regiment)<br />
* [[XXI Army Corps (Italy)|XXI Army Corps]]<br />
** [[16th Motorised Division "Pistoia"]]<br />
** [[80th Infantry Division "La Spezia"]]<br />
** German [[164th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)|164th ''Leichte Afrika'' Division]]<br />
** one regiment 90th ''Leichte Afrika'' Division<br />
* German [[15th Panzer Division]] in reserve<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{notelist}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<br />
* [[List of British military equipment of World War II]]<br />
* [[List of German military equipment of World War II]]<br />
* [[List of Italian Army equipment in World War II]]<br />
<br />
==Footnotes==<br />
{{Reflist|20em}}<br />
<br />
==Bibliography==<br />
{{refbegin}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |first=Bill |last=Cheall |url=http://www.greenhowards.org.uk/bill-cheall/cheall12.htm |publisher=The Friends of the Green Howards|title=The War of a Green Howard, 1939–1945. Bill Cheall's Story |date=May 1994 |access-date=2008-04-09 |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011140946/http://www.greenhowards.org.uk/bill-cheall/cheall12.htm}}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Delaforce |first=Patrick |title=Monty's Highlanders: 51st Highland Division in the Second World War |date=2006 |publisher=Casemate |location=Philadelphia, PA |isbn=978-1-84415-512-5}}<br />
* {{cite book |last1=Ford |first1=Ken |series=Osprey Military Campaign Series |number=250 |title=The Mareth Line 1943: The End in Africa |date=2012 |publisher=Osprey |location=Oxford |isbn=978-1-78096-093-7}}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Hunt |first=David |title=A Don at War |date=2014 |orig-year=1966 |publisher=William Kimber |edition=2nd Routledge |location=London |isbn=978-1-13522-386-1}}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Lewin |first=Ronald |author-link=Ronald Lewin |title=Rommel as Military Commander |year=2004 |publisher=[[Pen & Sword]] |location=[[Barnsley]] |isbn=1-84415-040-2 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/rommelasmilitary0000lewi_e9y5 }}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Loughnan |first=R. J. M. |title=Divisional Cavalry |series=The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–1945 |year=1963 |publisher=Historical Publications Branch, Department of Internal Affairs |location=Wellington, NZ |edition=New Zealand Electronic Text Collection |url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2DiCa.html |access-date=10 March 2015 |oclc=195420}}<br />
* {{cite book|last=Murphy |first=W. E. |title=2nd New Zealand Divisional Artillery |series=The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–1945 |year=2008 |orig-year=1966 |publisher=Historical Publications Branch, Department of Internal Affairs |location=Wellington, NZ |edition=New Zealand Electronic Text Collection [[Victoria University of Wellington]] |url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Arti.html |access-date=10 March 2015 |oclc=460192}}<br />
* {{cite book |first1=I. S. O. |last1=Playfair |first2=C. J. C.|last2=Molony |first3=F. C. |last3=Flynn |first4=T. P. |last4=Gleave |editor-last=Butler |editor-first=J. R. M. |title=The Mediterranean and Middle East: The Destruction of the Axis Forces in Africa |series=History of the Second World War United Kingdom Military Series |volume=IV |year=2004 |orig-year=1966 |publisher=[[HMSO]] |location=London |edition=facs. repr. Naval & Military Press |isbn=1-84574-068-8}}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Stevens |first=Major-General W. G. |title=Bardia to Enfidaville |series=The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–1945 |publisher=War History Branch, Department of Internal Affairs |location=Wellington, NZ |year=1962 |edition=New Zealand Electronic Text Collection |url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Bard.html |access-date=10 March 2015 |oclc=4377202}}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Strawson |first=Jon |title=The Battle for North Africa |date=2004 |publisher=Pen and Sword |location=Barnsley |isbn=978-1-47381-898-9}}<br />
<br />
{{refend}}<br />
<br />
==Further reading==<br />
* {{cite book |title=Operation Scipio: The 8th Army at the Battle of the Wadi Akarit, 6th April 1943 |last=Barnes |first=B. S. |year=2007 |publisher=Sentinel Press |location=Market Weighton, N. Yorks |isbn=978-0-9534262-2-5}}<br />
* {{cite book |last1=Jeffreys |first1=Alan |last2=Rose |first2=Patrick |title=The Indian Army, 1939–47: Experience and Development |date=2012 |publisher=Ashgate |location=Farnham |isbn=978-1-40945-653-7}}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Lewin |first=Ronald |title=The Life and Death of the Afrika Korps |author-link=Ronald Lewin |year=1979 |orig-year=1977 |publisher=Batsford |location=London |edition=Corgi |isbn=0-552-10921-5}}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Moreman |first=T. R. |series=Battle Orders |number=28 |title=Desert Rats: British 8th Army in North Africa 1941–43 |date=2007 |publisher=Osprey |location=Oxford |isbn=978-1-84603-144-1}}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Porch |first=Douglas |author-link=Douglas Porch |title=Hitler's Mediterranean Gamble |year=2005 |orig-year=2004 |publisher=Weidenfeld & Nicolson |edition=Cassell Military Paperbacks |location=London |isbn=0-304-36705-2}}<br />
* {{cite book |title=The Desert Rats: 7th Armoured Division 1940–45 |last=Neillands |first=Robin |author-link=Robin Neillands |year=2005 |orig-year=1991 |publisher=Weidenfeld & Nicolson |location=London |edition=Aurum |isbn=1-84513-115-0}}<br />
* {{cite book |title=Eighth Army: From the Western Desert to the Alps |last=Neillands |first=R. |year=2004 |publisher=John Murray |location=London |isbn=0-7195-5647-3}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
{{commons category|Battle of Wadi Akarit}}<br />
* [http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz//tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Bard-c12-12.html Bardia to Enfidaville (NZ Official History) The Attack at Akarit]<br />
* [http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Arti-c15-8.html 2nd New Zealand Divisional Artillery account]<br />
* [http://www.avalanchepress.com/Italy_marines.php Italy's Marines]<br />
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{{World War II}}<br />
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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wadi Akarit, Battle Of}}<br />
[[Category:Conflicts in 1943]]<br />
[[Category:1943 in Tunisia]]<br />
[[Category:Tunisian campaign]]<br />
[[Category:Battles and operations of World War II involving Greece]]<br />
[[Category:Libya in World War II]]<br />
[[Category:Land battles of World War II involving the United Kingdom|Wadi Akarit]]<br />
[[Category:Battles and operations of World War II involving Poland]]<br />
[[Category:Battles of World War II involving Italy]]<br />
[[Category:Battles of World War II involving New Zealand]]<br />
[[Category:Battles of World War II involving Germany]]<br />
[[Category:April 1943 in Africa]]</div>NikeNuara