KASSERINE PASS AREA. The enemy broke out of the pass on 20 February 1943. On the 21st he headed toward Tébessa and Thala. The attack on Tébessa was halted; the main attack toward Thala made some progress. A British armored force, with heavy losses in tanks and men, delayed the enemy until U. S. artillery got into position. On the 22d the enemy pounded the defenses of Tébessa and Thala unsuccessfully. Allied planes attacked the enemy near Thala, and in the evening the Germans started to withdraw. The Kasserine push was the high point of enemy fortunes in Tunisia.
TUNISIA
LOADING A TOWED HOWITZER. This gun was designed to give close support to the infantry. The picture was made during the February fight in Kasserine Pass (105-mm. howitzer M2.)
TUNISIA
GENERAL SHERMAN TANK TOWING DISABLED HALF-TRACK at Sidi bou Zid (top). This tank gradually replaced the M3 (General Grant) in Tunisia. Its principal weapon was the 75-mm. cannon. Its turret could traverse an arc of 360 degrees in contrast to the sponson-mounted gun on the General Grant with a traverse of about 30 degrees. Reconnaissance party at Kasserine Pass on the Kasserine-Thala road (bottom). The enemy came up this road on his attack through the pass and stopped just before reaching Thala after indications of increasing Allied strength. (Medium tank M4.)
TUNISIA