World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseOn 29 Mar 1943, New Zealand troops under British command captured Gabès, Tunisia, and forced Axis troops to fall back to Wadi Akarit. Allied troops conducted small probing attacks against the line through early Apr 1943, noting the fact that flanking maneuvers were impossible (to the east was the sea, and to the west were impassable marshes), thus an offensive must be conducted northward and head-on against the main Axis defensive line. After a heavy artillery and aerial barrage, the main assault, codenamed Operation Scipio, began at dawn on 6 Apr. Troops of British 50th Northumbrian Infantry Division, British 51st Infantry Division, and Indian 4th Division charged the front lines, which was manned by mostly Italian troops of the XX Corps and XXI Corps, totaling about 24,500 men plus 10 tanks of German 15th Panzer Division. In relatively short but vicious fighting, the Allied troops attacked the line; at times the combat would get so close that the Indian troops were seen to fight with their kukri knives rather than their rifles. At 0830 hours, a second round of barrage began, followed by a second ground assault. By 0900 hours, the defensive line began to crumble, and the Italians attempted several major counterattacks. By the early afternoon, it was determined that the attack could not be repulsed, and Axis troops began to fall back to the north. Troops of New Zealand 2nd Division and tanks of British 1st Armoured Division were then ordered out of reserve to pursue, but the advance was slow as it was feared that the Axis forces could be leading the attackers into an ambush in the large olive groves beyond Wadi Akarit. Ultimately, no ambush would be seen. Allies forces would reach the area of Enfidaville in northern Tunisia before meeting serious resistance.

Battle of Wadi Akarit Timeline

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