Bitter Enders DTO (id:#60882)

(Afrikakorps - AK003 Bitter Enders ID: AK 26)   [next]   [previous]

Djebel Achkel, Tunisia 1943-05-11 (3 others)

Overview:

The threat of a US armored attack down the Tine Valley was undoubtedly a factor in forcing the German retreat on 2 May during the last phase in the fighting on the Tunis plain. Now, from the Mateur area the 1st Armored Division aimed a strike at the center of the new German line, where two key roads met, one from Mateur through Ferryville that intersected the Tunis-Bizerte highway and the other from Mateur to Djedeida. The German defense of these roads was based on two hill masses. The main enemy position was based on a 5-mile belt of hills between the Ferryville and Mateur-Djedeida roads. The second position was based on the imposing Djebel Achkel. The 91st Reconnaissance Squadron was assigned to take this isolated height, but ran into strong opposition when it moved out on 4 May. Nevertheless, by the afternoon of 5 May American troops had advanced about one-third of the way up the mountain and by nightfall had captured the western half, along with 80 prisoners. Fighting on the hill continued until 11 May, when more than 300 officers and men of the Hermann Goering Division finally surrendered—but not until they had verified the report that their general had surrendered on the 9th... Mass confusion!! British infantry and German infantry set up randomly in the same area. This is a pure infantry scenario with most exotic weapon being a 51mm Mortar.

Defender: German (Fanatic remnants Hermann Goering Division)  

Errata (source)