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Sunday, February 2, 2025
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Faid
Axis troops were being crowded into the coastal
area extending from the Mediterranean port of Bizerte
in the north to Gabes in the south. The Allies wanted to
use the mountain pass at Faid to strike east, dividing
the German force by capturing Sfax.
Hitler's man in North Africa, General Arnim, responded
by sending a division of German tanks to wrest
Faid from its poorly equipped French defenders.
Armin determined that all mountain passes leading
to the Tunisian coast would be under his control.
The Eastern Dorsal mountain range rose to over
four thousand feet at its highest and provided
safe-haven for North Africa's Axis troops.
It was an effective fortress with its passes armed
to the teeth. But it was only a defense.
Rommel had a plan to win.
He wouldn't stop with taking Faid but
continue west, routing the Yanks at Kasserine.
Then on to Tebessa - capturing its vast stores
of Allied tanks, trucks, ammunition, fuel and all
the other supplies Rommel would need to stock
his major offensive.
He would drive Allied forces back into Algeria,
all the way to the Mediterranean shore.
Frankly, Rommel knew his strategy was
a long shot. That's what he did best.
The audacious gamble.
Arnim's defense was a half-measure leading only
to ultimate defeat.
American tankers were far better trained than
the stateside GIs that were rushed across the
Atlantic to land on North African beaches.
Tanks of the 1st Armored Division were dispersed
on a large plain surrounding Sidi Bou Zid.
The French at Faid made desperate pleas for their
help. There was no time to spare.
The American II Corps commander had other ideas.
His response would have been piecemeal at best.
It wouldn't be enough to stop the 10th Panzer Division.
Not with those Yankee Doodle tanks.
The ones engineered by Dr. Seuss.
The Germans proved to be their own worst enemy.
They were of two minds in countering Allied strategy.
Arnim was the realist. The resources to fuel
a German offensive against the Allies didn't exist.
Only high risk action will save the day according
to Rommel.
You have no choice.
But there would be no unified command.
Coordination and cooperation between
the two rival generals was grudging at best.
Jealousies helped defeat the German effort.
The rifleman.
Chances are he doesn't know where he is or
where he is going. He knows what is needed
for him to be a rifleman. That's it.
The perfect POW. He knows nothing,
Maybe you find yourself sitting in the back of a truck
one bitter cold night. You've been going nowhere
now for three straight hours. What's happening?
No one knows. Don't worry about it.
It's the Army.
American officers spent too much time being uncertain.
Where's the enemy? What's his disposition?
Those are standard, healthy questions.
Who's in charge? Whose orders do I obey?
This is where military chain of command breaks down.
The American response to the conflict at Faid
revealed fractured leadership among the top brass
at II Corps. General Fredendall distrusted the
reports coming from his commanders in the field.
This led to bad decision-making on everyone's part.
Opportunities were missed. Mistakes made.
Battles lost.
There was frustration and finger-pointing
among the generals going into Kasserine.
* * * * *
© Tom Taylor
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