Sidi Bou Zid

At 0630, 14 February 1943, St. Valentine's Day, the 10th Panzer Division rolled through the Faid Pass on its way towards Sidi Bou Zid. In its way lay Lessouda Force: a group of U.S. ínfantry, tanks, tank destroyers and armored …

1943-02-14

D05

At 0630, 14 February 1943, St. Valentine's Day, the 10th Panzer Division rolled through the Faid Pass on its way towards Sidi Bou Zid. In its way lay Lessouda Force: a group of U.S. ínfantry, tanks, tank destroyers and armored artillery prepared for just such an attempt. While the ínfantry of the 10th Panzer assaulted Poste de Lessouda, the 7th Panzer Regiment with 110 tanks and attached units under Kampfgruppe Gerhardt flanked the area to the north. Commbat Command A of the lst US Armored Division was directed to stop the Axis armor. Although outnumbered, outgunned, and green compared to the veteran Axis tankers, the American forces fought well and retreated in relatively good order. But besides the normal hazards of deadly 88's and Stukas, Panzer Detachment 501, equipped with powerful new Tigers, deployed among the Pz Ill”s and IVs. The Allied crews suffered unmercifully before these behemoths. Over half of 3rd Tank Bn, 1st Armd Regt was destroyed in the battle, and many of the tank destroyers and SP artillery guns were knocked out. The panzers continued rolling towards Kasserine.

Sidi Bou Zid, Tunisia

The Battle of Sidi Bou Zid (Unternehmen Frühlingswind/Operation Spring Breeze) took place during the Tunisia Campaign from 14–17 February 1943, in World War II. The battle was fought around Sidi Bou Zid, where a large number of US Army units were mauled by German and Italian forces. It resulted in the Axis forces recapturing the strategically important town of Sbeitla in central Tunisia.

Wikipedia: Battle of Sidi Bou Zid

German

American