Battle of Enfidaville

Battle of Enfidaville
Part of Tunisian campaign of World War II
British Eighth Army at Enfidaville in the Tunisian campaign
Date 19–21 April 1943 Location Enfidaville Airfield, Africa 36°08′04.42″N010°25′51.19″E / 36.1345611°N 10.4308861°E / 36.1345611; 10.4308861 Result Allied victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom British India   New Zealand	Kingdom of Italy
Commanders and leaders
Bernard Montgomery	Giovanni Messe
Casualties and losses
24,500 (estimated)	Unknown

The Battle of Enfidaville (April 1943), also known as Operation Oration, ^[1] was the last major action of the British Eighth Army in the North African campaign of World War II. After stout resistance from the Italian First Army in the mountains around Enfidaville, the British captured the town and captured its inland area. ^[2]

Background

Chott el Djerid area.

Allied advance units had advanced through Oudref and reached the Wadi Akarit on 30 March but limited their activity to patrols and probing the Axis defences. Three divisions were chosen for the initial assault: 51st (Highland) Infantry Division on the right, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division in the centre and the 4th Indian Infantry Division on the left. ^[3] In the week before the battle, British and American bombers began round-the-clock attacks on the defenders. ^[4]

Eighth Army had spent the previous week regrouping ready for the assault whilst the enemy was pounded almost continually by British and American air forces.

— Ford ^[4]

Instead of attacking between Jebel Fatnassa, a steep 800-foot (240 m) hill and the junction with the 50th (Northumbrian) Division, Major-General Francis Tuker, the 4th Indian Division commander, persuaded General Montgomery to attack Jebel Fatnassa using infantry trained in mountain warfare. Jebel Fatnassa was defended by the Italian XXI Corps with troops of the 80th Infantry Division La Spezia, the 101st Motorised Division Trieste and the German 164th Leichte Afrika Division. ^[5] The Fatanassa feature was taken and the 4th 6th Rajputana Rifles advanced as far as the plain behind the hills nearly 5 miles (8.0 km) beyond, taking 2,000 prisoners. The 4th Indian Division was not able to exploit the success further, because the British X Corps was held up by German counter-attacks. ^[6]

The 50th (Northumbrian) Division met determined resistance from Italian marines, well dug in at Wadi Akarit and plentifully supplied with automatic weapons and grenades but the British pressed forward, despite high casualties among the 6th Battalion, Green Howards; two senior officers, six senior NCOs and junior officers and 118 other ranks were killed. ^{[7] [8]}

The Green Howards took Point 85 and held it against counter-attacks. The 1/4th Battalion Essex Regiment of the 4th Indian Division made contact with the 50th (Northumbrian) Division on the right flank and helped them to cross an anti-tank ditch. ^[9]

The 51st (Highland) Division attacked with the 152nd Brigade and seized the top of Roumana, then made a gap through the minefield and the anti tank ditch on the left flank. The 153rd and 154 brigades attacked the coastal defences and took 2,000 prisoners. ^[10] A battalion of the 101st Motorised Division Trieste was destroyed and prisoners were taken from the 90th Light Afrika Division, one regiment of which counter-attacked at 9:00 a.m. and caused a short delay before being repulsed. ^[11]

Prelude

Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders storming the heights of Jebel Ramauna at the Wadi Akarit (Art.IWMARTLD3404).

Messe ordered the 164th Leichte Afrika Division to move from the position in the western hills to the centre and in the afternoon sent the 15th Panzer Division to join with the 90th Light Division and counter-attack the 101st Motorised Division Trieste positions captured by the 51st (Highland) Division. The 15th Panzer Division arrived just before the British tried to exploit their success and counter-attacked. (The 10th and 21st Panzer divisions, which had been opposite the US II Corps during the Battle of El Guettar were also moved towards the British attack.) ^[12]

Three German counter-attacks were made during the afternoon, mainly against the 51st (Highland) Division on Djebel Roumana, against positions held by the 7th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who repulsed the attacks. As dark fell, the Axis position had become untenable, the defenders having been severely depleted. Messe reported the situation to Hans-Jürgen von Arnim; Albert Kesselring and the Italian command in Rome urged the army group commander to continue the battle but Arnim ordered a retreat to the Enfidaville position, about 150 miles (240 km) to the north. The 2nd New Zealand Division and 1st Armoured Division began a pursuit across the coastal plain, which changed from semi-desert to olive groves which offered opportunities for ambush. There was little resistance until close to Enfidaville and about 6,000 prisoners were taken, sometimes surprised to see Allied troops beyond the supposed front line and large amounts of material (including captured American supplies) were taken. ^[13]

Battle

On 6 April 1943, after the Axis had abandoned Gabes Gap, British Eighth Army advanced North across Tunisia. On 10 April, the capture of Sfax was completed. This captured port also resolved a bet between Montgomery and Dwight D. Eisenhower; Montgomery had wagered that the port would be taken before 15 April. In return, Montgomery received a Boeing B 17 Flying Fortress, which he flew as his personal plane for the duration of the war. X corps captured the city of Sousse on 12 April and moved to within a few miles of Enfidaville by 13 April. ^[11]

The line between Sousse and Enfidaville is considered to be an important point of defense for the Axis in North Africa. The eastern terminus of the Axis "final defensive line," which ran from the northwestern part of the country through Pont Du Fahs, Medjez el Bab, Sedjenane, has been designated east of Enfidaville. Montgomery was informed that while the Eighth Army was holding, the British First Army would lead all Allied forces during the offensive against Tunis. The offensive against Tunis, later named Operation Vulcan would occur mainly in the more wide‐open areas of land to the west of the city. The purpose of the Eighth Army was to keep the Axis occupied at Enfidaville so that the British First Army would have the opportunity to defeat them. Also, to complement the First Army, the Armoured Divisions were moved from the Eighth Army on 18 April. Montgomery had not been satisfied with the results of that move. ^[14]

During the planning of this operation, it was envisioned that the 4th Indian Division and the 2nd New Zealand Division would initiate a breakthrough and then move to the east after breaching the Axis defences, in order to isolate the enemy by reaching the coastline behind their lines. The 50th (Northumbrian) Division was assigned to provide security of the coastal flank to the right side of these two divisional formations; the left flank was protected by the 7th Armoured Division. ^[15]

Takrouna - Two miles West of Enfidaville. Painting by A J Ingram.

The night of 19/20 April saw the Axis defences receive an overwhelming bombardment from both air and artillery forces, followed by a ground attack. As a result of this overwhelming firepower, many of the Italian units were forced to retreat from areas on their main defensive line. After fierce fighting for its control, Enfidaville was eventually captured by the Allies. Most of the gains made by the Allies took place along the coastline, where the 50th Division was able to advance. The Axis troops were still occupying the high ground further inland, making progress more difficult for both the 4th Indian and 2nd New Zealand Divisions. ^[16]

New Zealand forces prepared for an assault on Takrouna, then held by the Italian 66th regiment, elements of Paratroopers Division "Folgore", elements of Italian Granatieri and one German company. At dawn on 20 April, Lance-sergeant Haane Te Rauawa Manahi led a platoon on an attack up the hill, and successfully overran the Italian defenses. Manahi then left to locate reinforcements, returning with a section of C Company and another platoon, successfully resisting an Axis counterattack.

By the end of the first day it was clear a breakthrough had not been achieved. ^[17]

General Fritz Bayerlein, the commander of the German units within 1st Italian Army ordered counter attacks to stem the allied advanced, and on 20/21st April this was implemented. The 16th "Pistoia" launched several counter attacks towards Enfidaville but were beaten back. The hill at Takrouna was however retaken and the New Zealanders, in turn launched another attack in the afternoon and, with artillery support, retook first the ledge and then the village on the summit, taking 300 prisoners. ^[18]

Elsewhere Axis attempts to retake the lost ground were repelled with severe losses on both sides. Despite this, the British renewed their attack and were able take to sections of Djebel Garci, located approximately twelve miles from the coast. British forces were also able to secure large portions of Tunisian coastal territory, before being halted by heavy resistance.

By this time Montgomery learned that the Axis position in Africa was hopeless through ULTRA intelligence. As a result he ordered Oration to be terminated late on 21 April as further casualties in his opinion were not worth it.

Aftermath

With this new intelligence, Montgomery authorised local minor attacks in order to keep the pressure on Axis forces in front of the Eighth Army while a new operation Vulcan was to take place very soon after Oration.

Operation Oration was a mixed success, Endifavile, Takrouna, large sections of the coast and part of the inland had been secured. A breakthrough however hadn't been achieved and the cost had been some 2,300 troops. German and Italian losses were also heavy, but these were not able to be replaced. The northward advance of Eighth Army had "pinched out" US II Corps' eastward facing front line, allowing the corps to be withdrawn and switched to the northern end of the Allied front. This was achieved with great success and speed without the Axis knowing. This move was fully completed by 24 April.

Operation Vulcan commenced the day after Oration had terminated. A renewed effort on the coast was to begin on 29 April. The responsibility for keeping the left flank of Montgomery was to fall on the 2nd New Zealand Division and the 201st Guards Brigade, while the main coastal assault was to be led by the 4th Indian Division and the 56th (London) Division. In the event of any success, the armoured formations were to advance eastward to Hammamet. ^[19]

However, the preparations for the assault were not successful. On 28 April, the 56th Division did not have any combat experience and had great difficulty adjusting to a prolonged artillery barrage. Montgomery consequently determined that the advance was against exceptionally strong defensive positions and requested permission to cancel the Hammamet attack in favour of pursuing limited local offensive actions. General Alexander approved Montgomery's request, but on 30 April he directed Montgomery to send the strongest available units to be part of the First Army. Consequently, Montgomery sent the 7th Armoured Division, the 4th Indian Division, the 201st Guards Brigade, and other elements of medium artillery from Tunisia to assist the First Army. These forces were all involved in Operation Strike (5th-13th May 1943), which was the last Allied offensive in Tunisia. ^[20]

Operation Strike was the last ground attack by the Allied forces of the First Army against the Italian and German forces in Tunis, Cape Bon and Bizerte, the last Axis bridgeheads in North Africa, during the Tunisian campaign of the Second World War. The offensive was launched only a week after the end of 'Vulcan', in which the Axis forces had been severely weakened and hemmed in against the coast, but the allies were unable to break out. ^[21]

References

1. Chant 1986, pp. 266–267.
2. "Battle of Enfidaville, 19-21 April 1943". www.historyofwar.org. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
3. Murphy 2008, pp. 490–492.
4. Ford 2012, p. 90.
5. Playfair et al. 2004, pp. 364–366.
6. Playfair et al. 2004, pp. 369–373.
7. Cheall 1994.
8. Playfair et al. 2004, pp. 364–367, 372–373.
9. Playfair et al. 2004, pp. 370, 372.
10. Delaforce 2006, pp. 88–94.
11. Stevens 1962, pp. 262–265.
12. Ford 2012, pp. 87–91.
13. Playfair et al. 2004, pp. 373–374.
14. Todman, Daniel (2020). BRITAIN'S WAR: A New World, 1942-1947. Oxford University Press. p. 334. ISBN   978-0-19-065848-9.
15. Stack, Wayne; O'Sullivan, Barry (2013-03-20). The New Zealand Expeditionary Force in World War II. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 21–24. ISBN   978-1-78096-112-5.
16. PC, Field Marshal Viscount Bernard Law Montgomery of Alamein KG GCB DSO (2015-11-06). Eighth Army: El Alamein To The River Sangro [Illustrated Edition]. Lucknow Books. ISBN   978-1-78289-839-9.
17. Macksey 1969, p. 270.
18. "Summit Takrouna". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
19. "Enfidaville War Cemetery". History Hit. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
20. "Battle of Enfidaville, 19-21 April 1943". www.historyofwar.org. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
21. Chant 1986, pp. 266–267, 326; Williams 1999, p. 105.

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