Hallo,
In January 1943, Free French forces held positions at the Faid Pass in Tunisia. On the 30th of the month, elements of the German 21. Panzer Division attacked the French and took the Faid Pass. One of the French units claimed that they had been taken unawares by some Germans wearing U.S. Army uniforms and who told the French not to fire because they were Americans.
Does anyone have any additional information on the episode? Did it actually occur or was it simply a false report by the French to cover their failure to hold their positions?
Regards,
Durand
Faid Pass, Tunisia. January 1943.
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Durand
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Gwynn Compton
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I'll have a browse through the Rommel papers, see if he mentions anything on this (if he was even in Africa at the time). As far as I'm aware though, the Germans did not really consider large scale use of enemy uniforms until the Ardennes offensive, where they hoped to sow chaos in American lines.
Gwynn
Gwynn
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Durand
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alsaco
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Faid pass battle
Rommel is not a pertinent source on this battle.
The best sources are the books around the Kasserine period, so far americans are concerned and relations on french forces located in tunisia and south algeria ( Tebessa ) for the period before Rommel and Von Arnim troops joined in the coastal region, Sfax, Monastir and Sousse.
In fact it was a turmoil of inexperienced allies, tired germans and ill-equipped french, on the axis Sousse- Sbeitla, plus some tentatives to regain Gabes.
Liaisons were very weak, and many misunderstanding marked the operations. Think what can happen when unprepared troops from three countries, with allies speaking two languages, mix up on a theater having 200 km potential front, for a depth of nearly 100.
The incident you refer to happened north of Gabes to french troops covering Feriana. They were supposed to have american armour between them and Gabes, but this was only a reconnaissance squadron. Having been repelled from Gabes, this squadron went to Gafsa, leaving the way open to a german patrol trying to go north. The germans did surprised the watch and fight with " the americans" indentified by the fact they spoke foreign took place on the main position.
The germans did not insist, and retreated toward Gabes, followed at distance by the french who retook Gafsa, finding the real americand there.
I have once found through Google some relations of these pre-Kasserine fighting around Sbeitla and Feriana, under names found on maps and 1942 or 1943.
There is also on the site "Strategisc" some conferences on the war in Tunisia.
Hope to have helped, and given some useful elements.
The best sources are the books around the Kasserine period, so far americans are concerned and relations on french forces located in tunisia and south algeria ( Tebessa ) for the period before Rommel and Von Arnim troops joined in the coastal region, Sfax, Monastir and Sousse.
In fact it was a turmoil of inexperienced allies, tired germans and ill-equipped french, on the axis Sousse- Sbeitla, plus some tentatives to regain Gabes.
Liaisons were very weak, and many misunderstanding marked the operations. Think what can happen when unprepared troops from three countries, with allies speaking two languages, mix up on a theater having 200 km potential front, for a depth of nearly 100.
The incident you refer to happened north of Gabes to french troops covering Feriana. They were supposed to have american armour between them and Gabes, but this was only a reconnaissance squadron. Having been repelled from Gabes, this squadron went to Gafsa, leaving the way open to a german patrol trying to go north. The germans did surprised the watch and fight with " the americans" indentified by the fact they spoke foreign took place on the main position.
The germans did not insist, and retreated toward Gabes, followed at distance by the french who retook Gafsa, finding the real americand there.
I have once found through Google some relations of these pre-Kasserine fighting around Sbeitla and Feriana, under names found on maps and 1942 or 1943.
There is also on the site "Strategisc" some conferences on the war in Tunisia.
Hope to have helped, and given some useful elements.
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Durand
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Hallo alsaco,
Your input has been of help and it is appreciated. I find the lack of coordination within the Allied command structure at that time to be apalling, but fascinating. It certainly needed time to mature.
With regrad to Faid Pass, I think the January 30 incident that was described in the initial post on this thread is not the same as the one which you describe. The reason I think this is that French force at Faid Pass was eventually over run and the Germans held on to the pass rather than retreated from it. On February 14, 1943, the 10. Panzer Division launched it's attack through Faid Pass which would carry German forces to Kasserine Pass by February 19. Also, as of January 30, I do not think that any American force had yet even dreamed of approaching Gabes. On the same date, as I understand it, Feriana was still relatively safe behind Allied lines. The Allies abandoned Feriana without a fight on February 16 or 17 and occupied by German forces under the command of General Karl Buelowius. I am thinking that the incident you described occurred at a different time than the one at Faid Pass. It may be that I am simply confused. It certainly would not be the first time. What are your thoughts?
Regards,
Durand
Your input has been of help and it is appreciated. I find the lack of coordination within the Allied command structure at that time to be apalling, but fascinating. It certainly needed time to mature.
With regrad to Faid Pass, I think the January 30 incident that was described in the initial post on this thread is not the same as the one which you describe. The reason I think this is that French force at Faid Pass was eventually over run and the Germans held on to the pass rather than retreated from it. On February 14, 1943, the 10. Panzer Division launched it's attack through Faid Pass which would carry German forces to Kasserine Pass by February 19. Also, as of January 30, I do not think that any American force had yet even dreamed of approaching Gabes. On the same date, as I understand it, Feriana was still relatively safe behind Allied lines. The Allies abandoned Feriana without a fight on February 16 or 17 and occupied by German forces under the command of General Karl Buelowius. I am thinking that the incident you described occurred at a different time than the one at Faid Pass. It may be that I am simply confused. It certainly would not be the first time. What are your thoughts?
Regards,
Durand
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Andy H
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alsaco
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I woud have to return to sources to be very precise.
But the incident I mention happened before the germans did attak from east to west through Faid Pass.
It correspond, so far I remember, to the period just after the landing. Troops were sent, blindly, toward Tebessa to avoid a possible movement of Rommel from Libya toward south Tunisia and then Constantine.
These american troops found just a screen of french local troups garding the airport, and moved rapidly toward Gafsa and Gabes.
The lorries and light armour followed by "road"
French tunisian troops and forces from south east algeria were allready engaged in the Sbeitla-Faid- Gafsa plain, trying to guard the passes
My sources are the book Kasserine, somwhat apologetic for Patton, and a book from général Barret, I think, on the french reactions after the landing in Tunisia and eastern Algeria. And some documents, journal de marche and souvenirs, on the tunisian and algerian Vichy forces engaged against italian and germans troops around Sbeitla and then Zagouan.
But the incident I mention happened before the germans did attak from east to west through Faid Pass.
It correspond, so far I remember, to the period just after the landing. Troops were sent, blindly, toward Tebessa to avoid a possible movement of Rommel from Libya toward south Tunisia and then Constantine.
These american troops found just a screen of french local troups garding the airport, and moved rapidly toward Gafsa and Gabes.
The lorries and light armour followed by "road"
French tunisian troops and forces from south east algeria were allready engaged in the Sbeitla-Faid- Gafsa plain, trying to guard the passes
My sources are the book Kasserine, somwhat apologetic for Patton, and a book from général Barret, I think, on the french reactions after the landing in Tunisia and eastern Algeria. And some documents, journal de marche and souvenirs, on the tunisian and algerian Vichy forces engaged against italian and germans troops around Sbeitla and then Zagouan.
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Durand
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