Jürgen von Arnim

Further reinforcements enabled Colonel General Jürgen von Arnim, who assumed the command in chief of the Axis defense in Tunisia on December 9, to expand his two bridgeheads in Tunisia until they were merged into one. Germany and Italy had won the race for Tunis but were henceforth to succumb…

Jürgen von Arnim relieved Gen. Walther Nehring and took supreme command of Axis forces in Tunisia (now christened the Fifth Panzer Army). With the arrival of additional reinforcements, Arnim proceeded to expand the perimeters around Tunis and Bizerte into a single bridgehead. Allied intelligence estimated…

…days while he waited for Arnim’s authorization to continue. The Americans rallied at Sbeitla (Sufetula), and Ziegler drove them back again, until they made a more-determined stand at the Kasserine Pass.

Arnim was unwilling to embark on such a venture, so in desperation Rommel appealed to Mussolini. It was not until early on February 19 that Rome authorized a continuation of the thrust, but Rommel was ordered to strike northward to Thala, instead of northwestward to…

Arnim had little chance of recognizing the deception or responding to it after the blow fell because of the Allies’ almost total command of the air. The highly concentrated assault of the IX Corps, now under Gen. Brian Horrocks, was launched in the starlit but…