Battle of Longstop Hill

Battle of Longstop Hill (1943)
Part of The Tunisia Campaign of the Second World War

British troops bring down wounded during the attack on Longstop Hill; a Churchill tank is in the background,
Date22–23 April 1943
Location
Djebel el Ahmera, Djebel Rhar, Tunisia
36°44′06″N 9°38′28″E / 36.7349992°N 09.6412452°E / 36.7349992; 09.6412452
Result British victory
Belligerents
 United Kingdom Nazi Germany Germany
Commanders and leaders
United Kingdom Vyvyan Evelegh Nazi Germany Ernst-Günther Baade
Strength
United Kingdom 78th Division Nazi Germany 999th Light Afrika Division
Casualties and losses
roughly 400 killed and/or wounded roughly 500 killed and/or wounded
roughly 600 captured nonwounded[1]

The 2nd Battle of Longstop Hill or the Capture of Longstop Hill took place in Tunisia during the Tunisia Campaign of World War II from 21 to 23 April 1943. The battle was fought for control over the heights of Djebel el Ahmera and Djebel Rhar, together known as Longstop Hill and vicinity, between the British forces of the First Army and German units of the 5th Panzer Army.[2] The infantry of the 78th Battleaxe Division and Churchill tanks of the North Irish Horse captured Longstop Hill after bitter fighting, in which the tanks created a measure of tactical surprise by driving up the hill, a manoeuvre that only Churchill tanks could achieve.[3] The attackers broke through the German defences, which were the last great natural barrier on the road to Tunis.[4][5]

  1. ^ Ford pp. 54–56
  2. ^ Blaxland p. 35
  3. ^ Dougherty, Martin (2010). Tanks From World War I to the Present. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-907446-01-6.
  4. ^ Blackwell pp. 173–75
  5. ^ Sulzberger p. 114