Battle of El Guettar

Battle of El Guettar
Part of the Tunisia Campaign of World War II

An American soldier hands out cigarettes to captured Bersaglieri of the 131st Armored Division "Centauro" near El Guettar in March 1943.
Date23 March – 3 April 1943
Location
Result Indecisive[1][2]
Belligerents
 United States  Germany
 Italy
Commanders and leaders
United States George S. Patton Nazi Germany Jürgen von Arnim
Fascist Italy Giovanni Messe
Casualties and losses
22 tanks lost
4 halftracks lost[3]
4,000–5,000 killed or wounded
37 tanks lost[3]
4,000–6,000 killed or wounded in 3 weeks

The Battle of El Guettar took place during the Tunisia Campaign of World War II, fought between elements of the Army Group Africa under General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim, along with Italian First Army under General Giovanni Messe, and U.S. II Corps under Lieutenant General George Patton in south-central Tunisia. It was the first battle in which U.S. forces were able to defeat the experienced German tank units, but the followup to the battle was inconclusive.[2]

  1. ^ Hooker Jr. p. 85
  2. ^ a b Haycock p. 42
  3. ^ a b "American Tank Destroyers at El Guettar". Warfare History Net.