Battle of Sidi Bou Zid
The Battle of Sidi Bou Zid (Unternehmen Frühlingswind/Operation Spring Breeze) took place during the Tunisia Campaign from 14–17 February 1943, in World War II. The battle was fought around Sidi Bou Zid, where a large number of US Army units were mauled by German and Italian forces. It resulted in the Axis forces recapturing the strategically important town of Sbeitla in central Tunisia.
| Battle of Sidi Bou Zid | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Tunisia Campaign of World War II | |||||||
Tunisian Campaign, January–April 1943 | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
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United States Free France | Germany | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Lloyd Fredendall Orlando Ward John K. Waters (POW) Alphonse Juin |
Hans-Jürgen von Arnim Heinz Ziegler | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
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2,546 missing 103 tanks | None | ||||||
Sidi Bou Zid Sidi Bou Zid in Tunisia | |||||||
The battle was planned by the Germans to be a two-part offensive-defensive operation against US positions in western Tunisia. Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen von Arnim commanded several experienced combat units, including the 10th Panzer Division and the 21st Panzer Division of the 5th Panzer Army, which were to sweep north and west towards the Kasserine Pass, while another battle group attacked Sidi Bou Zid from the south. Facing the attack was the II US Corps under Major General Lloyd Fredendall.
In a few days, the Axis attack forced the II US Corps to take up new defensive positions outside Sbiba. Axis troops were then given time to consolidate their new front line west of Sbeitla. The success of the offensive led the German High Command to conclude that despite being well equipped, American forces were no match for experienced Axis combat troops.