34
nean Air Command became operational on 19 February, with Major
General Carl Spaatz as commander of the subordinate Northwest
African Air Force.* On the 20th Admiral Cunningham was anï؟¾nounced as Commander in Chief, Mediterranean,** and on the same
day General Alexander assumed command of the Eighteenth Army
Group.
General Alexander’s first order regrouped the Tunisian forces and
returned detached brigades, regiments, and combat teams to their
original formations. The battle area was divided into three national
sectors: the British First Army in the north, the French XIX Corps
in the center, and the American II Corps toward the south. Prior
to this reorganization units had of necessity been sent forward pieceï؟¾meal to take positions on a shifting front, and the resulting confusion
had been increased by the hasty improvisation of battle groups to
meet the demands of a rapidly changing situation. Under these
circumstances it had been impossible to avoid the separation of
units from their parent commands, and troops of all three nationï؟¾alities had become intermingled.
The wisdom of the Allied command revisions had already been
apparent in the increased effectiveness of Allied air power during
the final stages of the Battle of Kasserine Pass and in closer cooperaï؟¾tion of the ground forces. One example of this effective coordinaï؟¾tion is of special interest. As Rommel’s columns advanced toward
Tebessa and Thala after breaking through Kasserine Pass, Alexï؟¾ander ordered a strong diversion by the Eighth Army. Montgomery
was not ready to attack at Mareth, but he staged a mock preparation
for a large assault. This, together with mounting Allied resistance
as he pushed westward, caused the German commander to make a
hasty withdrawal. He pulled his tanks out of contact and rushed
them back to the south toward what he thought was the most threatï؟¾ened part of his front.
Early in March Lieutenant General Patton, whom we have met
before as a major general, took over command of the American II
Corps.
After the Battle of Kasserine Pass; the enemy directed his main
pressure against the British V Corps (Map 6a). During the first
week in March, Medjez el Bab was the chief objective, but the Axis
attacks at this point were a failure, as were the attempts to take
* The Northwest African Air Force was organized as follows:
Strategic Air Force—Major General James H. Doolittle.
Tactical Air Force—Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham.
Coastal Air Force—Air Vice Marshal Sir Hugh P. Lloyd.
** This gave him command of all Allied naval forces in this area.
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