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Axis armor continued to pour through the pass. One column of about fifty tanks and some infantry flanked Djebel Lessouda from the north and west and drove on Sidi Bou Zid. After suffering very heavy losses, the American armored battalion and its artillery broke off the engagement and, reduced to the point of ineffectiveness, escaped to the west. The troops on Djebels Lessouda and Ksaira, although still in fighting condition, were practically isolated by 1300 hours. Throughout the day the highways in the quadrangle Faid-Maknassy-Gafsa-Sbeitla swarmed with German armor and infantry. In the south one force of about thirty tanks had advanced northwest from Maknassy and by evening wag threatening Sidi Bou Zid from the southwest. Another column was advancing along the Sened-Gafsa road. Gafsa, in danger of being cut off entirely, was evacuated in the evening, the troops there withdrawing to Feriana to protect the important airfields near Thelepte. A new defensive line was planned for the protection of Feriana and Sbeitla. During the night of 14-15 February Combat Command B was ordered south from Maktar to support the remainder of the 1st Armored Division. General Fredendall ordered the 1st Armored Division to counterattack on the morning of 15 February. Accordingly Coiribat Command C moved south from Hadjeb el Aioun and with elements of Combat Command A and a British armored infantry battalion attacked about 1600 hours on 15 February. As the leading battalion’s armor approached the enemy defensive position, running northsouth through Sidi Bou Zid, a formation of German tanks was sighted, and within an hour a fierce running battle was in progress. Although the combat command reported the situation under control, appearances proved deceptive, for the frontal action of the enemy’s tanks merely served to divert attention from a sweeping flanking maneuver already under way. The British battalion was following Combat Command C to exploit such success as the counterattack might achieve when suddenly it found both its right flank and rear under the deadly fire of a large German tank force. The Allied troops were then ordered to extricate themselves, and all units fell back rapidly except the leading armored battalion, which had not received the order. It was engulfed by the enemy. As the British had done at Knightsbridge, our tanks had charged blindly into an ambuscade. The units on Djebels Lessouda and Ksaira were now completely cut off, and any thought of going to their relief had to be abandoned. Confused fighting continued east and southeast of Sbeitla during 16 February, dive bombers inflicting heavy personnel casualties on Combat Command A. By this time the II Corps had suffered serious |
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