The Americans of II Corps took up new positions at Kasserine Pass, where Rommel’s forces struck again on February 19, 1943, catching them unprepared for effective defense. After two days of heavy fighting and several unsuccessful counterattacks, American forces withdrew again, having suffered more than 1,600 casualties and losing over a hundred tanks and halftracks. Despite these losses, the Americans soon redeemed themselves. Facing a renewed German attack on February 22, tanks from the 1st Armored Division’s Combat Command B joined with infantry and artillery from other Allied units to stop the German assault and inflict heavy losses on the attackers. |