| By April 1943, the tide of the fighting in North Africa swung decisively in the Allies’ favor. Starting on April 11, American and British forces advanced rapidly against the remaining Axis forces in Tunisia. The Americans were tasked with seizing the northern port city of Bizerte but encountered fierce German resistance from defenders of Hill 609, a critical defensive position. Americans from the 1st Armored Division’s 6th Armored Infantry Regiment and the 1st and 9th Infantry Divisions suffered heavy losses, but eventually they took Hill 609 on April 30th, clearing the way for other American forces to advance. Believing that German and Italian forces were reaching their breaking point, Allied commanders drove US forces onward to their final objectives. |
