Chapter 6 Summary and Analysis

In mid-December 1942, there was a lull in the battle. The two armies dug in seven miles from each other with the intervening area forming a "no-man's-land." Logistics were still a major issue, as was shown by the fact that 180,000 Americans had arrived in North Africa, but only 12,000 had managed to make it to the front by December.

In spite of Nehring's many successes, Hitler replaced him with Colonel-General Hans Jurgen Von Arnim after he failed to take Medjez-el-Bab. The Allies and Axis troop levels were actually about equal at this point, but Axis still had the great advantage of air superiority. Arnim decided to go on the offensive again.

Anderson planned to resume the offensive late on December 23. A German position on a high hill in between the two armies was the preliminary target. Unfortunately, the British misjudged the German strength...