Chapter 9 Summary and Analysis

At dawn on February 14, over 100 German tanks sped undetected toward Faid Pass as part of Operation Fruhlingwing. An American infantry squad was taken by such surprise that they didn't even have time to shoot a warning flare. At the pass, Allied tankers were caught outside their tanks and quickly overrun. Then the German force split, half to take the hill and half to proceed to nearby Sidi Bou Zid. American howitzers fired at such close range that their shells went over the Germans. Only one gun was saved as the troops retreated. The Germans took out American units one by one. Panic ensued, with some units fleeing into German lines, only to be captured.

A reinforcement group of 36 Sherman tanks was quickly destroyed by Stuka and Panzer fire. The 21st Panzer division also arrived from the south, hoping to entrap the...