German Offensives in Tunisia and the Battle of Kasserine Pass

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German Offensives in Tunisia and the Battle of Kasserine Pass
With Mark Calhoun
Part of the Torch to Tunis series on WW2TV
• Torch to Tunis
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Historians usually describe the Battle of Kasserine Pass as an embarrassing defeat of the US Army’s ground forces. This interpretation - a result of focusing on the engagement's opening stages -caused long-lasting damage to the Anglo-American Alliance, and continues to distort the historical narrative of a battle that ended in an American victory.
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Mark T. Calhoun served as a US Army aviator and war planner for twenty years. After retirement, he earned his PhD in History from the University of Kansas, and began working as an associate professor of history at the US Army School of Advanced Military Studies. He is now a Historian at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans
www.nationalww2museum.org/war...
Defeat at Kasserine: American Armor Doctrine, Training, and Battle Command in Northwest Africa, World War II by Mark Calhoun
USA www.amazon.com/Defeat-Kasseri...
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Пікірлер: 69

  • @nonamesplease6288
    @nonamesplease6288 Жыл бұрын

    Great presentation. My grandfather was a US Army engineer officer in North Africa and Sicily before he got malaria and wound up in the hospital. Apparently, he was at Kasserine Pass, but he never spoke about his war experiences. My mother told me as a youngster about Kasserine before I knew any of the history. Apparently, the memories were too painful to relate.

  • @WW2TV

    @WW2TV

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for sharing TARFU

  • @hillarymcnerney8141

    @hillarymcnerney8141

    11 ай бұрын

    What was his name? My husband’s grandfather was also an Engineer and was captured at Kasserine. Spent the next three years in a German POW camp.

  • @morganhale3434
    @morganhale3434 Жыл бұрын

    Very interesting discussion and this is the type of revisionist history that matters. This revising of the narrative is about better research and more data, not political or social bias which is very prevalent in revisionist historical analysis. This whole group of shows on Torch and Tunisia has been wonderful so far. Interesting and fun topics (I really loved the Casablanca episode), very good guests, and a whole lotta new knowledge being shared on-line. A definite home run Paul and this campaign deserved the deep dive you are giving it.

  • @scottgrimwood8868
    @scottgrimwood8868 Жыл бұрын

    An excellent presentation by Mark. I really appreciated Mark's view of the entire campaign not just a single event.

  • @Neaptide184
    @Neaptide184 Жыл бұрын

    Torch keeps getting more fascinating

  • @chazmena
    @chazmena5 ай бұрын

    Thanks, Woody. I feel better. Being a rank, amateur historian wannabe I always separated Kasserine Pass and El Guitar. Never thought of it as a series of battles ending in victory and liberation of Tunisia.

  • @Chiller01
    @Chiller01 Жыл бұрын

    Excellent episode. Gary Calhoun delivers another knowledgeable presentation. I learned a lot about this misunderstood series of actions.

  • @Ensign_Nemo
    @Ensign_Nemo Жыл бұрын

    One of the reasons why the US tankers were not fully trained is that the US sent the first 300 Sherman tanks that had been earmarked for training purposes to the British Eighth Army after the fall of Tobruk. These made up about 30% of the 1000 tanks that the British had at the Second Battle of El Alamein, and these Shermans were about an equal match in quality to the German Mark IV panzers. One maxim of military strategy is to concentrate your forces at the decisive point at the decisive time. From a global POV, it made sense to send the Sherman tanks to Egypt. A hidden but very real price paid for the British victory at El Alamein was the American defeat at Kasserine Pass. US armored units did not fight effectively at first, in part because the US Army didn't have enough Sherman tanks to properly train them. General Marshall knew this would happen, but he sent the tanks anyway because he knew that they were needed more in Egypt than they were needed in the training grounds of the US.

  • @arkadiy9321

    @arkadiy9321

    Жыл бұрын

    It would have helped if the principle of concentration would be followed locally. You have most of 21st Panzer division and approximately a half of 10th striking against not even a third of the 1st AD. If the division had all of its organic power available : 1st and 13th tank regiments and 6th Armored infantry and 68th Field Artillery, I strongly suspect that it would be a very different battle regardless of whether the medium tanks were M3s or M4s

  • @michaelc4645
    @michaelc4645 Жыл бұрын

    Hi, very interesting to hear some of the places talked about by Mark in this presentation. A few years ago I acquired a 42 dated US Army map spanning Algeria, Morocco and Tunis. The exposed parts (when folded) of the map are stained brown and the map itself contains hand written notations of locations up to Kesserine and the surrounding area including Sbeitla. I would quite like to get some images of the map to Mark as I think he would find it quite interesting. Perhaps you may be able to assist in that regard? I had looked online but at can’t find any direct contact details for Mark. I look forward to hearing from you.

  • @1089maul
    @1089maul Жыл бұрын

    Woody/Mark. Great presentation. Thanks, Bob

  • @curtiswebb8135
    @curtiswebb8135 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you from California. You are setting standards. World class... Keep kicking ass.

  • @nickmay625
    @nickmay625 Жыл бұрын

    yet again superb presentation

  • @KevinJones-yh2jb
    @KevinJones-yh2jb Жыл бұрын

    Another brilliant subject and presentation on WW2TV, such knowledge and detail,thanks Mark and Paul, another subject so much I learnt

  • @vcv6560
    @vcv6560 Жыл бұрын

    This presentation really built on my understanding of the battle I only began to understand after reading An Army at Dawn. I had assumed it was a single battle. In terms of 'presentation bias' and such I have to say World at War depicts (episode 13 Tough Old Gut) the US as being routed and only saved by the British.

  • @arkadiy9321
    @arkadiy9321 Жыл бұрын

    Perhaps it was mentioned at some point, but just in case it wasn't. For those interested in more details: for the entire period of Torch landings through the campaign's end: Northwest Africa: Seizing the Initiative In the West by George F. Howe. Specifically for the Kasserine battle (starting from Faid pass capture): Kasserine Pass Battles Staff Ride Background Materials I would also point out that "Bazookas in boxes", while makes a cool story (CO of 168th IR col Drake even mentions it in his diary ), is overhyped IMO. Anti-tank artillery is by far superior equipment for the purpose.

  • @linnharamis1496
    @linnharamis14963 ай бұрын

    Another great program- thank you both.👍

  • @tonyvart7068
    @tonyvart7068 Жыл бұрын

    Very good presentation indeed.....a top notch guest.

  • @maxcaravan7584
    @maxcaravan7584 Жыл бұрын

    It's really interesting to hear how Americans felt about the criticism of their capacity to fight because I think some of their people were pretty good at dishing it out as well. Perhaps the lesson here is be careful what you say and how you say it in stressful situations! Of course easier said than done. The other thing of interest was comment on conduct of leadership - when things are going well we tend to ignore less attractive attributes but when going not to well those are the ones that are highlighted. I do love this channel because it really makes you think about a lot things not just war.

  • @TheVigilant109
    @TheVigilant109 Жыл бұрын

    Excellent presentation by Mark as usual. Learned a lot today. Many thanks

  • @cheesenoodles8316
    @cheesenoodles8316 Жыл бұрын

    The Desert Training Center, many trips there starting in the 80s riding ...allot of history...and a few artifacts.

  • @philbosworth3789
    @philbosworth3789 Жыл бұрын

    That was a very good presentation from Mark, and the Sidebar Crew were on form. Another great show Woody @WW2TV.

  • @WW2TV

    @WW2TV

    Жыл бұрын

    Yep, the side-bar is super today

  • @dennisweidner288
    @dennisweidner288 Жыл бұрын

    Of course close air support doctrine was not covered at the Desert Training Center because the Army Air Corps not only did not have a close air support doctrine but wanted nothing to do with it. This did not come about until Elwood Pete Quesada began to formulate it in Noth Africa and was not fully put together until D-Day,

  • @michaeldunne338
    @michaeldunne338 Жыл бұрын

    Very nice segment. With Kasserine, I usually think of the morbid first scenes from the movie Patton - so feel this point made in the presentation and chat hit the mark: "popular memory shaping the historical narrative, despite the evidence." I had thought of Kasserine pass as a spoiler attack that gained some traction but then petered out, leaving the Americans embarrassed with a black eye. This presentation provided really excellent perspective and a bounty of details and facts on the history of this engagement. Very good quality history that is much needed.

  • @linnharamis1496
    @linnharamis14963 ай бұрын

    Thanks!

  • @grantamos6299
    @grantamos6299 Жыл бұрын

    KZread better recognize!

  • @grantamos6299

    @grantamos6299

    Жыл бұрын

    Paul Woodage’s dedication to consistently creating high quality, longer form historical content along with all of the top notch guest presenters featured on WW2TV.

  • @thegreatdominion949
    @thegreatdominion949 Жыл бұрын

    Paul, given this controversial take, I would be interested to see a panel discussion on this subject and the larger Tunisian campaign to conclude this theme period similar to what you did at the end of El Alamein Week.

  • @WW2TV

    @WW2TV

    Жыл бұрын

    Yep, good idea. I am planning such a show right now

  • @jimmarnell3964

    @jimmarnell3964

    Жыл бұрын

    Try to bring in Rob Citino into this panel

  • @WW2TV

    @WW2TV

    Жыл бұрын

    I've not had any success contacting Mr Citino yet

  • @user-ve5fi1ld8s
    @user-ve5fi1ld8s11 ай бұрын

    My father was a sargent in the 9th division, just received the 105s they trained with prior to Thala all night drive to set up at zero elevation with ghost battalion Britts .. at dawn the Panzers .. maybe 200? were attacking (Rommel) . My dad was glad to be rid of the pac 75. He had a great deal of details about that, he went on to Sicily, then Normandy..

  • @davidk7324
    @davidk7324 Жыл бұрын

    "Journalism is the first rough draft of history." P. Graham.

  • @dennisweidner288

    @dennisweidner288

    Жыл бұрын

    @davidk7324 It used to be before all journalists were woke social justice warriors.

  • @lollypop333100
    @lollypop333100 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this very intresting explanation about the Kasserine Pass battles...i always figured it as a devastating American defeat but it seems a victory at last...Why did Rommel not hold the line in Lybia?...what could he achieve in Tunisia?...even if he won the battle what would be next?...

  • @craigbelling9436
    @craigbelling9436 Жыл бұрын

    My father was at Kasserine.

  • @KG-1
    @KG-1 Жыл бұрын

    Very good. Raises Army At Dawn in prority list. Will be interesting to read how Rick Atkinson treats this. There's a guest author to get on sometime Paul. Like the combination of field grade professional experience and writing history. Iron Majors are key in any army, that's where the hard work is.

  • @WW2TV

    @WW2TV

    Жыл бұрын

    I have invited Rick, but he has moved away from WWII now to focus on the Revolutionary war

  • @KG-1

    @KG-1

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WW2TV That's too bad. I've read that first book on ARW "The British Are Coming". It's very good. Based on how he writes and the long slog necessary to get that trilogy done, I could see an exhaustion factor creeping in. Wonder how PCA is feeling on that score. Ask him how many more 500 page books on WW2 of lifeforce he thinks he has left in him. 😆

  • @WW2TV

    @WW2TV

    Жыл бұрын

    PCA is incredible. Even with his health issues he keeps on working

  • @KG-1

    @KG-1

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WW2TV guess that means he's still got issues then. Sad to here. His Bulge book is masterful. Have all three.

  • @WW2TV

    @WW2TV

    Жыл бұрын

    He's on the mend, but yes he's had some health challenges

  • @marchuvfulz
    @marchuvfulz Жыл бұрын

    Great presentation. I thought Col. Calhoun could have discussed in greater detail the issues with American defense against German armored offensives. I wonder if the Americans could have been better prepared to deal with German armor. It's like they didn't really absorb the tactical lessons the British had learned (at tremendous cost) in France and North Africa.

  • @WW2TV

    @WW2TV

    Жыл бұрын

    There's always a greater level of depth we could go into, but the ultimate aim is to keep the shows to a manageable length

  • @billballbuster7186
    @billballbuster7186 Жыл бұрын

    Great presentation as always. British and American troops fought well together as they did here. The friction tended to be with more senior Officers who had different priorities. Kasserine was indeed part of a larger German offensive which in the end was defeated. The German propaganda machine only highlighting the bit that they won to distract from the overall defeat.

  • @whiteleghorn6835
    @whiteleghorn683511 ай бұрын

    Important to note the Americans were fighting with a lot of worn out French artillery to make up the lack of artillery at kaserene

  • @MegaBloggs1
    @MegaBloggs13 күн бұрын

    one wonders if rommel had all the available tigers and the fuel of tebessa whether a defeat in detail would have been achieved

  • @coachhannah2403
    @coachhannah2403 Жыл бұрын

    The M4 was easily the equivalent of the PzIV at all stages of the war. Far superior to the PzIII, and not overwhelmed by the PzVI when used correctly.

  • @WW2TV

    @WW2TV

    Жыл бұрын

    It didn't come up in this specific show, but generally the most important factor, more important than type and mark, is - FIRST SHOT COUNTS

  • @coachhannah2403

    @coachhannah2403

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WW2TV - True enough, as well as how the machines are handled. I was reacting to a specific comment made during the show, but I did not note the time stamp.

  • @WW2TV

    @WW2TV

    Жыл бұрын

    The problem with definitive statements like "The M4 was easily the equivalent of the PzIV" is that they don't allow for nuance because it's never a game of Top Trumps. Welded or Riveted hull on the M4? Which ammunition with the PzIV? Plus the big ones being in attack or defence? At what range. The more I learn, the more I realise that comparing tank types is largely irrelevant. It's comparing systems and doctrine that's rewarding

  • @nickdanger3802
    @nickdanger38024 ай бұрын

    TEST I made three attempts to compare friendly losses to enemy losses here to Kursk in the last two days. All were deleted in less than a minute.

  • @WW2TV

    @WW2TV

    4 ай бұрын

    Then you are using blocked words or prohibited links

  • @nickdanger3802

    @nickdanger3802

    4 ай бұрын

    @@WW2TV TEST At Citadel/Kursk Germany inflicted losses on a ratio of at least two to one in every category and it was a huge Soviet victory.

  • @WW2TV

    @WW2TV

    4 ай бұрын

    Working okay

  • @coachhannah2403
    @coachhannah2403 Жыл бұрын

    Kasserine was a skirmish and overblown. Kind of like the first few days of The Bulge.

  • @WW2TV

    @WW2TV

    Жыл бұрын

    Hmmm, hardly a skirmish when you consider that it was more than one single battle

  • @coachhannah2403

    @coachhannah2403

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WW2TV - Referring to the actual contest in the pass itself, which is what people point to to say it was a disaster.

  • @jefesalsero
    @jefesalsero Жыл бұрын

    When he speaks about the race to Tunis after Operation Torch and "whatever resistance we faced there - fairly minimal." Okay, we understand that, but it's those kinds of statements that continue to downplay the significance of the combat action that took place there. The reality is that the Vichy French forces in Morocco did, in fact, put up some determined resistance, and even conducted counterattacks, and inflicted casualties on American forces. They did not simply roll over and surrender without a fight. That needs to be acknowledged, even within the context of this presentation.

  • @WW2TV

    @WW2TV

    Жыл бұрын

    Downplay of just not address in detail because it was beyond the scope of this specific show?

  • @miketrusky476
    @miketrusky4765 ай бұрын

    Rommel held the pass for 4 days. Inexperienced USA learned real QUICK.

  • @MegaBloggs1
    @MegaBloggs111 ай бұрын

    if Rommel had ignored von arnim and taken tebessa and then turned north and taken thala-defeat in detail would have been possible of the western forces...and he would have had fuel stocks!!!so ammunition and food by air from sicily

  • @MagisterMagnificum
    @MagisterMagnificum Жыл бұрын

    kzread.info/dash/bejne/m3p9spqxfq-cd7Q.html Does he mean Mark Bloch?

  • @Fulcrum205
    @Fulcrum205Ай бұрын

    The Sherman was better than all of the German tanks except the Tigers in N.Africa. It makes me sad when even professional officers and historians fall for Wehraboo mythmaking. The Americans lost a bunch of tanks because the commanders didnt understand reconnaisance and kept exposing their vehicles to AT guns and driving into mines.

  • @WW2TV

    @WW2TV

    Ай бұрын

    A tank can be "better" but used ineffectively, that's the story of Kasserine

  • @Fulcrum205

    @Fulcrum205

    Ай бұрын

    @WW2TV totally agree. Green as grass troops and no TTPs developed yet.

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