Topic summary

Tunisian campaign

Tunisian campaign
Belligerents

United Kingdom

Commanders and leadersAlphonse JuinStrengthMarch:
500,000 troops
1,800+ tanks
1,200+ field guns
Thousands of aircraftMarch:
350,000 troops
200+ tanks
1,000+ field guns
Thousands of aircraftCasualties and losses 76,020
849 aircraft destroyed
340+ tanks lost 290,000–362,000 (238,000–300,000 captured)
2,422+ aircraft destroyed
600+ aircraft captured
450+ tanks lost
1,000+ guns captured
Thousands of trucks captured

The Tunisian campaign (also known as the Battle of Tunisia) was a series of battles that took place in Tunisia during the North African campaign of the Second World War, between Axis and Allied forces from 17 November 1942 to 13 May 1943. The Allies consisted of British Imperial Forces, including a Greek contingent, with American and French corps. Despite initial successes by the German and Italian forces brought from the mainland and which had withdrawn into and occupied Tunisia, after their defeat in the Western Desert and the success of Operation Torch, massive supply interdiction efforts and Allied assaults from east and west led to the decisive defeat of the Axis. Over 260,000 German and Italian troops were taken as prisoners of war, including most of the Afrika Korps.