Mareth Line

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The Mareth Line was a system of fortifications built by the French near the coastal town of Medenine in southern Tunisia prior to World War II. It was designed to defend against attacks from the Italians in Libya, but following the Fall of France and Operation Torch it fell into Axis hands and was used by the Italians and Germans to defend against the British instead. It ran 35 km (22 miles) inland from the sea to the Matmâta hills, crossing the coastal road.

[edit] Wartime history

Following an unsuccessful counter-attack at Medenine the line was occupied by remnants of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps, now renamed the Italian First Army and commanded by General Giovanni Messe.

[edit] Operation Pugilist

On 19 March 1943 the British Eighth Army under General Bernard Montgomery assaulted the line. The 50th Division successfully managed to penetrate the line near Zarat, but their pocket was destroyed by a counterattack from the 15th Panzer Division on 22 March. Although the British XXX Corps attack was turned back, Montgomery had sent X Corps, under Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks, south around the Matmâta hills with General Bernard Freyberg's strengthened New Zealand 2nd Division. Intelligence from the Long Range Desert Group suggested that the line could be outflanked so Montgomery reinforced Freyberg. This left hook broke through the Tebaga Gap on 27 March 1943 and the line was rendered untenable. However, Messe's forces were able to escape encirclement when X Corps was held up at El Hamma. The Axis forces retreated to a line at Gabès, 60 km to the north.