The Story of the 34th Infantry Division
Book I • Louisiana to Pisa

Chapter IV • SBEITLA - HADJEB el AIOUN
Scouting [pp. 11-13]

   On 4 March [1943] reconnaissance had reached a state where it was possible to consider a resumption of aggressive action. The Division was ordered to make a demonstration in the direction of Pichon - El Ala (the place where the Division had first entered the line and some 40-odd kilometers east of the front then held) in support of a large scale offensive which jumped off many miles to the south near Gafsa. The demonstration force consisted of the 3rd Battalion, 135th Infantry, with tanks, anti-aircraft artillery, field artillery, the Reconnaissance Troop and the ex-Commando force; a portion of the 133rd Infantry guarded the route of approach and withdrawal by blocking to the southeast. The demonstration force, before it withdrew, penetrated to the outskirts of Pichon with armored reconnaissance vehicles confirming the fact that the enemy occupied this place in some strength.

   Following the demonstration the main line of resistance of the Division was moved 10 kilometers to the east where it was sited to run due north and south since the re-occupation by Allied troops of the Kasserine Pass minimized any threat to our positions from the south.

   By the middle of March the 34th Division line was based roughly on a north-south range of hills some 50 kilometers west of the German positions. The country in between was rocky and sandy, uninhabited except for small bands of Arabs and one or two families of European settlers who farmed some of the land in the vicinity of water holes. The mountains for the most part were steep and had vegetation only on their lower slopes - toward the top they were completely barren. In the whole of the flat land between our own lines and the Germans', cross-country movement by armor was extremely easy since the only barriers were the dried up stream beds called "oueds" which criss-crossed the countryside but were not formidable tank barriers. The only concealment came from clumps of cactus or stunted olive trees which were interspersed over the ground.

   Following the success of the American drive on Gafsa in the south the 34th Infantry Division undertook the job of clearing the plain between its line and the Germans' so that an attack could be launched to seize the key town of Kairouan many miles away. Reconnaissance was pushed to Kef el Ahmar and to Sbeitla. Being inexperienced in warfare our troops were sometimes out-witted by the enemy, notably at Kef el Ahmar where on one occasion one of our rifle companies was ambushed by the Germans at heavy cost to ourselves. When Sbeitla had been reached, the reconnoitering elements turned northeastward and made good progress along the road to Hadjeb el Aioun. Many minefields and demolitions were encountered enroute and bold counter-reconnaissance operations by the Germans made this phase of our activity very exciting. Motorized elements of the Division penetrated to El Ala and then turned south toward Djebel Trozza to come out on the highway near Hadjeb el Aioun where our elements linked up again.

   This was truly open warfare. There were no flanks, no front and practically no rear. One had to be prepared for enemy in every direction. The German airforce was a constant threat and considerable movements of troops took place under the cover of darkness with total black-out.

Chapter III FIRST DAYS IN TUNISIA Skirmishing	Chapter V FONDOUK Beating
Return to the beginning, The Story of the 34th Infantry Division Introduction, Foreword, Contents

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