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

Chapter VII • EDDEKHILA
Exploiting [pp. 23-25]

   On 4 May [1943] the 34th assembled in low hills west of the highway leading to Chouigui Pass. The mission was to advance along the semi-circular hills which formed the south boundary of the Oued Tine Valley to seize a mountain pass which carried the road eastward to the important junction of Chouigui. The Division's objective was the Pass itself and our advance was to be paralleled by an attack of the 1st Infantry Division to take the hills to the north. The 34th Division's plan was to leave the 135th Infantry in occupation of Hill 609 and its eastern satellites until the success of our attack was assured. The assault was to be conducted by the 168th Infantry who, in order to avoid being caught under enemy observation in the flat ground (as had occurred at Fondouk), were ordered to advance across difficult but less dangerous territory in the hills at the southern edge of the valley, taking the little village of Eddekhila, about half way to the objective, and then turning northward to the Pass itself. Any attempt by the enemy to strike the advance of the 168th Infantry from the southern flank was to be blocked off by the 133rd Infantry who, upon order, were to peel off to the south and form a screen behind which the 168th Infantry could continue their advance. The plan worked very successfully. The German position had considerably deteriorated, since the entire Allied offensive was making excellent progress and the Germans must have realized that their days in Africa were numbered. However, this type of mountain warfare is a slow business and it took three days before the 168th was in a position facing north about two kilometers south of the Chouigui. The Germans continued to resist but on 8 May they made a sudden withdrawal and our troops occupied the Pass without opposition. The road running through the gully from Eddekhila had been heavily mined and a day of hard work by the engineers was needed to open up the highway so that our artillery could pass through to the east side of the Pass and support further advances by the infantry. Immediately after the road was opened tank destroyers and motorized infantry patrols were sent out in all directions - to the important town of Tebourba some six miles southeast of Chouigui village and northward from Chouigui to Mateur. Many prisoners of war were taken but the fanatical "Barenthin" Regiment, having stopped the 1st Infantry Division, continued to resist in the hills even after opposition in the rest of our sector had stopped.

   The 135th Infantry with a field artillery battalion in support was moved rapidly by truck to the east side of the hills in which the Germans were lurking and the whole area was thoroughly combed by our infantry while a screen of tank destroyers waited in the valley to gather up the Germans as they were forced out of their hiding places. During this time the 1st Armored Division, having pushed boldly to capture the key road junction of Mateur north of the 34th Division sector, had advanced northeastward and was harrying the disorganized enemy who had no safe place to which they could retreat. Bizerte was captured by the 9th Infantry Division and an armistice was signed under which all German forces north of the Mejerda River, which flowed through Tebourba, surrendered during the morning of 11 May 1943. Two days later the entire German and Italian forces in Tunisia surrendered unconditionally and the Tunisian campaign had been won.

Chapter VI HILL 609 Conquering	Chapter VIII TRAINING FOR EUROPE Preparing
Return to the beginning, The Story of the 34th Infantry Division Introduction, Foreword, Contents

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