Chapter 152 Volume 4, Chapter 42, Tunisia's Victory

General Alexander acted as the de facto commander. His telegram to me on February 27th General Montgomery advanced to the Maret line and the attack began. Zip Montgomery's telegram on March 21st. Special position attacked Montgomery's telegram April 6th Alexander changed plans Eighth Army halted opposite Enfidaville April 22nd Alexander's main attack begins His telegram April 30th I May 3rd Explanation of the day to Stalin Alexander's general attack The Americans enter Bizerte The enemy army begins to collapse Fifty thousand prisoners May 10 My congratulations to Alexander May 11 Congratulations to General Eisenhower May 12 to Giro Congratulations to Admiral Cunningham for stopping all retreat at sea excellent naval battle Mediterranean re-navigation control of North African coast victorious size of 250,000 captives I have received a kind message from the King.

General Alexander was in command of the whole line during the last week of February. At the same time, Air Force Admiral Ted took charge of the Allied Air Forces under the Casablanca Agreement.At this time, the war in Tunisia was at its climax.General Eisenhower, who had the highest responsibility, could not direct this complex and highly variable operation involving British, American, and French forces from his headquarters in Algiers, about 400 miles away.There must be a local command.The man has now arrived with full authority. General Alexander to Prime Minister February 27, 1943 I have just returned from a three-day stay at the American and French fronts.Work on reorganization, reorganization and regrouping was underway, but with slight delays due to enemy operations in the north.Generally speaking, the Americans need experience, while the French need weapons.I have sent for the Americans the best available officers to instruct them in the art of war, and to help train them in war.

I have sent telegrams for the French to this country and to the Middle East, asking them to airlift here important arms and light equipment, and I have rendered assistance, as far as I can.The Americans had rallied as they defeated the enemy in the south and regained their former positions.I have ordered a violent and at the same time modest offensive in the south in order to regain the initiative.When I saw the whole situation, I was quite frankly surprised.Although Anderson should have quickly realized the truth of the situation and started doing what I am doing, he only took full command of the line on January 24th.

I now organize the whole army into three parts as follows: the British and French forces under Anderson's command, all the Americans under Friedender's command, and the Eighth Army under Montgomery's command. I hate to disappoint you, but final victory in North Africa is not in sight. Much effort remains to be done, both on land and in the air.No one was more helpful than General Eisenhower. I'm glad to know you're in better health.Best wishes. Montgomery could advance only a portion of his army towards Tunisia until the port of Tripoli was fully functional.Realizing that once the Battle of Kasserine was over, Rommel would surely come for him, so he deployed his three forward echelons, the Seventh Armored Division, the British Fifty-first Division and the Two New Zealand divisions.He has no time to set up minefields and barbed wire, but he has deployed no less than five hundred anti-tank guns, ready for action.

general montgomery to prime minister February 28, 1943 Tenth Corps had recaptured all his transports and was now advancing from Benghazi.The vanguard (troops) will all arrive in the Tripoli area on March 10, and other personnel will follow.By March 19th, the Tenth Army will be concentrated with me in the forward area.I am taking the necessary actions to fight Rommel in my present position.If he tries to do something dirty before I'm ready to resume my attack on him, I'll throw him out.I intend to hold my present position, as it is the one I will need in my attack on Maret in the near future.

On March 6, Rommel launched four major offensives, using all three German armored divisions.Every attack was repulsed with heavy losses.After the enemy retreated, fifty-two tanks were left on the battlefield damaged by artillery fire.We didn't lose a single tank, only 130 casualties.When dealing with armored forces, the power of such a dense anti-tank gun is unprecedented.Of all Rommel's African campaigns, this was probably his worst defeat.Not only that, but it was also his last fight there.A short time later, he was sent back to Germany as a patient, where he was succeeded by von Arnim.

The Eighth Army was now advancing to lay siege to the main enemy position, the Maret Line.This line of defense was a 20-mile-long and well-organized defense system built by the French to prevent Italy from invading Tunisia before the war.Now the Italians are defending here against the British!At its seaward end, the steep Wadi Zizo is a strong anti-tank barrier in front of the main defense line; further south, there are concrete gun towers, anti-tank trenches and barbed wire, from the front line to the hills of Matmata until.No detour was possible except by a detour leading to the channel between Mount Tebago and Mount Merab.The French had previously claimed that the road was impassable for vehicles, but the Long Range Desert Air Group had conducted reconnaissance in January and claimed it was passable, albeit with great difficulty.The many contributions of this hardy and highly mobile reconnaissance force throughout the African campaign were invaluable.Evidently the enemy was not dreaming, for the pass had been fortified and held by German armored divisions and Italian infantry.However, in view of the strength of the front at Maret's position, defended by six divisions, including two German divisions, with the Fifteenth Armored Division in reserve, Montgomery decided to include in his plan a flanking column to break through this pass, and to gain a foothold behind the main enemy front.

A deliberate attack on such a firmly held line requires two weeks of preparation.At this time, the U.S. Second Army recaptured Gafsa and advanced east.Although they were unable to penetrate the coastal plain, they held the German 10th Panzer Division on this front throughout the Battle of Maret.On March 10, General Leclerc was also heavily attacked by a combined force of armored vehicles and artillery supported by air force.The French held their positions, and with the help of the Royal Air Force, repulsed the enemy with considerable losses. Thus the stage was set for fighting on the Maret Line.This operation is called the Boxer Operations Plan.A heavy daytime bombing program had been ordered to pave the way, but bad weather kept the bombers out of action until the twentieth.An initial attack by the 201st Guards Brigade on March 16 proved unsuccessful and costly.Montgomery pressed on with other parts of his plan.During this circuitous march on the night of the 19th, he dispatched a force, led by General Freiberger, consisting of the 2nd New Zealand Division, the 8th Armored Brigade, and a medium artillery regiment.The next day, the evening of the 20th, they approached the channel.

General Alexander to Prime Minister March 21, 1943 Chip's time, the Eighth Army is set for tonight.The stage is set, and when the curtain is drawn, you will receive the definite news.U.S. II Corps had captured Gavsa, and their 1st Armored Division was advancing on Meknasi.This time the threat was to draw the Germans away from the Eighth Army; so far the Germans have not responded to it, but tomorrow we may see more of it. Montgomery will be corresponding with you directly tomorrow. General Alexander to Prime Minister March 21, 1943 Zip. general montgomery to prime minister March 21, 1943

The boxer battle plan was successfully launched yesterday.The New Zealanders outflanked the western flank of the enemy and today are fifteen miles southwest of Hama and are now pointing towards the Gulf of Gabes.Last night XXX Corps attacked the enemy's eastern flank and established a bridgehead through the main obstacles and minefields of Maret's position; this bridgehead is being extended and its victories being exploited.The enemy obviously intends to hold on to the fight, and I am preparing for a hard fight in the Maret area, which may last for several days. The actions of the New Zealand Army in Gabes Bay will have a decisive impact on the war.

Just before midnight, XXX Corps launched a major offensive along the coast of the Maret Line.The 50th Division crossed Wadi Zizo and gained a foothold.The obstacle at Vadi Zizo was indeed even more serious than expected; despite the tireless efforts of the sappers, neither tanks nor anti-tank guns could get over it.The division held its position throughout the next day, but on the 22nd a heavy counterattack by the German 15th Panzer Division and German infantry forced them to retreat.They withdrew to the opposite side of Wadi Zizo that night. After the frontal attack failed, Montgomery quickly changed his plan.He assigned the divisions facing the Maret line the task of containing the enemy, and transferred his main force to the left.The headquarters of the Tenth Army and the 1st Armored Division were ordered to join Freiberg by the same long and difficult road to the Passage; a path. The problem of breaking through the channel to Hama was tricky, although Freiberg was given a strong boost.The enemy, aware of the danger, reinforced this wing with parts of the German 164th Infantry Brigade and the 15th Panzer Division.Only by giving a heavy blow can it pass by force.At this time, the Western Desert Air Force, which had given reliable support to the Eighth Army in various campaigns, made another noble effort.Thirty air squadrons, including eight American squadrons, had carried out a series of heavy bombardments against the defenses of the pass.By the afternoon of March 26, it was at its peak, with two and a half hours of constant raids by bombers and low-flying fighters alternating.With this attack and strong artillery support, the New Zealanders and the 8th Armored Brigade broke through the enemy lines.Immediately afterwards, the 1st Armored Division overtook them at moonrise; by dawn, they were nearly at Hama.With the New Zealanders and this armored division in front and back, the enemy fought desperately, but in vain. Their losses took them out of combat; seven thousand were taken prisoner.This is how the final victory was achieved, during which not only the quality of the troops but also the tactics of the commanders were distinguished. general montgomery to prime minister March 28, 1943 After seven days of continuous fierce fighting, the Eighth Army has inflicted heavy losses on the enemy.Enemy resistance is collapsing south of the Hama to Gabes Gulf front.My troops have captured the entire Maret Line. Seeing that the retreat was in danger of being cut off, the Italian General Metz, who commanded this line, withdrew hastily and set up another line of defense ten miles north of Gabes near Wadi Akalit. and a narrow road between it and its western marshes.The Eighth Army advanced on the enemy, but some notable events occurred in the north before the offensive was ready.At the end of March, the British 46th Division in the coastal area had begun to advance. After several days of fighting, it regained all the previously lost territory. East of Beja, the British 4th Division and the 78th Division also attacked successfully. .Within a fortnight all positions north of Mejaz were largely restored, advancing as far as the lines previously held when the retreat began under German attack.On March 31, the U.S. Second Army resumed its advance along the road from Gafsha to Gabes Bay, threatening the rear of the enemy forces in Wadi Akalit.Their breakthrough was unsuccessful, but the operation achieved an important result, which was to induce the German 21st Panzer Division to reinforce his 10th Division.In this way, when they were attacking Wadi Akalit, the two divisions were completely entangled by the Americans.At the same time, the tactical air force carried out a series of attacks on the landing fields of the enemy air force.These attacks were extremely successful, and it can be said that the enemy's air force was finally driven out of Tunisia. On April 5, General Alexander submitted his detailed plan to General Eisenhower.By April 6, the Eighth Army was again preparing for a new offensive.Wadi Akalit itself was a huge obstacle, and there were mountains in the north watching it condescendingly. Therefore, the entire front formed a natural and strong defensive position.Montgomery made use of artillery in his own way.Before dawn, the British 51st and 50th Divisions and the 4th Indian Division, supported by intensive artillery fire, launched an attack in spite of fierce resistance.The enemy also launched a resolute counterattack, so the battle was not won until evening. general montgomery to prime minister April 6, 1943 Early this morning, I launched a heavy attack on the enemy's position in Wadi Akalit.I did two things I had never done before, this time I attacked the center of the enemy's position, and I did it in the dark of the moonless night.The attack was made with about three infantry divisions, supported by four hundred and fifty guns; the enemy was surprised and bewildered.All targets are occupied. Through the breach I have thus opened, I am sending the Tenth Corps, including the New Zealand Division and an armored division; as I write to you, this movement has just begun.After only six hours of fighting, it is estimated that the number of prisoners has reached 2,000, and there will be more and more prisoners. I shall strive to immobilize the enemy in this area, and to take heavy losses, so that they will be reduced in both force and supplies while they fight in the rear positions.A fierce battle is going on, and when the enemy has calmed down from surprise, they may fight to the death.But they could fight no further on the Wadi Akalit position, because I had driven deep into the center of the position and captured all the important positions. My armies marched in huge formations and fought well. After I finish the battle here, I will push north. The next day the enemy was pursued again on these two roads to the north, and all available British and American aircraft punished the retreating enemy columns.On April 7, a patrol of the 4th Indian Division encountered a patrol of the U.S. Second Army.The American said hello: Hello!Lin Mi, [1] Although I didn't understand this sentence, it was accepted very affectionately.The two armies, which had come from a distance of nearly two thousand miles, were now finally joined.On the same day, in order to cut off the enemy's retreat to the north, the British Ninth Corps, together with the British 6th Armored Division, a brigade of the 46th Division and the 34th US Infantry Division attempted to rush through the Fonduq Pass.Pichon was taken, but the Panzer Division did not pass through the lines until the 9th, and entered Kairouan on the 11th, after a successful battle with the German 10th and 21st Panzer Divisions.Although the daring actions of our 6th Armored Division undoubtedly accelerated the schedule of the enemy's retreat, the retreat of the enemy's forces in front of the 8th Army was still carried out skillfully.Now, since Tripoli was three hundred miles to the rear, Sfax was important because of its port facilities; it was taken on April 10, and Susa two days later.On April 13th we made contact with the enemy in their last positions in the mountains north of Enfidaville.This tentative first attack proved that their defense was solid. [1] This is the popular name for British sailors in the U.S. Navy, and it is derived from the old use of lemon juice to prevent scurvy on British warships. (Linmi has the same root as lemon juice. Translator) We had captured the forward airfield; General Eisenhower was able to strengthen the sea and air blockade of Tunisia.As our naval blockade strengthened, the enemy also made greater use of their air transport; convoys of transport planes, escorted by fighter jets, came every day.Our fighter jets, British and American, made these alluring targets their main mission.On April 10 and 11, seventy-one transport planes are said to have been destroyed.On the 18th, a large convoy of more than 100 aircraft was confronted by our Spitfires and four squadrons of American Warhawks outside Cape Bonn.The transport fleet fled in a hurry; more than fifty were shot down.The next day, South African Kitty Hawks destroyed fifteen of the eighteen enemy planes; finally, on April 22, another thirty were shot down; Many of them were loaded with gasoline and fell into the sea with a raging fire.This effectively ended Hitler's wishful thinking, as Germany could no longer supply aircraft.Transport planes no longer dare to fly in daylight.Yet these transport aircraft achieved a great deal.In the four months from December to March, 40,000 people and 14,000 tons of supplies were shipped to Africa. After recognizing the strength of the Enfidaville position, Alexander decided that the main attack on Tunisia must start from the west.The U.S. Second Army, which had escaped from the southern front, was transferred here in the first half of April, thus replacing the British Fifth Army in the area from Beja to the sea.The British 1st Armored Division has been transferred from the Eighth Army to the First Army.But the Eighth Army was still tasked with containing the enemy's defenses on the Enfidaville front; preparations for the main sortie were complete, and on the night of April 19, with strong artillery and air support, it was able to attack with three divisions. The troops aggressively attacked.During the two days of fierce fighting, it has made considerable progress, but it has gradually realized that to make further progress in this direction, it can only pay the price of heavy casualties. The main offensive of the First Army began on April 22.On the right, south of Gobera, IX Corps advanced with the 46th Infantry Division, 1st and 6th Armored Divisions; to the north the 5th Corps, 1st, 4th and 78th division, they crossed the Mejerda River and advanced towards Masikaut.Five days' hard fighting had not broken the enemy's resistance, but had inflicted heavy losses on them, and captured important positions which proved valuable a week later.To the south of the British area of ​​operations, the French XIX Corps occupied Mount Fauquiline; To the north, the U.S. Second Army launched another offensive on the 23rd, advancing steadily toward Martel. Despite the practical difficulties of the terrain, the Americans maintained uninterrupted pressure, forcing the Germans back. General Alexander to Prime Minister April 30, 1943 Today I had a long talk with Montgomery, and it was agreed that, because of the difficulty of the terrain, and the concentration of the enemy's artillery on the coast against the Eighth Army, his advance on Buffysia The plan would be costly in casualties, and victory was not yet assured.I therefore canceled his large-scale plan for the active operations of the Eighth Army on the ground, the main purpose of which was to prevent the enemy from moving troops from their side of the front to the front of the First Army.The 4th Indian Division, the 7th Armored Division and the 201st Guards Brigade are about to leave for the First Army tonight.The Fifth Army may make a surprise attack on the Mejaz-Tunisian axis on 4 May, with all available air and artillery.The Ninth Army, together with two or three armored divisions, was going to overtake the Fifth Army and rush towards Tunisia.I am full of hope for this attack, which will achieve decisive results. The last two days have been a period of continuous counterattacks by the enemy on the front lines of the Fourth Division and the First Division, as well as the front lines of the US Second Army.On the front lines of the Fifth Army, the fighting was particularly ferocious and intense.Some areas have changed hands several times.The 1st and 4th Divisions fought well, and our positions were generally intact.The enemy suffered heavy losses.The enemy used tanks in numerous counter-offensives, and of their Type 6 tanks, about seven were destroyed. The following is an example of persuading the enemy to resist desperately: As soon as fifty men in Hermann Göring's division surrendered, one man came out to persuade everyone, and all took up arms again and went into battle until they were all killed. General Crocker was wounded, so Horrocks took over as commander of Ninth Corps, and Freiberg took over as commander of Tenth Corps. Prime Minister to Marshal Stalin May 3, 1943 The fighting in the tip of Tunisia is still going on with high tension, and the casualties on both sides are quite serious.We have taken 40,000 prisoners since entering Tunisia; in addition, the enemy has suffered 35,000 casualties.Casualties for the First Army were about 23,000, and for the Eighth Army about 10,000.Allied casualties totaled about 50,000, two-thirds of them British.The fighting on all fronts will continue with extreme tension, and General Alexander is reorganizing his army for the heavy advance ahead.On the enemy side, nearly 200,000 people were surrounded.They are still coming in with reinforcements, but in the last few days our increasingly powerful and approaching air forces have made successful interceptions.All traffic was temporarily suspended as many destroyers and transports, including several carrying German reinforcements, had been sunk.Unless the enemy can restore traffic immediately, their supply situation will be critical.Not only that, but it is also unlikely that they intend to remove any number of troops from the sea.The country is hilly, with many craggy peaks overlooking patches of plain, each a fortress, a feature which aids the enemy's defense and hinders our progress.However, I hope to bring you good news before the end of the month.At the same time, the entire campaign was extremely costly for the enemy, because additional losses along the way were added. It can be clearly seen that the enemy army needs to take another heavy blow before it can collapse.The last sortie of the Eighth Army on April 24 proved that Enfidaville's position was too strong to be conquered without serious losses.As we have seen, General Alexander had transferred to First Army three well-trained divisions from Eighth Army, all of which had fought in the desert from the beginning.On May 6, the final offensive had begun.The Ninth Army carried out its main attack on the narrow front flanking the Mejaz-Tunis road.After the leading infantry divisions, the 4th British Division and the 4th Indian Division, came the 6th and 7th Armored Divisions.On their left, Fifth Corps covered the flank of the advancing column.The Allied Air Forces made another excellent effort, making 2,500 sorties in one day. For weeks the Axis air force had been gradually routed, and in the face of this crisis only sixty sorties could be launched in retaliation.The climax of the battle is at hand.A complete and ruthless blockade has been established both at sea and in the air.The enemy's activities at sea have ceased, and the efforts of the air force have ended.Now to quote a passage from the German report: The British and American Air Forces played a decisive role in the enemy's victory in combat, leading to the destruction of the German and Italian bridgeheads in Tunisia.They are engaged in ground combat to an unprecedented degree. The Ninth Army made a clean breakthrough on the enemy's front.Two armored divisions crossed the infantry positions and reached Massycourt on the way to Tunisia.The next day, May 7, they continued their advance; the 7th Armored Division had already advanced into Tunisia, and then turned north to join the American forces.At this time, the resistance encountered by the American front line had also been destroyed, and their 9th Infantry Division had reached Bizerte.In this way, three German divisions fell into the Allied siege and finally surrendered on May 9. General Alexander to Prime Minister May 8, 1943 Things were going even better than I had hoped.I have adapted it to leave Bizerte to the Americans to defend themselves, and as you know, they entered Bizerte at the same time that the First Army took Tunisia. I have sent a French regiment to Tunisia to take up the defense and hoist the tricolor.We used a tactic to trick the enemy into thinking the attack was coming from the south, and it was successful because they had moved most of the tanks and 88mm guns opposite the British 1st Armored Division, thus Weakened the line of defense opposite the Ninth Army.The Ninth Army, backed by the full strength of the air force, made a massive attack with a large number of weapons and armor; it was indeed a bolt from the blue.As a result, the Ninth Army reached the city of Tunis and advanced thirty miles in thirty-six hours. The Axis front has completely crumbled.We still have to mop up the small scattered Germans, but as of today there are about 20,000 prisoners, plus lots of guns, trucks, and munitions.Our losses in soldiers and tanks were light.Casualties of the First Army amounted to around 1,200. Coningham and I have just returned from the town of Tunis, where we were warmly received by the inhabitants.We were later on the Ninth Corps front when the 26th Armored Brigade was attacking Harman Leaf.The 1st Guards Brigade is clearing some high ground south of the site.The British 1st Armored Division had reached the road.French tank units were fighting on the bare west. Now our main purpose is to cut off the enemy as much as possible so that they cannot occupy the Bangjiao Peninsula.The Royal Air Force fought very well, and the morale of the army was high. The 6th Armored Division, followed by the British 4th Division, together with the 1st Armored Division on the right, had advanced eastward, through Tunisia, and farther afield.A few miles to the east of the city, on a defile near the coast, they were stopped by hastily formed resistance; but their tanks charged through on the evening of 10 May and reached Hammamet on the east bank.Behind them, the 4th Division swept across the Bang Cape peninsula without any resistance.The remnants of the enemy have been wiped out in one sweep in the south. General Alexander to Prime Minister May 10, 1943 Coningham and I have just returned from our car and plane tour of the area between Bizerte and Tunisia; where the ground is littered with enemy vehicles, guns and equipment of all kinds, some discarded, many destroyed. Understand.Counting the number of people in the place of detention, the number of prisoners has reached 50,000, and they are still coming in a steady stream.So far, nine German generals have been captured.The vanguard of the First Army arrived at Grombalia at 6:00 p.m. today.With luck, all the Axis troops opposite Eighth Army would surrender. Prime Minister to General Alexander May 10, 1943 Throughout a series of campaigns that ended with the destruction of German and Italian forces in Africa, the job of command has been on your shoulders.During the past six months, in this endless battle and march from Alamein to Tunis, you and your illustrious second-in-command, Montgomery, have added a glorious page to the annals of the Commonwealth and Empire. Your cooperation in the last great battle will be regarded by history as a model of military art.Not only that, but you also know how to inspire your soldiers with the confidence and enthusiasm that will enable them to overcome all difficulties and endure hardships.They and the trusted American and French allied soldiers and airmen can now be told with what admiration and gratitude the entire British people and the entire British Empire regard them and their remarkable deeds.The fierce armed struggle of the British First and Eighth Armies has been won.Glory to all officers and men. General Alexander to Prime Minister May 11, 1943 I predict that within forty-eight hours, all organized resistance will disintegrate, and it will take two to three days to finally wipe out all the armed forces of the Axis powers.As of today, I estimate the number of captives to be over 100,000, but this has not been confirmed, and they are still coming.Yesterday, I saw the Germans themselves driving a chariot and transporting many Germans to the prison camps.We couldn't help laughing as they passed, and they laughed too.The whole thing was like a horse racing festival.A huge assortment of gear that will take time to take stock; some have been damaged, but many are still intact. Except for a handful of people on the plane, not one escaped. We recaptured two thousand of our captives, including the wounded.Everything is satisfactory, which bodes well for the future. Prime Minister to General Eisenhower (in Algiers) May 11, 1943 Allow me to add my own heartfelt congratulations to those of His Majesty and the War Cabinet on the excellent success of the North African campaign by the troops under your wise command. Your comradeship and leadership in maintaining the troops that fought in Tunisia in that fierce and long campaign, and the thorough understanding and coordination with each other in this thrilling engagement between the British, American and French allies, Both proved to be solid foundations for victory. The simultaneous entry of British and American troops into Tunisia and Bizerte, hand in hand, heralds a promising future for the world.May they march together for eternity against the tyrants and oppressors of mankind. General Eisenhower to Prime Minister May 11, 1943 I wrote to you yesterday to express my deep gratitude for your unwavering trust and support for me and this allied army.Today, I received your heartwarming telegram.Unfortunately, there are no words to express my pleasure.I can only say thank you and assure you that this army will never stop fighting until Hitlerism is wiped from the face of the earth. Prime Minister to General Giraud (in Algiers) May 12, 1943 We all rejoiced at seeing a succession of French divisions advance triumphantly in front of our common enemy and bring thousands of German prisoners to the rear.Please accept my most heartfelt congratulations, for the French army under your command, despite its disadvantages in equipment, has shown fighting spirit, fortitude in defense and aggressiveness in attack.Best wishes. Admiral Cunningham had prepared for the final Axis downfall and on May 7 ordered all available navies to patrol the Channel in case the Axis attempted to repeat the Dunkirk-style retreat .The correct code name for this battle plan is Retaliation.On the 8th, he issued a signal: sink, burn, destroy, and no ships are allowed to pass.Only a few small boats attempted to escape, but almost all were captured or sunk.Destroyers and coastal defense ships, along with the RAF, worked relentlessly day and night.In all, 879 surrendered to the navy; of those who escaped, 653 are known, most of them by air at night.Our casualties were insignificant. It was not until my visit to Algiers a month later that I could give a fair judgment of the part played by the various branches of the navy in this victory. Prime Minister to Admiral Cunningham 11th June 1943 Forty-seven ships were sunk by our submarines, and forty-two by our surface ships, totaling 268,600 tons. Including the results of the air force, there are a total of 137 ships and 433,400 tons. This amounts to thirty-two percent of the estimated total number of Axis ships at the start of the Tunisian campaign. During the long struggle on the Continent, the Navy and Air Force, in close cooperation, sank a total of twenty-one destroyers or torpedo boats and many smaller craft, and made thirty-five per cent of the enemy's supply ships and transport ships. Cannot reach Tunisia. Minesweepers won the honor of reopening the Mediterranean Sea for having cleared 600 miles of straits between May 9 and 21. The escort work of our transport fleet has reached the highest level.Between November 8, 1942 and May 8, 1943, we lost less than 2.25 percent of the large number of ships that entered the Mediterranean Sea. The first convoy since 1941 to sail the entire length of the Mediterranean departed from Gibraltar on May 17, 1943, and arrived in Alexandria on May 26 without loss. port.After opening this route, the voyage has been shortened by almost 9,000 miles, which means that the voyage time of general material transport ships can be saved by about forty-five days. On May 12, I received the following telegram. General Alexander to Prime Minister May 12, 1943 The end is near.Von Arnim had been captured, and it seemed that the number of prisoners must exceed 150,000.All organized resistance has disintegrated, and only isolated small groups of enemies are still persisting.We seized, it seems, more than a thousand pieces of artillery, of which one hundred and eighty were 88-mm guns, as well as two hundred and fifty tanks and thousands of vehicles of various kinds, many of which were in good condition. use.During the whole day today, the German prisoners who came in their own vehicles formed a dense column on the road from Grombalia to Mejaz el Bab. I hope that the next telegram stating the official end of the campaign will be sent in a few hours. On that day, the Sixth Armored Division joined forces with the Eighth Army.包圍圈已經合龍。敵人放下了武器。用亞歷山大來電的話來說： 看見一長列德國人，駕駛著自己的交通工具或徵用的馬車西去尋找戰俘營，真是驚人的奇觀。 五月十三日下午兩點一刻，他通知我： Your Mightiness: 我有責任向你報告，突尼斯戰役已經結束。敵人的一切抵抗已經終止。我們已是北非沿岸的主人了。 任何人對突尼斯勝利的重要性都不能置疑。它和斯大林格勒不相上下。俘獲的戰俘將近二十五萬人。敵人在人力上遭受了沉重的損失。他們的供應船，有三分之一被擊沉。非洲的敵人已被清除。一個大陸得到了解救。自從大戰以來，倫敦初次出現了真正精神振奮的局面。議會以關注和熱情接待了各大臣，並以最熱烈的辭句，向各指揮官表示了它的感激。 我已命令各教堂一致鳴鐘。可惜我沒有聽到它們的音響，因為我在大西洋彼岸還有更重要的工作。 當我接到國王下面這封親切的來電時，我已經到達白宮了： 一九四三年五月十三日 現在非洲戰役已經光榮地結束，我願意向你表示，我深深體會到這次戰役起初的設想和成功的執行，主要有賴於你的遠見和最初臨難而不畏的毅力。這次非洲戰役使我國，事實上使一切同盟國，再一次蒙受了你的無邊恩惠。 國王喬治