Battle OF the mareth line

Eighth Army fought one of its last major battles in north Africa Against heavily defended german-italian positions in southern tunisia

The Mareth Line was a system of fortifications built by the French before WWII that aimed to defend Tunisia from Fascist Italy. It was dominated by the Atlas Mountains, and the line ran for 35 kilometres (22 miles) between Wadi Zigzaou and the Matmata Hills.

By March 1943 Rommel had left North Africa and the overall Axis commander was the Italian general Giovanni Messe. A combined German-italian force occupied the Mareth Line, but opposing them was Bernard Montgomery, who declared, “We will not stop or let up until Tunis has been captured.” Eighth Army was the numerically superior force in troops, supplies and, most importantly, tanks, but the battle lasted for over a fortnight between 16-31 March.

Stevenson and Koenig’s own unwitting encounter took place at a crucial engagement at the Tebega Gap. The ‘Gap’ was a low mountain pass in the northwest of the Matmata Hills, and Montgomery ordered the

New Zealand Corps (along with British and French reinforcements) to encircle the Axis forces that were fighting the main Allied assault.

An Allied infantry and armoured assault broke through the Tebega Gap during ‘Operation Supercharge II’, and this success was a key part of the Allied victory at the Mareth Line. Axis casualties were around 7,000 (including 2,500 German prisoners) compared to 4,000 in Eighth Army. Although Axis forces retreated in relatively good order, it was now clear that the North Africa Campaign was ending.

Second Lieutenant Moana-nui-a-kiwa Ngarimu was killed in action on 27 March 1943 during the fighting at the Tebega Gap. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross and became the first Maori to receive the decoration

A British 25-pounder field gun fires at night during an assault on the Mareth Line, 30 March 1943