Firestorm Tunisia: Turn 2 update

By Scott Grasse, Kevin Morris, and Tom Burgess

—FLASH —

AXIS OFFENSIVE THREATENS ALLIED HOLD IN TUNISIA – ALLIES FAIL TO BREAK MARETH DEFENSES
Press release – March 1943

Axis forces, led by Commanding General Kevin “Partyshirt” Morrisolini, continue to advance decisively along the Allied lines in northern Tunisia and now threaten airfields and supply lines. Allied defenses at Le Kef and Sbeitla are driven to the Algerian Border, but Kasserine Pass is tenuously held, protecting Tebessa and giving the Allies a critical stop along the Axis left flank. In the south, Allied Commanding General Tom “Iron Tom” Burgess, has pushed around the Mareth defenses, forcing the Italian army to withdraw to Gabes. With Tunis now in sight the Allies must go on the offensive to exploit the southern gains and push back the Axis advance.

The second half of March will see Allied forces begin a counter-offensive to stem back the Axis advances and begin the push to Tunis. Combined Allied forces are attacking east in an attempt to regain lost grounds at Le Kef and Thala. British decoders have intercepted Axis communications revealing weak points in the Axis defenses that can be exploited. In the south, British Eight Army presses the assault on the now lightly defended Mareth line, and continues the flanking sweep into Gabes defended by the Italian 1st Army. Axis forces launch a spoiling attack at Beja to further expand the Tunis Bridghead. Rommel continues to lead 10th Pz and 21st Pz in a second attempt to take Kasserine Pass, this time from the east and north, and open the doorway to Tebessa.

INTERCEPTED DISPATCH FROM AXIS COMMANDER TO ALL AXIS TROOPS, NORTH AFRICA

April 1943.

General Messe with some assistance from our allies in Panzer Army Africa has decimated our enemies at Le Kef, Mareth and Sbeitla. The slightest of effort was needed to broadly sweep the enemy from the field of battle. American and British tank divisions offer no real resistance in the west. I fully expect my next dispatch will be while at luncheon in Casablanca.

This month’s very special field commendation, the Cannelloni Cross, has been awarded to Commander Daump! His Italian 88’s spectacularly decimated enemy Churchills before retiring from the field in good order.

Admittedly, Vainglorious Montgomery has had some minor success in the Tebaga Gap. Our forces have easily redeployed to strong defensive positions around Gabes.

My orders: Attack! The Allies are on their heels. They have nowhere to run!

Italians! Once more arise and be worthy of this historical hour!

We shall win.

Kevin “Partyshirt” Morrisolini

Supreme Allied Headquarters, Gibraltar, Orders of the Day, April 1943

Our hope of reaching Tunis before the summer is in jeopardy. The 1st Army in the north has been pushed back but is now attacking on a more concentrated front. It faces the bulk of the German and Italian forces and must keep axis forces tied down if it is not able to push on towards Tunis.

In the south, the 8th Army is making progress, but much more slowly than expected. This is the only area where we have been able to achieve any success. The hero of the day is “Panzergrau” whose Valentine tanks were able to overrun German infantry at Tebega Gap before reinforcing Tigers and Panzer III’s could arrive. This gave the allies our only victory in the latest phase of the operation. We need more leaders like “Panzergrau” pushing their forces unrelentingly against axis forces. The 8th Army needs to breakthrough and race up the coast to cut off axis forces opposing the 1st Army.

This is the time for an all-out effort. If we cannot make serious headway over the next phase of the operation the following invasion of Italy may have to be postponed. This headquarters expects all forces to fight to their utmost for either King and Country or for Uncle Sam.

General Iron_Tom

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