Campaign CHARLES MESSENGER Mary historians have regarded Tunisia 0s litle ‘more than tai-pece tothe desart war, but in many ways it overshadowed the fighting in Egypt ‘and. Libya. It was the. first major ‘amphibious operation planned and executed by the Allies, and the lessons learnt, along with those from the disaster at Dieppe, would stand them in good stead over the next two years during their assaults on ‘Festung Europa In ‘Tunisia the Ales learnt to co-operate with one another onthe field of battle and the combined command. structure which resulted. would Successfully pursue the war Ultimate victory. The campaign also blooded the Americans in the European theatre, gave the French back their self-respect and got the Brtsh out oftheir desert mentality in time for the close-country. fighting _ which would characterise the war in Italy, France, the Low ‘Countries and Germary. For the Axis the results of the campaign wore. disastrous. The loss of Italy's. only worthwhile army would soon force her out of the war; Germany would never be able to replace those hardened veterans of the Afrika Korps: andthe loss of equipment, notably tanks ond anspor sircraft. would have its effec, especialy on the Eastern Front Indeed, on hearing ofthe fll of Tunis Goebbels wrote in his diary: "Our losses there are enoemous. ‘We are indeed experiencing @ sort of second Stalingrad ‘Charles Messenger, author of The Art of Brtzrieg ond 8 respected miltary historian has produced a considered analysis of the Tunisian Campaign detaling the bates, the nits involved, the lessons learnt and tho effect ‘the campaign had on the course of the wor. It ‘makes fascinating reading for enthusiast and Historian alike Printed by lan Allon Printing LedTuintstem Cainpargin