Reel 4 of Tunisian Victory (1944) highlights the challenges faced by Allied forces after their rapid advance toward Tunis in late 1942. Despite initial progress, heavy German ground and air resistance forced the Allies to retreat to the mountains, where they dug in for the winter. Scenes depict the grueling conditions, with heavy rains turning forward airfields into mud, roads flooding, and bombers stuck in the sludge. An animated battle map illustrates the new front lines, with Germans occupying the coastal plains while the Allies held the Dorsal Mountains, a key strategic barrier under constant German attack.
The reel captures the harsh realities of winter warfare: Allied wounded transported on stretchers by jeeps and aircraft, British soldiers patrolling in the mud, and supply transport using mules through treacherous terrain. RAF planes engage the Luftwaffe in intense aerial combat, with stunning gun camera footage of British fighters shooting down German aircraft. Meanwhile, Allied bombers strike factories, railroads, and supply depots in Italy, Sardinia, and Sicily, cutting off Axis reinforcements.
As the battle for Tunisia looms, the reel shifts to Allied logistical preparations, showcasing American and British factories ramping up war production, airfields being built with Marsden matting, and roads being constructed to support the offensive. A Christmas 1942 religious service is shown, providing a moment of reflection amid the conflict, with General Montgomery attending a battlefield church service. Flashbacks of children playing in Allied nations serve as a reminder of what is at stake in the fight for victory.
Tunisian Victory (1944) - WWII North Africa Campaign Documentary