Rommel’s Defense, British Assaults, and Patton’s Drive in Tunisia
About This Footage
Reel 6 of Tunisian Victory (1944) documents the pivotal Battle of the Mareth Line in March 1943 and the increasing dominance of Allied airpower in North Africa. The film highlights the creation of the Northwest African Coastal Air Force (NACAF), unifying RAF and USAAF operations to deliver concentrated strikes in support of ground and naval forces. Footage shows the British 8th Army storming German fortifications, while New Zealand and Free French units outflank Rommel’s defenses near el-Hamma. Scenes include nighttime artillery fire, infantry scaling Wadi Zig-Zaou, engineers building tank crossings, and anti-tank crews repelling German armor. In the skies, P-38 Lightning fighters intercept Luftwaffe transports over the Mediterranean, with gun camera footage capturing dramatic shootdowns. Meanwhile, General George S. Patton leads U.S. forces forward from el-Guettar, joining British patrols pushing north toward Enfidaville. The reel closes with powerful images of Tunisian civilians returning home, Jewish children removing yellow stars imposed under German rule, and Allied doctors caring for local families—symbols of liberation as Axis forces retreat into their final stronghold.
Part of this Complete Film
Tunisian Victory (1944): Allied Triumph in the North Africa Campaign