Mareth Line

This article is about a system of fortifications in Tunisia during the Tunisian Campaign of North African Campaign of World War II.

Mareth Line was a system of fortifications of 35 km in length, built by France in Tunisia, near the town of Medenine before the Second World War, to guard against a possible invasion of Italy from Libya. It was popularly known as the “Maginot African.”

After the Battle of France, Tunisia was occupied by Axis forces, who used the line to protect the Mareth against British Eighth Army of Bernard Montgomery, who attacked from Libya.

On March 19 of 1943 Montgomery conducted the Operation Pugilist and attacked from the front line, following the river Zigzau. Despite getting to penetrate the line, the 15th Panzer Division destroyed the ledge which was created by British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division of British XXX Corps.

Montgomery then received information that assuring that the line could be flanked by the South as they did. But the Afrika Korps, now under the command of Italian general Giovanni Messe, escaped and retreated to the defensive line Akarit River, next to Gabes, 60 km north.