EL GUETTAR, March 1943:
Following the success of the opening battles of Operation WOP, 
the US II Corp prepared for the inevitable counter attack of Rommel's Afrika 
Korp. Although Rommel was out of North Africa when the battle took place, 
his plan was to attack the Americans at El Guettar and drive toward the II 
Corp Headquarters at Gafsa. The Desert Fox was committed to a major attack. 
The 10th Panzer would be his weapon. Early warnings, including those by the 
successful probing attacks of the French Foreign Legion, allowed Patton time 
to deploy for the defense. Arranging the tanks of the 1st Armored Division 
and anti-tank guns of the 701st Tank Destroyer Battalion in an inverted horse 
shoe, Patton waited for Rommel's set piece attack. Disdainful of American 
troops and equipment, the men of 10th Panzer moved forward in open formation 
expecting a repeat of the battle at Kasserine. Can the Americans hold or will 
the Germans perform a devastating Kasserine Two? -- John Welch
