173- Guadalcanal Life Expectancy: 30 Days- WW2 - December 18, 1942

So José does or doesn’t want to break out?

What?

The horses?

What about them?

There are 25,000 of them… and they pull all the heavy weapons and supplies…

I see… so Jose doesn’t wanna just walk out of the city with nothing.

Huh.

The Soviets recently turned the tables on the Axis, encircling an entire German army

at Stalingrad.

Well, you can imagine what comes next, a major offensive to try and relieve that army, and

it begins this week- Operation Winter Storm.

I’m Indy Neidell; this is World War Two.

Last week, the Soviets were attacking the Axis all over the Eastern Front, up at Velikie

Luki, in Operation Mars against Rzhev, against the Stalingrad Pocket, and along the River

Chir.

The Japanese had major supply problems at Guadalcanal, and the Allies were stopped for

the time being in Tunisia, though they are in a hurry to take Tunis before the winter

rains begin.

They are advancing from the east in North Africa this week, though.

On the 12th, the British 8th army captures Mersa Brega.

That day, Axis Commander Erwin Rommel begins to abandon his El Agheila position for a retreat

to Tripoli; The Mareth Line in southern Tunisia will be his final stand.

The 14th, El Agheila is attacked by the 7th armored division while the New Zealanders

try a flanking maneuver.

Because of their success in the enemy rear two days later, the El Agheila forces split

into small groups to get away.

The 17th, Rommel leaves a rearguard to cover his forces while they consolidate at Buerat.

But on the other end of the front in Tunisia, there is a lull this week as both sides recuperate

from the recent fighting.

Of course, there is plenty of shelling, and by now the German guns have ruined Medjez,

but here’s the thing- the Allies really want to reach Tunis before the rains come

and render the land unsuitable for any kind of fighting.

Okay, there are some 180,000 American troops in North Africa by this point but just 12,000

of them in Tunisia.

There are also 20,000 British, and maybe 30,000 French, but they are really poorly equipped.

The Germans and the Italians have 56,000 troops there by now which is roughly equal-ish, and

160 tanks, but as we’ve seen they also have aerial superiority and good terrain for defense.

“From the Mediterranean Coast 20 miles west of Bizerta, the line extended just east of

Medjez el Bab and then down the entire length of Tunisia.