German Lines, Tunisia 1942

[Ben...]

Hi

I am asking for help, does anyone have a map showing where the German lines were, on or around the 29th December 1942.
If you dont have a map but have a description including place names that would be great.
Any help would be great even if it is only pointing me in the direction of where i might find the information.

Thanks

Ben

[Christer Bergström]

This is from Lagebericht OKH ("Kriegstagebuch des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht", vol. 4, p. 1205) 29 dec 1942:

"Tunesien: Voerschieben der HKL in beabsichtigte Linie nordwestl. Dj. el Hamera verläuft planmässig.
Feindl. Störungsfeuer aus Medjez es Bab auf Stellungen beiderseits des Medjerda. Einige feindl. Panzer 6 km südl. Medjez el Bab.
Höhengelände 8 km ostwärts und südostw. wieder feindbesetzt. Eign. Gegenangriff von Norden gegen Feindgruppe nordnordostwestl. Dj. Schirik noch im Gange. ...
Bei Pichon wurden durch Pz.-Spähwagen unterstützte feindl- Vorstösse abgewiesen."

This from Lagebericht OKH ("Kriegstagebuch des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht", vol. 4, p. 1209) 30 dec 1942:

" ... Im Mittelabschnitt wurden die Gefechtsvorposten vorgeschoben auf die Linie Wegespinne 12 km nordostw. Medjez el Bab - el Hangera - Strassenkreuzung 6 km ostw. Goubellat bis Südspitze Garet el Thibica. ...
eign. Pz.-Angriff von Norden westl. des Dj. Fkirine gegen eine nördl. Fkirine vorgegangene Kampftruppe ...
Südl. Dj. el HAlfa dortiges ital. Btl. vos starkem Feind nack Osten zurück. ...
6 km südostw. Pichon wurden eign. Stellungen bis nach Strasse Fondouk vorgeschoben.
Gegen Gafsa eign. Sicherungen nack Senid (40 km ostw. Gafsa) und Enge nordostw. Dj. Erda vorgeschoben."

Hope this helps.

[Ben...]

Thank you very much, my German is not good so i will have to babelfish a translation.
If anyone could help with a "human" translation that would be fantastic, again thanks for the help.

Ben

[Klaus Schiffler]

Here is my translation:

Situation Report: 29 Dec. 1942
Tunisia: The Main Battle Line is being pushed forward according to plan NW of Djebel el Hamera. Interdictive fire (artillery) from Medjez el Bab onto positions on both sides of Medjerda. A few enemy tanks 6 km. south of Medjez el Bab.
Elevated terrain 8 km east and SE in possession of enemy again. Our own counter-attack from the north against enemy group NNW Djebel Schirik is still in progress.
Near Pichon armored recon vehicles turned back supported enemy advances.

Situation Report: 30 Dec. 1942
In the central sector the combat outposts were pushed forward along the line Spider Web 12 km north easterly of Medjez el Bab-el Hangera- road crossing 6km easterly of Goubellat to the south point of Garet el Thibica.
Our own armoured attack from the north, west of Djebel Fkirine against an advanced battle group north of Fkirine.
South of Djebel el Halfa the Italian battalion there was forced to the east by a strong enemy.
6 km SE of Pichon our positions were pushed forward to the Fondouk road.
Towards Gafsa our own security measures were pushed forward to Senid (40 km east of Gafsa) and the narrows NE of Djebel Erda.

[Ben...]

Again, thank you, you have been a great help. The knowledge on this board is first class.

Thanks

Ben