Why Rommel Warned His Generals About Patton After 3 Weeks – They Ignored Him
In mid-February 1943, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel sat in his command post near the Tunisian border, pen in hand, writing a letter to his wife, Lucy. Outside, the Afrika Korps was celebrating a decisive victory at Kasserine Pass, where they had just routed American forces. Inside, however, Rommel’s mind was racing with a mix of triumph and concern. He had just witnessed what he believed to be the American military’s weaknesses, and he was determined to exploit them before they could recover.
The Aftermath of Kasserine Pass
The events at Kasserine Pass had been catastrophic for the Americans. Over six days, they suffered more than 6,000 casualties, entire battalions surrendered, and equipment was left abandoned on the battlefield. Rommel noted with dismay how American units had broken under pressure, retreating without orders and creating chaos among their ranks. He wrote to Lucy that the Americans were soft, poorly trained, and their officers made amateur mistakes that would have led to court-martial in any European army.
Rommel’s assessment of the American forces was harsh but not unfounded. He had observed multiple critical failures: poor positioning of units, a breakdown in radio discipline, and a lack of coordination between infantry and armor. The American Second Corps commander, Major General Lloyd Fredendall, had built his headquarters 70 miles behind the front lines, relying on radio communication without ever seeing the battlefield firsthand. This disconnect would prove disastrous.
Rommel calculated that if Germany launched another offensive within weeks, they could push the Americans into the sea before they learned how to fight properly. He shared this urgent assessment with Berlin, urging them to exploit the American weakness immediately.
The Arrival of Patton
As the situation unfolded, a significant change occurred in American command. On March 6, 1943, Lieutenant General George S. Patton Jr. assumed command of the Second Corps, the same corps that had collapsed at Kasserine Pass. Patton’s arrival marked a pivotal shift in the American approach to warfare. He was not just a general; he was a force of nature, known for his aggressive tactics and unyielding discipline.
Patton rolled into the Second Corps headquarters with a siren-blaring motorcade, wearing his signature ivory-handled revolvers. The atmosphere changed immediately. He didn’t just issue orders; he issued ultimatums. The days of the “soft American” were over. He enforced strict discipline, requiring soldiers to wear ties and regulation helmets in the oppressive desert heat. Officers who arrived without proper uniform faced fines, and soldiers who failed to salute were reprimanded publicly. Patton was determined to instill a sense of professionalism in his troops.
Rommel and his commanders, however, remained skeptical. They believed that no general could fix systemic problems in just three weeks. While Patton might improve morale and enforce better discipline, they were convinced he couldn’t teach an entire corps new doctrine in such a short time.
The German Offensive
As Patton worked to reshape the Second Corps, Rommel’s health was failing. His stomach ailments and exhaustion worsened, but his tactical mind remained sharp. He reviewed the plan for the upcoming offensive at Elgatar, confident that the Americans would fall back into their old defensive habits. He assumed that they would be caught off guard and retreat under pressure, just as they had at Kasserine Pass.
On March 22, 1943, German forces prepared to attack American positions near Elgatar. The order of battle included the 10th Panzer Division, equipped with formidable Mark V tanks, and the experienced Italian Centauro division. German commanders briefed their units on expected American responses, confident that the Americans would defend from fixed positions and retreat when faced with concentrated armor.
Dawn broke on March 23, and the German attack began. Lead elements of the 10th Panzer Division rolled toward American positions held by the First Infantry Division, known as the Big Red One. Everything appeared to be going according to plan—visibility was good, and the terrain was favorable for a breakthrough.
However, as the German tanks advanced, they were met with a level of resistance that took them by surprise. American artillery opened fire—not with ranging shots, but with a coordinated barrage that struck German positions with devastating precision. The sheer volume of American firepower was shocking. German tanks took direct hits, and urgent calls for medical evacuation echoed over the radio.
The Transformation of American Forces
What unfolded next was a transformation that would change the course of the war. The Americans, far from the demoralized force they had been at Kasserine Pass, fought back with a newfound aggression and coordination. They executed fighting withdrawals, moving to prepared secondary positions while inflicting heavy casualties on the advancing Germans.
For the soldiers of the First Infantry Division, Elgatar was not just another battle; it was a chance to redeem themselves after the humiliation of Kasserine. They were no longer running from the enemy; they were standing their ground and fighting back with cold, professional rage. German radio intercepts revealed that the tone of American communications had shifted dramatically. Officers were giving clear tactical orders, and units were coordinating their fire effectively.
As the morning progressed, the German advance began to stall. The Americans were no longer retreating in panic; they were executing tactical maneuvers that preserved unit cohesion and made German advances costly. The Italian Centauro division reported heavy resistance, with American counterfire pinning down their infantry and preventing them from advancing effectively.
By noon, the German forces had penetrated only 3,000 yards into American positions, far less than the breakthrough they had anticipated. The attack was faltering, and German commanders were forced to reassess their strategy. They realized that the Americans had learned from their previous mistakes and adapted their tactics in a way that rendered the German approach ineffective.
The Aftermath
The aftermath of the battle at Elgatar was a stark contrast to the events at Kasserine Pass just weeks earlier. The German offensive had failed, and American forces emerged with a renewed sense of confidence and purpose. Rommel’s predictions about the Americans had been proven wrong; they had transformed from a disorganized, hesitant force into a well-coordinated fighting machine in just three weeks.
In the months that followed, American forces would continue to build on this momentum, achieving significant victories in North Africa and beyond. The lessons learned at Elgatar would shape American military doctrine for the remainder of the war, emphasizing the importance of coordination, aggression, and adaptability in combat.
Rommel, who had once underestimated the Americans, would later acknowledge their rapid improvement. German commanders began to realize that the Americans were not the soft, poorly trained soldiers they had encountered at Kasserine Pass; they were a formidable opponent capable of learning and evolving in the heat of battle.
Conclusion
The clash between Rommel and Patton at Elgatar represents a turning point in World War II, illustrating the profound impact of leadership and adaptability in warfare. The transformation of American forces in just three weeks is a testament to the resilience and determination of soldiers who refused to be defined by past failures. As the war progressed, the lessons learned at Elgatar would resonate throughout the Allied campaign, ultimately contributing to victory in Europe.
In the end, the story of Elgatar serves as a powerful reminder that in the face of adversity, the ability to learn, adapt, and fight back can turn the tide of war. The Americans who stood their ground at Elgatar were not just soldiers; they were pioneers of a new era in military strategy, proving that even the most daunting challenges can be overcome with courage and resolve.
