TUNISGRAD, NORD AFRIKA 1

A GENERAL PETTYGREE BATTLESTORY

IN TWO CHAPTERS

Date: Spring 1943 
Location: North Africa, Northeast Tunisia Near Bizerte
Situation: Von Recker's Last Stand
Imagineered From History Using What We Have

Tabletop Game Using Home Rules and 28mm Miniatures

Players: Chuck The Lucky and yours truly, Bill P.

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Chapter 1

"On 9 May 1943 all German forces in northern Tunisia surrendered to our French and American allies. From north to south these were the Corps d'Afrique, 9th Infantry, 1st Armored, 1st Infantry and 34th Infantry Divisions. Opposite the 1st Armored was a mixed Wehrmacht force commanded by Colonel Konrad von Recker whom I had met before the war at the Berlin Olympics. He will be here momentarily to give us an understanding of his last stand near the small port of Metline ten miles east southeast of Bizerte."

"I wish these were happier circumstances for all of us Konrad. Would you mind giving my readers an account of your recent action?"

"Ja, desperate times surely and for me this madness is thankfully over."

"By mid-April General Bradley's II American Corps with the forces you mentioned had shifted to northwestern Tunisia to commence operations versus the Fifth Panzer Armee of which I was a small part. After the Allied attack commenced, we held as long as possible but could not withstand the pressure due to low supplies and reduced ammunition. We gradually fell back farther to the east. Frankly, many were looking over their shoulders to be evacuated by sea or air believing the war in Nord Afrika would soon end."

   

April 1943

"My command arrived in Metline using our last fuel reserves. We did manage to save enough to maneuver our armored vehicles for a brief battle if needed though."

"A few cars, trucks, infantry, Marders and one panzer."

"Our orders were to hold as long as possible. If ammunition became exhausted, we would have no choice but to surrender. Better to surrender to the Americans than the Soviets on The Eastern Front. We wondered if rumors about a disaster for the Sixth Army at Stalingrad were true. For us this looked the same. We named our version, Tunisgrad!"

"Then an Americanische reconnaissance plane looked us over."

"Heading for...."

"The insignificant port of Metline. We had been spotted. Necessary defensive measures needed to be taken at once."

"A last stand was possible west of the port on two rises of ground split by the road. The northern hill already occupied by some of our force was topped by an ancient ruin."

"The southern hill was more open but protected by ancient Carthaginian dirt mounds. The Americanische plane surely observed everything."

On April 8, 2021, the American 1st Armored Division vanguard arrived.

CLOSING REMARKS

1. Chapter 1 provides the background for the two chapter short story, Tunisgrad. Chapter 2 will reveal what happened.

2. Half the game was played April 8th. We will resume soon playing to a conclusion.

3. Thank you for looking in. General Pettygree always welcomes your comments and sentiments should you oblige him with your approbation and time.

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