An Army at Dawn

The Battle of Kasserine Pass serves as something of a reset, returning battle lines roughly to the same position as before Germany's Valentine's Day offensive. Hoping to avoid some of the grievous errors of the past two weeks, Eisenhower shakes up personnel dramatically. He fires Fredendall as II Corps commander and replaces him with Patton, called in from Casablanca. Patton also brings along his deputy, Bradley. Other heads roll, and Alexander even considers axing Anderson but changes his mind.

For Patton's part, he is thrilled to finally get in on the fight. Less thrilled are Patton's subordinates, many of whom bristle at the general's draconian and borderline-tyrannical enforcement of obscure military guidelines surrounding dress and tire pressure. Atkinson writes, "Determined and energetic, [Patton] could also be boorish and abusive, incapable of distinguishing between the demands of a disciplinarian and the caprices of a bully" (402). On one occasion, Patton evaluates General Terry Allen's foxhole and, deeming it insufficient, urinates in it. Morale does improve, Atkinson argues, though it may be in spite of Patton not because of him.

Anchoring the center of the British line is the village of Sidi Nsir, the target of the next German offensive codenamed OCHSENKOPF. Rommel hates the plan and is barely consulted on it, even though he now commands Arnim.