Summary: Film about the Tunisian campaign, concentrating on the British forces involved.
Description: Allied objectives were: (1) maintain existing bases; (2) assist Russia by attacks in the West. Strategic importance of North Africa - a springboard into Europe. Complexity and scope of preparations for the expedition. Bombing of Italian supply bases. Convoys and landings. The film contains a comparatively detailed account of the ensuing campaign. Thematic elements include - (1) The superior fighting qualities of British soldiers, "Throughout the war our men had held the initiative in patrols and fighting at night." (2) Superior Allied strategy and generalship - the German was outwitted. Allied advances surpass the German blitzkrieg. Failed Allied offensives are usually described as attritive attacks producing long-term strategic benefits. (3) Integration of Allied land and air commands. (4) Importance of forward air bases and role of air power. Extinction of the Luftwaffe enables British armour to move freely - parading as if on Piccadilly. (5) Role of RE in building new roads, etc. (6) Scale of the final German defeat. Unconditional surrender. No naval evacuation - no "last glorious episode lightened the hour of their defeat". Some Germans have lost the will to fight. (7) Allies as liberators welcomed by the French and native populations. Decent life begins again. Africa freed, Europe that much nearer freedom.
Production Details: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor)
Crown Film Unit (Production company)
Army Film and Photographic Unit (Production company)
RAF Film Production Unit (Production company)
Dalrymple, Ian Murray1903-08-261989-03-28 (Production individual)
Boulting, Roy1913-11-212001-11-05British film producer-director (Production individual)
Alwyn, William (Production individual)
Hodson, J L (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Alexander, Harold (1st Earl Alexander of Tunis) (person)
Anderson, Kenneth Arthur Noel (person)
Arnim, Jurgen von (person)
Barré, Georges (person)
Doolittle, James Harold (person)
Giraud, Henri H (person)
Kesselring, Albert (person)
Messe, Giovanni (person)
Spaatz, Carl Andrew (person)
Tedder, Arthur William (person)
Welsh, William (person)
British Army (regiment/service)
German Army, Hermann Goering Div (regiment/service)
Keywords: aircraft, British - combat: Hawker Hurricane Mk IID (object name)
aircraft, German - combat: Messerschmitt Me 410 Hornisse (object name)
aircraft, United States - combat: Grumman F4F Wildcat II & [British] (object name)
aircraft, United States - seaplane: Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina (object name)
armour, British - SPG: Bishop (object name)
armour, British - tank: Crusader Mk VI (object name)
armour, British - tank: Valentine Mk III (object name)
armour, German - SPG: Sdkfz 231 (object name)
armour, German - SPG: StuG III (object name)
armour, German - tank: Pzkpfw III (object name)
armour, German - tank: Pzkpfw IV (object name)
armour, United States - tank: M5 Stuart (object name)
armour, United States - SPG: M7 Priest (object name)
combat, British (object name)
destruction, Algerian military - area: bombardment (object name)
operations, British military - maintenance: armour (object name)
ships, British naval - light forces: MTB & [shipment] (object name)
strategy, Allied: Tunisia (object name)
weapons, German - gun: 15cm FH 18/7 (object name)
Algeria & Algiers (geography)
Tunisia (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 8
Footage: 6089 ft; Running time: 68 mins
