The Battle of the Peaks and Longstop Hill - The Race to Tunis

The Battle of the Peaks and Longstop Hill - The Race to Tunis
With Ian Mitchell
Part of the Torch to Tunis series on WW2TV
• Torch to Tunis
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The Battle of the Peaks is an often overlooked battle in the hills of northern Tunisia - the fascinating story of a successful British victory in April 1943 largely achieved by the 78th “Battle Axe” Division. In today's show Ian Mitchell will describe how well led British troops wrested control of a series of high peaks, and thus inflicted a clear defeat on troops of the famed Afrika Korps. This in turn secured a victory which soon led to the surrender of 250,000 Axis troops in May 1943.
Ian Mitchell was born and brought up in Yorkshire and earned a BA in History from Lancaster University. He began his working life as a librarian working for the Royal Navy. This experience led him to join the Royal Naval Reserve as an Ordinary Seaman in 1979 before being commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1982. In 1986 Ian transferred to British Army where he served in a range of education and training roles in the UK and Germany. He left the Army as a Major in 1997 to pursue a third career working on major training projects in the defence industry before taking early retirement in 2013.
There is a special discount to buy the book for viewers!!!
The code is TUNIS2023 which will apply a 20% discount on the book Battle of the Peaks which can be ordered from the below link:
www.helion.co....
The code expires on the 31st of July 2023.
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[@davidlavigne207]

This presentation was an excellent analysis and commentary on the 78th Division's operational approach to some very difficult objectives. I never fully realized how many different Djebels had to be captured to prior to securing what was called Longstop Hill, which apparently also consisted of two separate Djebels. It also confirmed what research has concluded-Artillery was the most effective producer of casualties in WW2. It was true in WW1 as well although the Machine gun ran a close second in both wars. I was held in thrall by Ian's many anecdotes that brought the fighting to life.

[@philbosworth3789]

That was very good. Never heard of these actions, and have just been spoilt by Ian who has spent more time on these battles than many so called experts spent on the who campaign in NA. What a great series Woody @WW2TV

[@joeblow9657]

Excellent show. It really brought forth the challenges and importance of the British army's Tunisian campaign. The mountains and hills remind me of the French Army's later campaign in Algeria in the 50s and early 60s.

[@curtiswebb8135]

Excellent. Keep up the great work Paul. Thank you from California.

[@deanmurphy5735]

Excellent episode Woody and Ian. I especially loved the modern photos giving scale to the maps.

[@Splodge542]

I love Tunisia. It was a battle fought by "green" American and British formations. I would not liked to have been there. But it makes me appreciate all the more my grandfathers who were there.

[@jammininthepast]

Thank you Paul and Ian, very informative and well paced presentation. You're appreciated.

[@anselmdanker9519]

Thank you. The only book I have read that cover the Tunisian campaign is by David Rolf.

[@morningstar9233]

Great detail on a battle(s) that's been overlooked despite it's significance. Excellent maps which were in focus, well placed and easy to follow. I knew something of this engagement having read (and loved) Spike Milligan's books. Major Ian Mitchell (retired) does a great service in explaining a complicated situation in plain English. Right to remember and focus on the men who served and died. Thanks WWIITV.

[@Chiller01]

I’ve only recently begun to appreciate the strategic importance of the Tunisia campaign. When it’s discussed it’s most often described as an exercise to introduce the Americans to combat against the Germans/Italians. I’ve always bristled at that concept. The idea that planners would commit resources to a major amphibious operation just to get new military formations shot at without a major militarily significant objective is untenable. I believe Mr Mitchell is correct in that the British PR machine were invested in promoting Montgomery as the sole reason for victory in North Africa. The Americans had an embarrassing moment at Kasserine Pass so they didn’t want to shine a light on the campaign while victories in the Pacific could be emphasized.

[@davidlavigne207]

Thank you for such an insightful viewpoint-one I have never given the thought it deserves. I agree with you in that the Tunisian campaign was colored very much by politics. I never doubted the courage of the British and American soldiers who fought in North Africa, many who gave their all to help make the Allies the "Masters of the North African shores."

[@spidrespidre]

Another fantastic presentation. Thanks to yourself and Ian for making it possible and shedding some light on this important campaign.

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

Tunisia was a significant defeat for the Axis with 300,000 troops taken prisoner, 450 tanks lost,1,000 guns lost, 2,422 air craft destroyed and a further 600 captured.

[@scottgrimwood8868]

What an incredible presentation! The level of detail and the quality of the maps are amazing. Another triumph for WW2TV!

[@gerardjoseph17]

Woody, what a fascinating program to end the week, Ian Mitchell's presentation was especially packed with information and all the maps & photos for those like Myself, even a retired Naval Vet continues to become a more studious learner as I continue being educated in the history of World War2. Looking forward to more from you and your guest Woody! Carry On My friend.

[@willierobertson862]

Excellent presentation, have purchased the book using the link.

[@TheVigilant109]

Excellent presentation by Ian. Great details and illustrations. As my father was in the North Irish Horse this presentation holds a special significance for me. Many thanks

[@markbranigan]

Thanks!

[@WW2TV]

Thank you Mark

[@rocksteel44]

I PURCHASED THE BOOK!!!

[@johnbowman4103]

Has anyone played Vulcan on the ZX Spectrum from 1986? This covered the Tunisia campaign.

[@rocksteel44]

...the WWII GERMAN 334 INFANTRY DIVISION was *NOT* a Mountain Division...it had 3 Infanterie Regiments, one of them was a Gebirgs Jagger Regiment...

[@bananabrooks3836]

Is it 'members only'?

[@philbosworth3789]

No, not members only, and feel free to comment, just sometime it takes a little while for comments to be left. Some folks want to rewatch sections or the whole thing before leaving a comment.

[@bananabrooks3836]

And live chat?

[@WW2TV]

After a show airs and while the processing takes place it takes some time for the live chat to return. By tomorrow they will be back

[@bananabrooks3836]

Where are the comments?

[@Chiller01]

I believe you have to be tuned in at the time of the live feed to make a comment in the live chat. It’s not members only. Anyone tuned in can contribute to the chat. There are some regulars so it is a little intimidating to join in, but for the most part they are pretty supportive. If you go to his channel you can see upcoming episodes and click the notification bell so you can tune in to the live feed. Hope that helps.

[@bananabrooks3836]

@@Chiller01 l couldn't see any live chat or live chat button option on my screen when it was still live. Perhaps it was a glitch, its not normally like that.

[@Chiller01]

@@bananabrooks3836 Sorry about that. I should actually be prevented from giving any tech advice.

[@thegreatdominion949]

Lately the sidebar comments seem to take up to 24 hours to appear on the video after the livestream. It used to be available after a couple of hours. Not sure why this change has occurred in the last few months.

[@WW2TV]

Yes, it's annoying. Processing used to take a couple of hours and I was able to add end-titles and cards etc. Now it's 24 hours. I have asked KZbin why, but had no reply

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

This lecture could have made John Major’s cricket centred obscure political rambling slightly more intelligible.

[@WW2TV]

Guests have different styles. Ian wanted to make sure he covered all the important moments, so he worked from a script. Some guests are more spontaneous, but whatever style is adopted - its the facts that matter

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

@@WW2TV Yes he was very good at it. He did the job _and_ he explained the meaning of the cricket references, _something that John Major never thought of._

[@markrunnalls7215]

Really sensational stuff ,one point I would like to note is the patches of grass in and around the area ,when you think of North Africa and Tunisia you right away think of desert ,scrub and rocks ..

[@rocksteel44]

...AUSGEZEICHNET!!!!!!!

[@markrunnalls7215]

Lady Astor to call them the D Day dodgers absolutely disgusting ..

[@markrunnalls7215]

I'm sure the Royal Hampshire Regt fought here ..?

[@ianmitchell3968]

Yes as part of the attack on Mahdi the 2 Hampshires attacked Mount Kachiba

[@markrunnalls7215]

@@ianmitchell3968 thanks Ian. 👍