The Allies’ first major clash with the Afrika Korps. In February 1943, inexperienced American forces met Erwin Rommel’s seasoned German and Italian troops in the rugged passes of Tunisia. The result was the Battle of Kasserine Pass — a brutal baptism of fire that exposed weaknesses in Allied command and coordination, but also forged the lessons that would shape the rest of the North African campaign. Ward Rutherford recounts the drama of the battle with maps, photographs, and sharp narrative, capturing both the chaos of defeat and the resilience that followed.