Battle of Tatouine

The Battle of Tataouine was a battle during the North Africa campaign between the French and the Italian and German Empires.

## Battle

The broke out on February 20th 1916 with an Italian artillery bombardment of the village of Gattoufa and later on February 22nd 1916 Colonial French Algerian, Tunisian, and Moroccan forces where called up to stop the Italian offensive outside of Gattoufa but where unable to stop the Italian assault. On February 28th 1916 the French and there Colonial forces where able to halt the Italian advance 10km outside of Gattoufa.

#### *Advance to Gattoufa*

On March 1st 1916 German elite Stormtroopers from Germany Arrived in Italian Libya to help the Italians on there offensive to take the city of Tataouine, which they had planned for March 15th 1916. The German 4th Assault Battalion would advance near the village of Gattoufa and would be halted by the French on March 17th, while the German 5th Assault Battalion would try and flank the French from the East and the German 3rd Assault Battalion would flank the French from the West with the 1st and 2nd German Assault Battalions advancing towards Tataouine west of the 3rd Battalion.

#### *Battle of Gattoufa*

On March 18th 1916, At 3:00 AM Italian Troops along with German Stormtroopers near the village of Gattoufa would head on the Offensive and try and take over the village. 1,000 Italian troops along with 300 German Stormtroopers would attack the small village with the Italians using the Carcano M1891, While the Germans used the would us the Mondragón M1908 rifle and the Madsen M1902.

The French forces at Gattoufa had a small trench line there protecting the village, but it was poorly made and unfinished despite the 2,000 French soldiers defending the village. Italian and German forces attack with a creeping barrage and seconds later they sent Italian and German forces over the top to take the trench line at Gattoufa. The Italian and German forces where able to take the trench line at Gattoufa at 3:40 AM and at 4:10 AM the German Stormtroopers where sent to take the village of Gattoufa with only 91 Men, with 2/3 of the German stormtroopers dying on the attack at the trench lines near Gattoufa. The Germans despite having on 91 Men and being out numbered 2/1 with the french having 200 Men defending the village, where able to take Gattoufa and take 12 French prisoners, thought at the cost of losing 67 men in the process.

Later in the day at 6:00 AM 2,000 Libyan soldiers in the Italian Empire, relived the 24 Remaining Stormtroopers at Gattoufa. At 8:00 AM as the Italian and 24 remaining German Stormtroopers, were preparing to march on the city of Tataouine, 2,000 French Colonials from Algeria and Tunisia came to try and take back the village of Gattoufa. The Algerian and Tunisian assault on failed with the Algerians taking 987 Casualties and the Tunisians taking 650 Casualties and the 24 German Stromtroopers at Gattoufa were cut down to 12 Stormtroopers, and the 12 Stormtroopers that survived the battle were sent back to Germany for the sacrifice.

#### *1st Battalions advance west of Tataouine*

To the West of Tataouine the 1st battalion of the Italian Army was headed east towards the town of Tataouine with the help of German Stormtroopers. On March 19th After the Successful attack on Gattoufa by the Italian and German Armies, the 1st Battalion attacked up the eastern end near the Oued El-Guemah River sending 2,000 troops up to try and take the small village of Ksar Ouled Dabbab and after to attempt to take the City of Tataouine.