First Blood: The Battle of the Kasserine Pass 1943 by Charles Whiting

First Blood: The Battle of the Kasserine Pass 1943

First Blood by Charles Whiting examines the Battle of the Kasserine Pass in 1943, one of the significant early clashes between American and German forces during the Allied campaign in North Africa.

Published by Grafton Books in 1986, this illustrated 270-page paperback tells the story of the events leading up to the battle and the circumstances that produced a major German victory. The book focuses on a crucial period when inexperienced Allied troops and officers encountered the battle-hardened forces of Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps.

The Battle of Kasserine Pass

When Allied forces invaded French North Africa in late 1942, the situation they encountered was complicated. Vichy French forces resisted the Allied landings in some areas, while elsewhere there was comparatively little opposition.

Early Allied successes created confidence among troops who had not yet faced the full strength of the German forces in North Africa. The subsequent fighting at Kasserine Pass provided a very different experience.

When Rommel’s Afrika Korps attacked the defenders of the strategically important Kasserine Pass, the inexperienced American forces suffered a serious defeat. The battle exposed weaknesses in Allied preparation, leadership and battlefield experience and provided important lessons for the fighting that followed.

Rommel’s Last Victory

Charles Whiting vividly describes the events surrounding what is presented as Rommel’s last victory. The battle forms an important part of the wider history of the North African campaign and of the development of American forces during the Second World War.

For readers interested in military history, the book provides an accessible account of a battle that demonstrated the difference between inexperienced Allied troops and the experienced German formations they encountered.

Book Details

• Title: First Blood: The Battle of the Kasserine Pass 1943
• Author: Charles Whiting
• Publisher: Grafton Books
• Publication year: 1986
• ISBN: 0586066586
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 270
• Illustrations: Illustrated
• Condition: Good used condition
• Condition notes: Corners and spine have creases

Who Is This Book For?

First Blood will appeal to readers interested in the Second World War, the North African campaign, Rommel and the Afrika Korps, and the early combat experience of the American Army in the European theatre.

It is particularly suited to readers looking for a focused account of the Battle of Kasserine Pass rather than a general history of the entire North African campaign.

With its 270 pages and illustrations, this 1986 Grafton Books paperback offers a substantial account of an important battle and a pivotal early encounter between American and German forces.