Aspects of the event
Description
Kampfgruppe Lüder, which included four Tigers, was one of three battle groups in Operation "Eilbote 1". On 20 January 1943 it crossed Oued Maarouf to reach the Karachoum Gap via a pass, just south of where the Barrage Nebhana reservoir now stands.
This is a model of the place in modern times. There is now a road through the pass, but in 1943 there was nothing. The battle group arrived along the Marouf stream, at the right of the image, and had to climb a steep embankment on its far side in order to reach the pass. Then they followed the route of the modern road, at the left of the image, to attack British forces near Spikha. But according to the German report, they did not meet the enemy; instead they were shelled by their Italian allies. They returned through this pass later on the same day.
On 31 January the operation was repeated as "Eilbote 2". It's not clear if this place was visited a second time.
Location
in Google MyMaps
http://tiger1.info/geo/Crossing%20Oued%20Maarouf%20%20in%20Operation%20Eilbote.kml
Photos
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