British Eighth Army reaches the Mareth line

24th February 1943: The long advance of the British comes up against the first serious defensive line available to the Germans

German trenches on the Mareth line, seen after their capture in March.

In North Africa, the Eighth Army was nearing the end of its long journey to the west from Egypt. After a pause to replenish and refit in Tripoli, it finally came up against the Mareth Line where the Germans chose to make a stand after their long retreat.