Battle of Hill 609

The Battle of Hill 609 took place at Djebel Tahent in northwestern Tunisia during the Tunisia Campaign. The battle was for control over the key strategic height Hill 609 and its surrounding area between the American forces of the US II Corps and German units of the Afrika Korps. The battle proved a formative experience for the American forces and has been called "the American Army's coming-of-age".

Battle
In late April 1943, Hill 609 was the key to the German defensive line facing the American II Corps. The German general Von Arnim used the hill for artillery fire and observation. From the hill, the Germans could also prevent movement by both the 1st Division to the south and the 9th Division to the north. Hill 609 was deemed one of the most difficult objectives in Tunisia, not only protected by steep slopes and artillery but also by fire from nearby high grounds, which gave the Germans a cross fire on the slopes leading up to it. After rejecting the proposition of bypassing the mountain, II Corps commander Omar Bradley ordered the 34th Infantry Division commanded by Charles W. Ryder, to take the hill. After heavy fighting and high casualties, the 34th Division managed to take the hill by April 30th and the following day repelled several German counterattacks.