Isaac>James>John Milton>Russell Holman>Keith Willis
1st Lt. Keith Willis
Captured at the battle of Sidi Bou Zid (Sidi Bouzid)
Thanks to the folks at Oflag 64 Association for much of this information and images of Keith!
Read a detailed summary of the battle here…
Read the narrative of his c/o and friend here…
Keith is mention on pages 12,13 and 22 of this narrative which gives
a detailed report of his company’s movements and action before and after capture.
American Commemorative and archival website of Oflag 64
The German prison camp where Keith spent about 18 months during the war.
There are 2 pictures of Keith and his name is listed in a few of the programs of plays and concerts preformed by the prisoners.
Short Summary of the action:
In late 1942 allies attempted to stabilize the North African front and halt Rommel’s advances. In early 1943, three major marine assaults were launched and Keith’s infantry division was part of a supporting force for the 1st armored division and additional artillery along a SW to NE front centered on a small town called Sidi Bou Zid, which was at the western head of a pass through a mountain range paralleling the allied line.
Keith and his platoon were posted at the forward most hill of the line around Sidi Bou Zid. Though estimates of the enemy’s numbers were accurate, the US troops were nearly all fresh and inexperienced, and their leaders, Roosevelt’s and Eisenhower’s sons among them, were equally unprepared for the blitzkrieg. An allied assault across the open desert was planned, but before it even began at 4AM on Feb, 14th, the Germans gave the allied force everything they had, including dive bombing raids, artillery barrages and a two pronged panzer tank assault.
A first hand account of an officer captured with Keith portrays chaos and uncertainty as British and Allied troops scrambled under the unexpected onslaught. Though the Americans did exact resistance and a moderate toll on the German forces, the defeat was a complete one and the Germans massed a second attack on the pass shortly after, fortifying the area and completing the task.
One summary indicated that the contribution of this battle to the war, being one of the earliest engagements of the Germans and American ground forces, was giving a very poor first impression of the American forces. News of the defeat spread like wildfire among German officers and caused the Germans to seriously underestimate the potential of later advances and the D-Day attack.
Keith’s Action
On Feb. 13th, before the major action began, Keith was assigned as the furthest forward lookout, essentially out in front of the mail allied line. He was likely captured sometime in the mid morning, as the German ground forces advanced following the early morning air and artillery assault.
One captured he was transferred by the Germans through Italy to Poland to the Oflag 64 prison camp.
Keth was posted on Djebel Ksaira (Hill 560) seen here from Sidi Bou Zid.
The road in the foreground is the route through the mountain pass.
Other Images from the battle (mostly German forces):
American lookout/gun post at Sidi Bou Zid
Art portraying Americans during the battle:
Regional map of the theater:
