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Dilemma in the Desert

  By Dwayne Straw

  Published by

  Dwayne Straw

  Dilemma in the Desert

  Copyright © 2013 by Dwayne Straw

  The purpose of the book is to show that the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ. For that reason feel free to pass it on to family and friends.

  This is a work of fiction and, except for historical personages,

  any resemblance to persons living or dead are purely coincidental.

  Acknowledgements

  I wish to thank my son, James, and Ann Hayner for encouraging me to publish this book, and to my wife Catherine for her support and my daughter Anna for editing it.

  Table of Contents

  Historical Background

  Prologue

  Chapter One January 29

  Chapter Two January 30 Morning

  Chapter Three January 30 Angelique

  Chapter Four January 30 Afternoon

  Chapter Five January 31

  Chapter Six February 1 Angelique

  Chapter Seven February 1 Americans

  Chapter Eight February 1 Evening

  Chapter Nine February 2 Morning

  Chapter Ten February 2 Lindisl

  Chapter Eleven February 2 Afternoon

  Chapter Twelve February 2 Night

  Chapter Thirteen February 3 Morning

  Chapter Fourteen February 3 Sfax

  Chapter Fifteen February 3 Camp

  Chapter Sixteen February 3 Afternoon

  Chapter Seventeen February 3 Evening

  Chapter Eighteen February 4 Morning

  Chapter Nineteen February 4 Morning in Sfax

  Chapter Twenty February 4 Afternoon at the Cafe

  Chapter Twenty-One Afternoon in Sfax

  Chapter Twenty-Two February 4 Afternoon in Camp

  Chapter Twenty-Three February 4 Evening Lindisl

  Chapter Twenty-Four February 4 Evening Americans

  Chapter Twenty-Five February 4 Night

  Chapter Twenty Six February 5 After Midnight Americans

  Chapter Twenty-Seven February 5 After Midnight Germans

  Chapter Twenty-Eight February 5 Dawn

  Chapter Twenty-Nine February 5 Morning

  Historical Note

  About the Author

  Excerpt from ‘Steadfast in Sicily’

  Historical Background

  In 1933 Adolph Hitler and his Nazi Party swept into power in Germany. Two of their ideals were: (1) the Germanic race was by nature the Master Race and entitled to rule the world and enslave all other races, and (2) Hitler would redress the perceived wrongs done to Germany at the end of the last war. He swallowed up the countries of Austria and Czechoslovakia peacefully, and on September 1, 1939, attacked Poland and thus started World War 2.

  By September, 1942, the war had been raging for three years and the Axis, as Germany and Italy with their allies called themselves, were at the height of their power. They were the masters of most of mainland Europe and were deep inside Russia, which was where the Battle of Stalingrad was raging. Rommel, the famed Desert Fox, was at a place called El Alamein, just 60 miles from Alexandria, Egypt, the goal of his African campaign.

  By the end of December the situation had drastically changed. The Russians had won at Stalingrad, wiping out an entire German army. General Montgomery had beaten Rommel at El Alamein and the Germans were in full retreat. A combined American and British army had landed in northwest Africa and was rushing eastward as fast as they could, trying to capture the Tunisian ports before the Germans got there. They lost the race due to an inadequate supply line and the winter rains that turned the terrain into mud as Hitler poured troops into Tunisia, which lies between Algeria and Libya.

  The Allied invasion was diplomatically a very delicate operation, as they were invading French colonies and France was technically not at war with anyone. Some French units fought hard against the invaders while others gave a half-hearted resistance, recognizing that the Americans and British were fighting to restore freedom to their country. Eventually, they agreed to help fight against the hated Germans.

  On January 30, 1943, the Germans attacked French positions at the Faid Pass in Tunisia, North Africa. The French, although they fought valiantly, were defeated, as well as several American units that tried to help. Two weeks later, the Germans launched the attack known as The Battle of Kassarine Pass, the first major battle fought by the Americans, who were soundly defeated and routed. Prior to the battle, American intelligence mysteriously learned that the Germans were planning a major attack in the south of the country. General Anderson, the British commander and, in the muddled command structure at the time, commander of the bulk of the Allied forces, disbelieved the report and insisted the main attack would come in the north.

  Prologue

  Two people were huddled together in the tiny room, whispering in voices so low that if an eavesdropper were present, he couldn’t identify the voices, or even differentiate if they were male or female.

  “You have news?” the older voice queried.

  “Yes, they are gathering forces for a major attack,” responded the younger voice.

  “Do you know when and where?”

  “Not yet, but it will be soon. I will know more in a few days.

  The older one pondered for a moment. “I can send word for an agent to come here and give the information to him. By the time he gets here, will you have the rest of the information? I don’t trust the normal channels any more, especially with something this important.”

  “Yes, I will have it by then.” The younger one prepared to leave.

  “Be careful,” the elder hissed. “It is passed the curfew.”

  “Don’t worry, I have my pass.” So saying, the shadowy figure opened the door and disappeared into the streets of Sfax.