Personal Message
by
General Officer Commanding.First Army

I have been entrusted with command of the American, French and British Forces now facing Von Armin’s fresh Panzer Army on the Tunisian Front.
We all form part of the First Army.

Rommel has now entered Tunisia, with Montgomery’s victorious Eighth Army hard on his heels.

Eighth Army and First Army together have but one aim – to destroy the enemy root and branch. To do this we must keep the initiative and force our will on him from now onwards. He is savage, brave, and experienced. He will hit back often and hard. We need both ruthless determination both in attack and defence, all our skill, strict discipline, real personal fitness, and a happy faith in our great purpose to restore decency and freedom of the world.

With these qualities no enemy can stand against us.

I call on all of you, whatever and wherever your post, to give whole strength of soul, and mind and body, never sparing yourself until the enemy is down and out and to inspire those serving under you to do the same.

British and Americans are glad to be fighting once more in such close alliance with the soldiers of France. In your name I tell them that this fight goes on until we gain absolute and uncompromising victory.

(Signed) K.A.N.Anderson
Lieutenant-General
7 Feb 1943.

Reproduced from the original which is on record.

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