The Battle of Kasserine Pass took place in February 1943 in west central Tunisia. This was the first major engagement between American and Axis forces in World War II in Africa. Early on, the inexperienced and poorly led American troops suffered many casualties. But after the early defeat, elements of the U.S. II Corps, with British reinforcements, rallied and held the exits through mountain passes in western Tunisia, defeating the Axis offensive. Rommel's troops who were overextended, had dwindling supplies and were pinned down by the Allied artillery had been stopped.