Ntwa Ya Hitler (9) - Chiunzi Pass To Bari

With their barrels depressed for field firing, the Batswana were completely vulnerable to aerial strafing. Fortunately, additional light anti-aircraft batteries were rushed into their sector to provide much needed support. On the morning of September 13, it appeared that the gun line would be overrun, but by the evening of the 14th  the Germans were finally forced to pull back.

On September 18, the 5th Army was able to link up with the 8th Army, which by then included some 3,000 additional Batswana combatants brought over from North Africa. The immediate prospect of defeat had been averted but the battle was not over.