The Afrika Korps launched Unternehmen Ochsenkopf in Tunisia with the goal of gaining control of Medjez el Bab, Béja, El Aroussa, Djebel Abiod and a position known as Hunt's Gap. This was directed at British forces. Operation Unternehmung Ausladung, directed at French forces, was launched on the same day.
The Germans gained ground in this operation, but with devastating losses that made the effort a Pyrrhic victory, which was all the more the case as none of the principal objectives were taken..
Particularly notable was the massive loss of German armor, including Tiger Is. The loss rate was approximately 90%.
Auschwitz opened the Zigeunerlager, a section just for Gypsies.
The brown triangle, which Gypsies (Romani) were forced to wear by the Third Reich.
The Porajmos, the Holocaust of the Gypsies, is difficult to grasp as it's difficult, at least from the American prospective, to grasp the level of European hatred of Gypsies. Just as with Anti-Semitism, hatred and distrust of the Romani was widespread, crossed cultures, and predated the war. As with the Jews, the Romani became the focus of German repression leading to massive Romani loss of life, although cataloging it is nearly impossible as their numbers in Europe were really unknown.
The Romani are a semi nomadic people who migrated from Central Asia. Perhaps because they are semi nomadic, and have their own language and customs, they've have long been subject to contempt.
Perhaps an example of synchronicity, Tehodor Eicke of the SS, a principal figure in the development of concentration camps, was shot down while flying in a Storch over the Eastern Front, an easy target for Red Army ground based anti-aircraft guns.
