German 999th Light Afrika Division
Encyclopedia
The 999th Afrika Brigade was a German army
unit created in October 1942 as a penal military unit
. It was later expanded into the 999th Light Afrika Division and began deploying to North Africa
in early 1943. However, this was interrupted by the surrender of Axis
forces in that theater. Those elements that made it to Africa before the collapse fought as independent units rather than as a division, and were lost in the general collapse. The remainder were sent to Greece
for garrison and anti-partisan duty. During the only fight many of the political prisoners in the division went over to the US troops
or retreated, the US Army taking their positions without any heavy fighting.
Order of battle of 999 Afrika Division
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
unit created in October 1942 as a penal military unit
Penal military unit
Penal battalions, penal companies, etc., are military formations consisting of convicted persons for which military service in such units was either the assigned punishment or an alternative to imprisonment or the death penalty.-Nazi Germany:...
. It was later expanded into the 999th Light Afrika Division and began deploying to North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
in early 1943. However, this was interrupted by the surrender of Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
forces in that theater. Those elements that made it to Africa before the collapse fought as independent units rather than as a division, and were lost in the general collapse. The remainder were sent to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
for garrison and anti-partisan duty. During the only fight many of the political prisoners in the division went over to the US troops
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
or retreated, the US Army taking their positions without any heavy fighting.
Commanders
- OberstColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Heinz Karl von Rinkleff - October 1942 to 2 Feb 1943 (transferred to Russian front after the surrender at Stalingrad) - GeneralleutnantLieutenant GeneralLieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Kurt Thomas - From 2 Feb 1943 to 1 Apr 1943) (KIA 1 April 1943 when his plane was shot down en rute to Tunis.) - GeneralmajorMajor GeneralMajor general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Ernst-Günther BaadeErnst-Günther BaadeGeneralleutnant Ernst-Günther Baade was a German general serving during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme...
- From 2 Apr 1943 to 13 May 1943)
Organization
Order of battle of Afrika-Brigade 999- Afrika-Schützen-Regiment (Infantry) 961
- Afrika-Schützen-Regiment 962
- Nachrichten-Kompanie (Communications) 999
Order of battle of 999 Afrika Division
- Stab
- Divisions-Kartenstelle (Records) 999
- Musikkorps
- Afrika-Schützen-Regiment 961
- Afrika-Schützen-Regiment 962
- Afrika-Schützen-Regiment 963
- PanzerjägerPanzerjägerPanzerjäger was a branch of service of the Wehrmacht during the Second World War which were the anti-tank arm-of-service who operated anti-tank artillery, and made exclusive use of the tank destroyers which were also named Panzerjäger...
-Abteilung 999 - Artillerie-Regiment (Artillery) 999
- Pionier-Bataillon (Engineers)999
- Aufklärungs-Abteilung (Reconnaissance)999
- Astronomischer Messtrupp (Navigation) 999
- Werkstatt-Kompanie (Labor) 999
- Werkstatt-Kompanie 999
- Entgiftungs-Batterie (Cleaneers) 999
- Nachschubs-Bataillon (Supply) 999
- Schlächterei-Kompanie (Butchers)999
- Bäckerie-Kompanie (Bakers) 999
- Divisions-Verpfelgungsamt (mot) 999
- Sanitäts-Kompanie (Medical) 999
- Krankenkraftwagen-Zug (Ambulance)999
- Veterinär-Kompanie (Veternary) 999
- FeldgendarmerieFeldgendarmerieThe Feldgendarmerie were the uniformed military police units of the armies of the German Empire from the mid 19th Century until the conclusion of World War II.- Early history :...
-Trupp (military policeMilitary policeMilitary police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
) 999 - Feldpostamt (Postal) 999
See also
- StrafbattalionStrafbattalionStrafbattalion were Wehrmacht penal units created from military prisoners during the final years of the Second World War. Soldiers sentenced to these units were poorly-armed and required to undertake dangerous high-casualty missions...
- punishment units in the WehrmachtWehrmachtThe Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
. - North African CampaignNorth African campaignDuring the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
- Afrika KorpsAfrika KorpsThe German Africa Corps , or the Afrika Korps as it was popularly called, was the German expeditionary force in Libya and Tunisia during the North African Campaign of World War II...
- Panzer Army AfricaPanzer Army AfricaAs the number of German armed forces committed to the North Africa Campaign of World War II grew from the initial commitment of a small corps the Germans developed a more elaborate command structure and placed the now larger Afrika Korps, with Italian units under this new German command structure,...
- Fliegerführer AfrikaFliegerführer AfrikaFliegerführer Afrika was part of Luftflotte 2 , one of the primary divisions of the German Luftwaffe in World War II. It acted in the Mediterranean and Libya in North African areas during 1941-1942...
- 36th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS
- Division (military)Division (military)A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
, Military unit - Wehrmacht divisions in WWII