Panzer Army Africa
Encyclopedia
As 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, a succession of different German commands were created to manage the Axis assets in Africa:
High Command (German acronym OKW) created a larger command structure in Africa, forming a new headquarters called Panzer Group Africa (Panzergruppe Afrika). On 15 August 1941, Panzer Group Africa was activated with newly promoted Lieutenant-General (General der Panzertruppe
) Erwin Rommel
in command. The Panzer Group controlled the Afrika Korps plus some additional units that were sent to Africa (notably the 90th Light Infantry Division), as well as two Italian corps, X and XX.
during the Western Desert Campaign
.
during the final stages of the North African Campaign
, its combat units—including the Afrika Korps—were turned over to the Italian 1st Army
. Command of the Army Group was turned over to Hans-Jürgen von Arnim
in March. Army Group Africa included the German Fifth Panzer Army
(5. Panzerarmee) in addition to the Italian 1st Army. von Arnim surrendered the Army Group on 13 May 1943, ending the Axis presence in Africa.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
grew from the initial commitment of a small corps the Germans developed a more elaborate command structure and placed the now larger Afrika Korps
Afrika Korps
The 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...
, with Italian units under this new German command structure, a succession of different German commands were created to manage the Axis assets in Africa:
- Panzer Group Africa, (Panzergruppe Afrika) August 1941-January 1942
- Panzer Army Africa, (Panzerarmee Afrika) January-October 1942
- German-Italian Panzer Army, (Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee) October 1942-February 1943
- Army Group Africa, (Heeresgruppe Afrika) February-May 1943
Panzer Group Africa
When the Afrika Korps was formed on 11 January 1941 it was officially subordinated to the Italian chain of command in Africa. In the middle of 1941 the German Armed ForcesWehrmacht
The 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:...
High Command (German acronym OKW) created a larger command structure in Africa, forming a new headquarters called Panzer Group Africa (Panzergruppe Afrika). On 15 August 1941, Panzer Group Africa was activated with newly promoted Lieutenant-General (General der Panzertruppe
General der Panzertruppe
General der Panzertruppe was a rank of German Army General introduced by the Wehrmacht in 1935. As the commander of a Panzer Corp this rank corresponds to a US Army Lieutenant-General...
) Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
in command. The Panzer Group controlled the Afrika Korps plus some additional units that were sent to Africa (notably the 90th Light Infantry Division), as well as two Italian corps, X and XX.
Panzer Army Africa
Panzer Group Africa was redesignated as Panzer Army Africa (Panzerarmee Afrika) on 30 January 1942.German-Italian Panzer Army
Panzer Army Africa was redesignated as German-Italian Panzer Army (Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee) in October 1942 during the long retreat after the defeat at the Second Battle of El AlameinSecond Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...
during the Western Desert Campaign
Western Desert Campaign
The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
.
Army Group Africa
In February 1943, the headquarters was upgraded to Army Group Africa (Heeresgruppe Afrika) to manage the defense of TunisiaTunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
during the final stages of the North African Campaign
North African campaign
During 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...
, its combat units—including the Afrika Korps—were turned over to the Italian 1st Army
Italian First Army
The Italian First Army was an Italian army formation, in World War I, facing Austro-Hungarian and German forces, and in World War II, fighting on the North African front.-World War I:...
. Command of the Army Group was turned over to Hans-Jürgen von Arnim
Hans-Jürgen von Arnim
Hans-Jürgen Bernhard Theodor von Arnim was a German Generaloberst who served during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
in March. Army Group Africa included the German Fifth Panzer Army
German Fifth Panzer Army
The 5th Panzer Army, also known as Panzer Group West and Panzer Group Eberbach was a panzer army which saw action in the Western front and North Africa...
(5. Panzerarmee) in addition to the Italian 1st Army. von Arnim surrendered the Army Group on 13 May 1943, ending the Axis presence in Africa.
Order of battle
Throughout its existence, this headquarters controlled the well-known Afrika Korps, and for most of its life it controlled a number of other German and Italian units as well. The following overview of its assets is taken from lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de, with dates corrected (see references).Order of battle of Panzer Group Africa
Panzer Group Africa (Rommel)- As of September 1941: (during Rommel's first push into the Western DesertWestern Desert CampaignThe Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
)- German Afrika Korps
- Italian X Corps
- Italian XX Corps
- Italian Savona Infantry Division55 Infantry Division SavonaThe 55 Truck-Moveable Division Savona was a North African type Infantry Division of the Italian Army during World War II. The Savona Division was sent to Libya in September 1939. Its men hailed from Naples, Salerno and their surroundings. The division was not involved in the Italian invasion of...
Order of battle of Panzer Army Africa
Panzer Army Africa (Rommel)- As of January 1942: (during Rommel's second push into the Western Desert)
- Afrika Korps
- Italian X Corps
- Italian XXI Corps
- Italian Corpo d'Armata di Manovra (Maneuver Corps)
- German 90th Light Africa Division
- Italian 55th Division Savona55 Infantry Division SavonaThe 55 Truck-Moveable Division Savona was a North African type Infantry Division of the Italian Army during World War II. The Savona Division was sent to Libya in September 1939. Its men hailed from Naples, Salerno and their surroundings. The division was not involved in the Italian invasion of...
- As of April 1942: (before and during the Gazala battles and the Siege of TobrukSiege of TobrukThe siege of Tobruk was a confrontation that lasted 240 days between Axis and Allied forces in North Africa during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War...
)- Afrika Korps
- Italian X Corps
- Italian XX Motorised CorpsItalian XX Motorised CorpsThe Italian XX Motorised Corps was an armoured formation of the Italian army. The Corps took part in the Western Desert Campaign in World War II from summer 1941 to 1943...
- Italian XXI Corps
- German 90th Light Afrika Division
- As of August 1942: (during the Battle of El AlameinBattle of El AlameinThere were two battles of El Alamein in World War II, both fought in 1942. The Battles occurred in Egypt in and around an area named after a railway stop called El Alamein at .* First Battle of El Alamein – 1–27 July 1942...
)- Afrika Korps
- Italian X Corps
- Italian XX Motorized Corps
- Italian XXI Corps
- Italian 133rd Armored Division Littorio133 Armoured Division Littorio133. Armoured Division Littorio or 133. Divisione Corazzata Littorio was an armoured division of the Italian Army during World War II. The division was formed in 1939 from the Infantry Division Littorio that had taken part in the Spanish Civil War...
Order of battle of the German-Italian Panzer Army
German-Italian Panzer Army (Rommel)- As of November 1942: (during the withdrawal from the Western Desert)
- Afrika Korps
- Italian X Corps
- Italian XX Motorized Corps
- Italian XXI Corps
- German 90th Light Afrika Division
- Italian 136th Motorized Infantry Division Giovani Fascisti136 Infantry Division Giovani FascistiThe 136 Infantry Division Giovani Fascisti was a Infantry Division of the Italian Army during World War II.-History:The Giovani Fascisti Division was formed from volunteers from the Young Fascist University...
- Italian 17th Infantry Division Pavia
- As of February 1943: (defending southern Tunisia)
- Afrika Korps
- Italian XX Motorized Corps
- Italian XXI Corps
- German 164th Light Afrika DivisionGerman 164th Infantry DivisionThe 164th Division was a unit of the Wehrmacht in World War II. It was initially created as the 164th Infantry Division in November 1939 and took part in the invasion of Greece in April 1941. In January 1942, consolidating Axis seizure of the island during the Battle of Crete, the 164th was...
- German Ramcke Parachute BrigadeRamcke Parachute BrigadeFallschirmjäger-Brigade AfrikaFallschirmjäger-Brigade RamckeLuftwaffen-Jäger-Brigade 1The Fallschirmjäger-Brigade Ramcke was an elite German Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger Brigade which saw action in the Mediterranean Theatre during World War II.-History:Following the costly success of Operation...
Order of battle of Army Group Africa
From February 1943:- German Fifth Panzer ArmyGerman Fifth Panzer ArmyThe 5th Panzer Army, also known as Panzer Group West and Panzer Group Eberbach was a panzer army which saw action in the Western front and North Africa...
(5. Panzerarmee) (northern Tunisia) - Italian 1st ArmyItalian First ArmyThe Italian First Army was an Italian army formation, in World War I, facing Austro-Hungarian and German forces, and in World War II, fighting on the North African front.-World War I:...
(southern Tunisia)
See also
- List of World War II military units of Germany
- List of Italian divisions in WWII
- Panzer DivisionPanzer DivisionA panzer division was an armored division in the army and air force branches of the Wehrmacht as well as the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II....
- 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...
- Hans von LuckHans von LuckHans-Ulrich von Luck und Witten , usually shortened to Hans von Luck, was a Colonel in the German Armored Forces during World War II. He served with the 7th Panzer Division and 21st Panzer Division, seeing action in Poland, France, North Africa, Italy and Russia...